Friday, November 16, 2012

Apple invention may one day replace 'pinch to zoom'



A new patent filing discovered on Thursday reveals Apple is looking into an automated zooming method that senses how close a person's face is to a device's display and scales the size of on-screen content accordingly, a technique that could one day enhance or even replace "pinch to zoom."
Scaling Patent

Source: USPTO

The invention, which was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in May 2011, describes a system that uses on-board sensors like a camera, infrared proximity sensor or SONAR sensor, to determine the distance between a user's face and the display. By using this information, the system can enlarge or reduce text or images being displayed on screen for maximum readability and user comfort.

There are two modes outlined in the application's description: comfort mode and zoom mode. 

In comfort mode, the device scales content to reduce in size when a user's face is close to the screen and enlarges it when it is farther away. This mode aims to "maintain the visual content at a comfortable size for the user regardless of how far the display is from the user's face. Thus, this mode of operation is referred to as comfort mode."

Scaling Operation

For zoom mode, the system reverses the above process and enlarges content, or zooms in, as a user brings the device close to their face and reduces, or pans out, when it is farther away. The embodiment may be useful in certain applications like games and mapping, as it "provides a convenient way to zoom in and out of visual content."

Essential to operation is a preliminary calibration procedure that asks a user to hold the device at various distances away from their face to gather reference data, which the system will later draw upon to scale content. Such calibration can include the closest comfortable viewing distance, the farthest comfortable viewing distance and any variations between the two.

Calibration

As described in one implementation, the mechanism can use a camera to determine distance from a user based on facial recognition techniques. The corresponding information is sent to a processor that uses the reference information as a key to regulate the dynamic sizing of on-screen content. 

If Apple chooses to one day use the invention, a likely device could be a future iPhone or iPod touch as users constantly resize content with their fingers due to the devices' relatively small display size, and the portable form factor is an ideal candidate for the patent's described operation. The iPad and iPad mini could also make use of the tech, though the pinch to zoom heuristic is already convenient on larger format screens and is perhaps more comfortable than moving the device back and forth.


http://appleinsider.com/articles/12/11/15/apple-invention-may-one-day-replace-pinch-to-zoom

