Xiaomi is celebrating Diwali with flash sales starting at Re 1 and more

Xiaomi has geared up for the Indian festive season and announced Diwali with me that include flash sales, discounts and prizes. The sale will be held on November 3, 4 and 5, just ahead of Diwali.

The new announcement comes via its site and social channels. In addition, Xiaomi India head Manu Jain has tweeted saying the flash sale will start at Re 1.

Earlier this year, as a special promotional offer, the first 1,000 registrants of the Mi Band had received it at Re. 1. So, we can most likely expect the band to go on sale.

The Re 1 flash sale will be held at 2PM and 6PM on all three days. To be eligible for the flash sale, users will have to share the flash sale promotion on mi.com/in via Facebook or Twitter. It will introduce the Light me up game and users playing this game stand a chance to win coupons to make purchases from the Mi store. Users who transact on the Mi store app during the sale period could get lucky to win the bumper prize – a Mi TV 2S.

Rules for Diwali with Mi Promo

₹1 Flash Sale
The Flash Sale will be held on mi.com/in at 2pm and 6pm on November 3-5, 2015.
Users are eligible for the Flash Sale only if the Flash Sale promotion on mi.com/in has been shared by the user on his/her Facebook or Twitter account from 10am 28th Oct to 4pm 5th Nov, 2015.
Sharing channel will be closed 2 hours prior to the Flash Sale. i.e 2pm and 6pm during 3rd-5th November.
Sharing the promotion once via Facebook/Twitter will be sufficient for users to be eligible for all following Flash Sales held between 3rd to 5th November.
All the Flash Sales that are part of the promotion will be ‘masked’ Flash Sales. That is, a user will not know what product he/she is buying under the ₹1 Flash Sale until the item is added to cart. The product the user is buying will be revealed to the user only in the cart.
Warranty services are not applicable for products sold during the flash sale at ₹1

“Light Mi Up” Game
On entering the game page, users will see a pattern being formed in a specific order. Once the pattern disappears, the user has to re-trace this pattern in the same order within the specified time.
If the user succeeds in re-tracing the pattern within the allotted time, he/she gets a chance to win a prize.
Every user gets 5 chances per day to play and win coupons during 28th Oct to 2nd Nov, 2015.
Users also get to challenge their friends by creating their own pattern and sharing them on Facebook/Twitter.
Users who win a Mi phone during the game will be contacted soon to redeem the prize.

Mi Store App Coupons
Users playing the “Light Mi Up” game stand a chance to win coupons from 28th Oct to 2nd Nov, 2015.
Coupons can be redeemed only on purchases made on the Mi Store App between November 3-5, 2015.
Please go to My orders -> Coupons on your Mi account to view your coupons.

Bumper offer
All users who transact on the Mi Store App during November 3-5, 2015 stand a chance to win the bumper prize - the Mi TV 2S.
One lucky winner will be selected every day during this period (November 3-5, 2015), and the winners will be announced on the Mi India official Facebook page.
Winners will be chosen at Xiaomi's sole and absolute discretion. Decisions by Xiaomi are final and binding.
Warranty services are not applicable for products that are given away as prizes during the aforementioned campaign period.

PayUmoney
Users can avail 5% cashback, capped at ₹500, on their purchases from 10am Nov 3rd to midnight Nov 5th, 2015.
Each user can avail the offer only once during the aforementioned campaign period.
The 5% cashback (up to a maximum of ₹500) on PayUmoney is applicable across payment types and will be credited instantly in case the user has a wallet already registered with PayUmoney.
Users who do not have a PayUmoney wallet will receive a phone number verification email. Post verification, the cashback will be credited to their account.
This offer is not available on Mi Store App v1.0.4 and previous versions. Mi Store App users, please update to the latest version (v1.0.5) to avail this offer.
All decisions made as part of the #DiwaliwithMi promotion are at Xiaomi’s sole and absolute discretion and are final and binding.

Besides, the Mi Band and Mi in-ear earphones will also be up for grabs at 10 am on all three days priced at Rs 799 and Rs 299, respectively. Users opting for PayU will get 5 percent cashback. Read the complete rules for the Diwali sale here.


 Source: Mi India 

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Alternatives to Tor Browser to Browse Anonymously

Security of Tor Project, the most popular service to browse the web anonymously, is under suspicion. Tor Project has suffered from a couple of security setbacks in the recent times. These included the attacks on Tor and confirmation of the possibility of the security breaches. Back in 2014, judicial agencies and law enforcement agencies all around the globe against the Tor network services.