Υπολογιστής «κεφαλής» από τη Motorola Solutions




Κάποτε καινοτομία θεωρούνταν τα laptops και τα netbooks, σήμερα «της μόδας» είναι τα tablets. Από τη Motorola Solutions προέρχεται μία ιδιαίτερη πρόταση σε έναν χώρο που ενδεχομένως να «δει» μεγάλη επιτυχία στο μέλλον: τους υπολογιστές κεφαλής.
Το HC1 δεν μπαίνει σε τσέπες ή σε γραφεία, ενώ δεν διαθέτει touchscreen, mouse και πληκτρολόγιο. Ο χρήστης το φορά στο κεφάλι του και το ελέγχει μέσω φωνητικών εντολών. Ο ιδιαίτερος αυτός «υπολογιστής κεφαλής» αναμένεται να κυκλοφορήσει προς πώληση κατά το επόμενο έτος.
Εμφανισιακά θυμίζει ένα κλασικό, μάλλον ογκώδες, headset τηλεφώνου. Η κύρια «μονάδα» του υπολογιστή τοποθετείται στα πλάγια του κεφαλιού, ενώ μία SVGA οθόνη βρίσκεται μπροστά από το πρόσωπο (ο χρήστης πρέπει να κοιτάξει ελαφρώς προς τα κάτω). Η ανάλυση είναι 800x600 και δίνει την εντύπωση ενός εικονικού πάνελ 15 ιντσών. Στην «καρδιά» του βρίσκεται ένας επεξεργαστής 800MHZ OMAP3730 dualcore, ενώ το λειτουργικό είναι τα Windows CE 6.0. Όπως είναι αναμενόμενο για μία τέτοια συσκευή, διαθέτει Wi-Fi. Διαθέτει 512 MB RAM μνήμη και 512 ΜΒ Flash.
Διαθέτει εξελιγμένη τεχνολογία αναγνώρισης φωνής, που επιτρέπει ακρίβεια 98-99% και λογισμικό «φυσικής γλώσσας», που υποστηρίζει έξι γλώσσες (αγγλικά, γαλλικά, ιταλικά, γερμανικά, ισπανικά, πορτογαλικά). Πέρα από τις φωνητικές εντολές, ο χρήστης μπορεί να το χειριστεί και με κινήσεις του κεφαλιού, οι οποίες γίνονται αντιληπτές μέσω αξελερόμετρου και ψηφιακής πυξίδας. Υποστηρίζεται μία ποικιλία επιλογών Bluetooth, ενώ μπορεί να συνδεθεί με περιφερειακές συσκευές- όπως μία ψηφιακή κάμερα, που θα μεταδίδει/ καταγράφει αυτά που βλέπει ο χρήστης- μέσω USB. Εάν δεν υπάρχει διαθέσιμο δίκτυο Wi-Fi, το HC1 μπορεί να συνδεθεί στο Ίντερνετ μέσω mobile hotspots ή συνδεόμενο μέσω Bluetooth με ένα smartphone το οποίο έχει πρόσβαση. To βάρος του ανέρχεται στα 750 γραμμάρια. Απευθύνεται σε χρήστες που εργάζονται σε περιβάλλοντα όπου απαιτείται να έχουν πρόσβαση σε περίπλοκα δεδομένα ενώ παράλληλα χρησιμοποιούν τα χέρια τους, όπως μηχανικοί και εργαζόμενοι σε κατασκευές και αποθήκες, ενώ αναμένεται κάποια στιγμή να αναπτυχθούν ειδικές εφαρμογές για ιατρική χρήση.
Το κόστος του εκτιμάται πως θα κυμαίνεται γύρω στα 4.000 δολάρια.
Το HC1 θεωρείται ότι θα «παίξει» στον ίδιο χώρο που θα κινηθεί και το Glass της Google- αν και το μηχάνημα της Motorola προφανώς θα προσανατολίζεται σε πιο «σκληρή» χρήση.
http://www.naftemporiki.gr/news/cstory.asp?id=2253269

Search for Gmail messages now by size, date




Thanks to an update, it is now possible for users to search their Gmail messages by size. The enhanced Search now has more flexible date options, exact match, and other parameters, as per an official blog post by Christian Kurmann, software engineer at Google. For example, emails 5MB or larger in size, can be quickly located by using the operator 'size:5m' or 'larger:5m'. To search for email that are over a year older, users can enter 'older_than:1y' in the search box. Kurmann shares that this latest update is in line with the other recent enhancements done to Search, such as improved autocomplete predictions, a field trial for instant results from Gmail, Google Drive, and more, as you type.
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Update to let you search faster


Email, unlike instant messaging, tends to become a lengthy process. Switching between viewing older emails for reference, saving the current email as a draft, and searching for an email message can become cumbersome. Google made composing emails easier by introducing the redesigned compose feature on Gmail towards the end of last month. Composing an email now is quicker, for the compose box opens like a chat window, albeit a larger one. In its official Gmail blog post, Phil Sharp, Google’s Product Manager, shared that with this new design, it is possible to keep the compose mail box open and still look for older emails for reference. This way, users can also keep an eye out for newer emails. Sharp writes, “The new compose is designed to let you focus on what's important: your message.” 

On typing search queries in the Gmail search box, users can now view results from Google Drive, Google Calendar, and other services, in addition to relevant emails. This is a part of a field trial currently underway for users with gmail.com accounts, or those on https://www.google.com in English. Also, the search strings of the participants on Google.com return relevant emails, files, content on Gmail and Google Drive, in addition to regular search results.

Those who are a part of the experiment will be able to view relevant Gmail messages and other shared links in their search results. Users will also be able to get information and statuses pertaining to their upcoming flights. Likewise, they will also be able to search documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files stored on Google Drive.

Those with Google Apps accounts will not be able to participate in this field trial. Google shares that considering that there is limited capacity and the initial setup required, those participating in the field trial will receive a confirmation from Google, informing them that their account is ready, and may be even send them other update emails during the period. It, however, clears that they may not be able to activate the experiment for everyone.  

Over the past couple of days, a lot has been happening on the Gmail side of things. Google recently updated its Google+ app for Android as well as iOS devices. The search giant also brought in a variety of handy features to the updated version of Google Drive for Android devices. Google may be readying an update for Gmail for Android as well, which will be version number 4.2. In this update, Google is speculated to bring in very useful features such as pinch-to-zoom, and swipe-to-delete or swipe-to-archive.


http://tech2.in.com/news/web-services/search-for-gmail-messages-now-by-size-date/584272

Facebook for iPhone update brings ability to share posts and tag your friends in posts and more


Facebook for iPhone has received a pretty nice update that includes a Share link to re-post stories from your news feed as well as the ability to tag your friends in any post, comment or photo. Both of these features have been huge requests of Facebook for iPhone users for a very long time, so it's great to finally see Facebook deliver.
You may have noticed that in one of Facebook's past updates, the ability to sort your feed by Top Stories or Most Recent was removed. This update brings that feature back! To find it, head to the sidebar and tap the Setting icon next to the News Feed tab.
When sharing a story to your news feed you have the option to choose your audience from Public, Friends, Only Me, Friends except Acquaintances and any one of your Friend Lists. The last new feature added to Facebook for iPhone is the ability to add smileys, hearts, and other emoji in messages.

Jefferies: New Apple TV product is ‘imminent’, at least one cable company testing network


A new report from Jefferies & Co.’s analyst James Kisner, citing ” discussions with industry contacts” (via Barrons), claimed a new Apple TV product is “imminent” with “at least one major N. American MSO” currently working to find out how much additional capacity would be necessary on its network to handle the new product:

Our discussions with industry contacts suggest that at least one major N. American MSO is working to estimate how much additional capacity may be needed for a new Apple device on their broadband data network. We believe this potentially suggests an imminent launch of the Apple TV, a positive development for ARRIS, who is directly exposed to data traffic growth from incremental IP video streams on cable networks… 
The report does not provide any information about what type of new Apple TV product this would be. It’s possible the cable company in question is testing its network for a rumored streaming service of sorts and not a hardware product. The note also added Jefferies analyst Peter Misek,who several times in the past predicted the launch of an Apple HDTV, is still expecting “sales of 4.9 million units in CY13 and 11.6 million units in CY14″ for a full fledged Apple TV set:

We note that Jefferies analyst Peter Misek is forecasting Apple TV unit sales of 4.9 million units in CY13 and 11.6 million units in CY14. These estimates assume an actual Television product (not a “puck” like the current Apple TV).


http://9to5mac.com/2012/11/15/jefferies-new-apple-tv-product-is-imminent-at-least-one-cable-company-testing-network/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Thursday, November 15, 2012

JBL launches first Lightning speaker docks, Belkin announces new iPad mini keyboard folio



A few new accessories are launching today for Apple’s newest iOS devices. First, JBL announcednew Lightning connector speaker docks for iPhone and iPad including the new JBL OnBeat Micro ($99) and JBL Venue LT ($199) pictured above. The larger of the two docks supports Lightning iPads as well as iPhone 5 and iPod touch, while the smaller less expensive model only supports iPhone 5 and and the new iPods.
 
Belkin also announced a new accessory for the iPad mini today, a $80 folio with built-in bluetooth keyboard. The company is claiming up to 155 hours of active battery life, and is also including a USB-to-mini-USB cable for charging. A nice touch is the ability to remove the keyboard, allowing you to comfortably position it anywhere you’d like. Earlier this month the company also announced a new car charger kit for iOS devices with Lightning connectors.

http://9to5mac.com/2012/11/15/jbl-launches-first-lightning-speaker-docks-belkin-announces-new-ipad-mini-keyboard-folio/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

MASSIVE SURVEY FINDS U.S. CONSUMERS DON’T WANT WINDOWS 8


In some ways, Windows 8 is do or die for Microsoft(MSFT). The platform’s failure certainly wouldn’t sink the world’s largest software company, but it would be a huge setback for Microsoft as it transitions to a new world where touch input and real-time information take center stage. Opinions are mixed in these early days and the platform has received a lot of criticism for being confusing to long-time Windows users who are uneasy about ditching Windows’ famous Start menu for the new Windows 8 Start screen. How widespread is this concern? According to a recent survey, Microsoft’s new platform has a very steep hill to climb.
PC security firm Avast recently polled 350,000 users of its PC antivirus software as part of a massive study that sought to investigate the public’s opinion of Windows 8. According to USA Today, 135,329 respondents were Windows users based in the United States. Among these U.S.-based consumers, 65% were Windows 7 users, 22% had Windows XP and 8% used Windows Vista.
According to Avast’s survey, a healthy 60% of respondents were aware of Windows 8 one day ahead of its launch. This indicates that Microsoft was off to a fantastic start in the early days in terms of using marketing and advertising to inform customers about its important new launch. That’s the good news.
The bad news, unfortunately, is that only 9% of U.S. consumers said they wanted to buy a new Windows 8 PC soon after the platform’s release. The overwhelming majority — 70% — said they planned to stick with what they had.
“Windows 7 works just fine,” George Otte, CEO of repair service Geeks on Site, told USA Today. “It’s not a major priority to make a change.”
http://bgr.com/2012/11/15/windows-8-demand-survey-study/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Artist 3D prints his own skeleton







(Credit: Erik and Petra Hesmerg)
Dutch Artist Caspar Berger used a CT scanner and 3D printer to create a unique self-portrait.
Thanks to x-ray technologies, many of us have seen images of our own skeletons — but imagine holding your own skull in your hand.
Berger is possibly the only person in the world to have done so. Using advanced CT scanning (PDF), he scanned and created a 3D model of his own skeletal system.
But what would you do with your own bones?
Well, of course, you can cast them in gold, which Berger did — but the skull, which he called the vera icon ("true image", or true face) got a more special treatment.
From Berger's web page:

This image has formed the basis for a facial reconstruction by a forensic anthropologist, who received the skull anonymously, accompanied only by the information that it belonged to a man in his mid-40s born in Western Europe. This facial reconstruction is based on the available scientific documentation of tissue structure, skin thickness and muscle groups. The clay reconstruction has been cast in bronze to be presented as self-portrait 21, a self-portrait that has not been made by the artist.


(Credit: Erik and Petra Hesmerg)
It's fascinating seeing the difference between Berger's actual face and the forensic reconstruction (above).
You can watch the CT scanning, 3D modelling and 3D printing process in the video below, and see more pictures on Berger's website.
http://www.cnet.com.au/artist-3d-prints-his-own-skeleton-339342463.htm

Skype’s Giving Away Free Unlimited Worldwide Phone Calls For an Entire Month



Time to call that long-lost aunt in the middle of absolute nowhere: Skype's just announcedthat you can now claim a whole month's worth of unlimited free world-wide landline and mobile calling—but only if you claim it by end of today.
We're not sure if many people actually make phone calls these days, but hell, free's free and while, yes, there is a ‘fair usage policy', it seems pretty generous. You'll have to attach some sort of payment system to your account, just in case you want to use it after the month is out, but otherwise no strings are attached.
The scheme covers both landline and mobile calls in the US, and international calls to over 40 countries. Jump on over to Skype to claim your free calling now, before the end of today. 

http://gizmodo.com/5960788/skypes-giving-away-free-unlimited-worldwide-phone-calling-for-an-entire-month

Google TV 3.0: Νέα μεγάλη αναβάθμιση φέρνει φωνητική αναζήτηση και νέα εφαρμογή YouTube [Video]


Η Google ανακοίνωσε επίσημα το software update 3.0 για τη Google TV, τη νέα μεγάλη αναβάθμιση που φέρνει μαζί της αρκετές επιδιορθώσεις μικροπροβλημάτων της προηγούμενης έκδοσης, αλλά και μερικές νέες λειτουργίες που ίσως προσελκύσουν μεγαλύτερο κοινό, ιδιαίτερα τώρα που επεκτάθηκε η πώληση τους και στην Ευρώπη.
Google TV 3.0
Σημαντικότερη νέα λειτουργία είναι η φωνητική αναζήτηση, η οποία πέραν του προφανούς (αναζήτηση με τη φωνή) επιτρέπει στον χρήστη να κάνει ερωτήσεις του τύπου “πως να βράσω ένα αυγό;” και αυτόματα αναζητά και βρίσκει σχετικό video στο YouTube, ενώ είναι εφικτή η γενική αναζήτηση (π.χ. βρες ταινίες με τον Jim Carey).
Ακόμη, η εφαρμογή “Movies and TV” έχει επανασχεδιαστεί και μετονομαστεί σε Prime Time, η οποία είναι προσβάσιμη από οπουδήποτε, με νέο layout και εμφάνιση προγραμμάτων με βάση αυτά που παρακολουθεί συνήθως ο χρήστης.
Βέβαια, όπως συμβαίνει και με το Android OS σε smartphones/tablets, έτσι και τώρα δεν υπάρχει συγκεκριμένη ημερομηνία αναβάθμισης των σημερινών Google TVs (η LG αναφέρει ότι θα αναβαθμίσει σε λίγες εβδομάδες…), αλλά το ευχάριστο είναι ότι θα υποστηρίζεται και από τις πρώτης γενιάς Google TVs.

http://www.techgear.gr/google-tv-3-0-update-now-available-56977/

Tablet Grudge Match: iPad mini vs Nexus 7 vs Galaxy Tab 2



After all the speculation, rumours and discussions on why Steve Jobs never supported the idea of a 7-inch iPad, the iPad mini has finally made it to markets.
Tablet Grudge Match: iPad mini vs Nexus 7 vs Galaxy Tab 2 (310)
After all the speculation, rumours and discussions on why Steve Jobs never supported the idea of a 7-inch iPad, the iPad mini has finally made it to the markets. Although a tad bigger with a 7.9-inch display, it still comes in the 7-inch class of tablets. Apple’s new entrant has broadened and strengthened the 7-inch tablet market and comes across as a good contender to the Google Nexus 7, which is the most popular Android tablet and Samsung’s Tab 2 (310). Let’s take a closer look at each one of them to see which one is worth your money. In the infographic below, we have compared all the key specifications of the iPad mini, Nexus 7 and theSamsung Galaxy Tab 2 (310), and arrived at a final verdict.


Infographic
Infographic


The iPad mini and the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 come forth as options worth considering, but for the Indian market, the price (current estimated prices are twice of  that in the U.S.) will play a vital role. Moreover, the Nexus 7 and the iPad mini are yet to officially reach the Indian stores.

http://tech2.in.com/features/tablets/tablet-grudge-match-ipad-mini-vs-nexus-7-vs-galaxy-tab-2-310/583792

Skype fixes password security vulnerability




Skype has worked out a solution to a vulnerability that allowed one to take control of someone’s Skype account by simply creating a new Skype account using the e-mail address of the targeted one and resetting the password thereon. CNET reports that since users tend to use the same e-mail address for a variety of services, the loophole meant that it was possible for the person to reset passwords for all those too, potentially keeping the original user out of the reach of those accounts. The e-mail and password loophole, upon being discovered led to Skype temporarily cutting off access to the password reset page, as a preventive measure. 

Soon after, in an official blog post, Skype shared that it was informed of user concerns pertaining to the security of the password reset feature. It admitted that the issue impacted some users where multiple Skype accounts were registered to the same email address. “We suspended the password reset feature temporarily this morning as a precaution and have made updates to the password reset process today so that it is now working properly.” Skype confirmed that it is reaching out to a small number of users who may have been affected, to assist them as necessary.
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Bug allowed someone to gain control over someone else's Skype account


Recently, the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service, Skype was affected by spam in India, and users in the country are being asked to exercise caution. The government issued an advisory informing Skype users of the malicious spam campaign. 

"A malicious spam campaign is on the rise targeting Skype users by sending instant message which appears to come from friends in the Skype contact list," the advisory reads. The Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) under the Communications and Information Technology ministry shared that the malware was adept at gaining control of the victim's machine by opening a backdoor and communicating to a remote http server. 

Cyber security experts unearthed that the malware-ridden content has been found "lurking in the vicinity of cyber networks of Indian users who use this popular Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service". The malware has been reported to steal user details, fuelling click fraud activity, while also posing as ransomware. 

As a measure of caution, the advisory has asked Skype users in the country to "not follow unsolicited web links or attachments in Skype messages and install latest security updates to Skype". The advisory adds that users should download the latest version of Skype from trusted sources. To secure themselves further, users should install and maintain updated anti-virus software on gateways and desktops. The advisory stresses on the need to maintain caution when opening attachments, accepting file transfers, clicking links to web pages. Disabling the auto play feature altogether is a safe practice. Users should be careful to ward off social engineering attacks.

Earlier this month, users had started facing problems with ransomware on Skype through a seemingly harmless looking message, "lol is this your new profile pic?" The message was followed by a link that downloads malware into user's computers. According to Trend Micro, these reports have not stopped yet and are now spreading fast.

http://tech2.in.com/news/web-services/skype-fixes-password-security-vulnerability/583502

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

MOTOROLA HANDS OUT $100 REBATES FOR 2011 SMARTPHONES THAT WON’T GET JELLY BEAN





Motorola Rebate Program


In September, Motorola announced it would issue a $100 rebate to any 2011 device that wouldn’t get upgraded to Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and on Wednesday, it made good on its promise with the full roster of smartphones that qualify. Anyone with an Admiral,Atrix 4G, Atrix 2, Cliq2, Droid X2, Droid 3, Electrify, Photon 4G, XPRT,Titanium and Triumph can hit up Motorola’s Trade Up website and claim $100 to put towards a device that can run Jelly Bean after you send your old device back to the carrier. 
As AndroidPolice notes, you’re essentially trading in your old phone and getting a $100 gift card after you buy the new device in full. Each carrier has its own set of procedures on how to claim a qualifying rebate, so don’t hesitate to read the fine print if you’re planning to take advantage of the offer.

http://bgr.com/2012/11/14/motorola-rebate-program-2011-smartphones-not-getting-jelly-bean/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

Facebook Officially Launches “Share” Button For The Mobile Feed, Its Version Of “Retweet”



Facebook Share Button Crop Box
Facebook has just confirmed with me that it is launching a retweet-style “Share” button for the mobile news feed. The much-requested feature is now rolled out for the mobile site, and will soon come to the iOS and Android apps. Like the web version, it lets people take links and photos posted by someone else or even a Sponsored Story ad and quickly repost it with optional commentary.
Facebook has always been about personal updates, not blindly passing on links, but it could start looking a lot like Twitter soon. At first it looked like just a test since it wasn’t in the native apps, but when I asked, Facebook confirmed this is not a test and all mobile users will have it soon.
To try out the Share button, go to m.facebook.com and scroll through the feed until you see a story about a link or photo posted by one of your friends or Pages you Like. The Share button is in the bottom right next to the Like and Comment buttons. It brings up a composer where you can add an optional description. When shared, the story will show “via [name of who originally posted it]“.
The new mobile Share button shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. It’s one of the most requested features. At at talk in September, when asked about whether a Share button was in the works for mobile, one Facebook mobile manager said “I want to use it. We build products that we want to use.” The team also remarked that there weren’t technical limitations stalling it.
That means Facebook was likely mulling over the impact it would have on the atmosphere of the news feed. Right not, most content shared to Facebook is relatively unique. Occasionally popular articles or memes get shared by lots of friends, but that’s a coincidence. When people do use the Share button on the web, they often give their own description of a link.
But on mobile where typing is more of a pain, a Share button could encourage people to rapidly re-share link after link. That might make the feed seem repetitive and impersonal. Similar to the low-friction, easy-to-tap retweet button on Twitter mobile, Facebook users might Share instead of Liking.
Advertisers and marketers might be A-OK with that. Share buttons also appear on stories with internal links to Facebook Pages. Share could make links posted by Pages a lot more viral on Facebook. Finally, users can also Share ads they see in the news feed that are Sponsored Stories of links.
Facebook is surely monitoring the effect the mobile Share button has to make sure it doesn’t degrade the quality of the feed. One benefit it could have, though: you might start seeing from outside your personal social graph, which could expand your perspective on the world. Oh, and you memes and cat photos are going to go viral like never before.

GTA V Trailer Details Skeletons in Protagonists' Closets





Get to know the three gentlemen who will be taking over Los Santos.
After some unfortunate hurricane-related setbacks, Rockstar has released the second trailer for the upcoming Grant Theft Auto V. It's been over a year since the first trailer gave us a look at modern day Los Santos, the pseudo-Los Angeles last seen in San Andreas. This time around, we're treated to a more personal view of the game's trio of protagonists and the shenanigans they'll undoubtedly be up to.

The trailer starts out on the same middle-aged "family man" who narrated the debut trailer. It seems his plans to retire and live a quiet life don't go quite as smoothly as he'd hoped (surprise, surprise). One of the other main characters appears to be Trevor Philips, who the first guy identifies as his "best friend." Trevor's an aggressive, short-tempered trafficker of guns and meth, and he doesn't seem to mind taking a hands-on approach to beating the competition. The other protagonist is a young man named Franklin, who looks like he's new to the city and is dubbed "the son I always wanted" by the first protagonist.

The rest of the trailer is filled with action and Rockstar's trademark black humor. Special mention goes to the relationship between Mr. Family Man and his son James, whose death-defying antics will probably be the basis for at least one or two missions. Trevor's casual delivery of, "I'll swing by and sign the contracts, just...ignore the bodies," is already painting a pretty good picture of what his character will shape up to be.
The game is slated to release sometime in spring of 2013.

Your Skype Account Can Be Hacked Using Just Your Email Address



The Next Web is reporting that a security hole in Skype's password recovery tool means that your account can be hacked using just your email address and username.
A team of Russian hackers discovered the flaw and posted details online. Since, The Next Web has confirmed that the technique works. The five-step hack—not linked to here—uses some nimble tricks to allow a password reset to be intercepted. The Next Web explains:
The reason this works is simple, but it's still worrying. When you use an existing email address to sign up with Skype again, the service emails you a reminder of your username, which is okay, since no one else should have access to your email. Unfortunately, because this method enables you to get a password reset token sent to the Skype app itself, this allows a third party to redeem it and claim ownership of your original username and thus account.
Voila—account hacked. In theory, this means that anyone who knows your email address and Skype username could hack your account should they wish. Currently, then, the only way to avoid the hack would be to register your Skype account with an entirely private email address. Chances are, though, that won't stay the case for long: Microsoft told The Next Web that it is currently conducting an internal investigation into the problem.
http://gizmodo.com/5960420/your-skype-account-can-be-hacked-using-just-your-email-address