There are possibilities of Tor being compromised by the NSA who has called it “the king of high secure and low latency anonymity.” The US department of defense, that includes NSA, funds the Tor Project and in the past, it has tried to compromise its integrity. The NSA has attempted to break the Tor browser’s encryption and has been successful to a small extent. You must have read our dedicated article on how true Identity of tor users can be hacked.
In past, Tor network has announced that some unknown sources have managed to get the information about people who are using these hidden services.

Here we are presenting a list of top 5 best Tor alternatives that you can use:

#1: I2P

I2P is an anonymous peer-to-peer distributes communication layer which is built using the open source tools. It is a complete Tor alternative. Just like any other P2P software, the software implementing this computer network layer is called I2P layer and other computers running I2P is called I2P node.

It is designed and optimized for hidden services, faster than Tor with fully distributed and self-organizing capability. Unlike Tor, peers are selected based on continuous ranking and profiling.  There are unidirectional tunnels instead if bidirectional circuits, thus making the number of nodes double which a node has to compromise to get the same information.

#2: Tails

Tails is one of the best Tor alternatives available out there. It is a live operating system which could be started from any computer using a USB drive, DVD or a SD card. It has in-built pre-configured apps that give you the services of a web browser, IM client, office suite, editors for image and sound etc. It uses Tor’s services for providing the anonymity but adds extra security layers. This could be used anywhere without leaving any trace.

#3: Subgraph OS

It uses the Tor network just like Tails but it focuses on usability. This Canadian security firm calls it an “adversary resistant” operating system that is designed to reduce the attacks on users. It boasts that it has built-in encrypted email client, built-in disk encryption and firewall. Added to these, Subgraph OS provides you the advantages of limiting the ability of malicious files and data formats. Unlike Tails, Subgraph OS could be run as a permanent OS rather than a bootable OS from a USB or BVD.

#4: Freenet

Freenet is a peer-to-peer to resist the censorship similar to I2P. It uses the same P2P technology of distributing data storage to deliver and keep the information but separates the protocol of user interaction and network structure. This makes it easy to access the Freenet network using a variety of ways like FProxy.

Since its version 0.7, Freenet comes with the two-tier security: Darknet and Opennet. With the help of Opennet, users connect to arbitrarily with other users. Using Darknet, users connect to only those users with whom they exchanged Public Keys in the past. Both of these modes could be used together. It comes with a free software suite to enhance the censorship free communication over the web.

#5: Freepto

Freepto is another Linux-based OS which could be booted using a USB disk on any computer. The data you will save on the USB disk will be automatically encrypted. It provides the hacktivists an easy way to communicate easily just like Tor. Freepto is a collective startup promoting the knowledge sharing. This OS comes loaded with a web browser, image editor, mail client and it’s easy to install. You can also create a customized version of Freepto. You are free to add new software and make changes. It is based on Debian Live Build which is a set of tools that helps you to make new and Debian-based Linux distributions.

Source: Fossbytes

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It Looks like Microsoft is all set to challenge Google 'CARDBOARD'

The DIY virtual reality kit from Google might soon be getting some competition from Microsoft as the company's Russian website has revealed the 'VR Kit' for a developer contest.

Microsoft Russia is holding a hackathon on October 17 and virtual reality seems to be the focus of the event, according to the company's promotional website. Developers will be provided with a device called 'VR Kit' which is unrelated to the company's other product, the HoloLens.

Much like the Google Cardboard, the user will need to place their smartphone in the VR Kit and the phone's screen would be viewed from lenses placed at a specific distance inside the fully assembled box. Google made the specifications and cutout designs of the Cardboard available for all, which later enabled OnePlus to and countless others to sell its own version and it looks like Microsoft will do so as well.

There isn't much known about the company's plans for VR Kit other than then appearing at the hackathon, which would be accepting apps in categories such as games, education and enterprise. Interested developers from Russia can head to the link in source to participate in the event.

Source: Microsoft Techdays via  NeoWin  | Image via Microsoft

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Xiaomi Mi4c Leaked To Come With Type-C USB port and Even More Internal Storage

It was earlier reported that Xiaomi Mi4c is going to carry a price of less than $250, which is a steal of a deal considering that you will get a smartphone running a Snapdragon 808 chipset in it. However, the rising tech star has another surprise waiting for its loyal army of consumers, which you will find out soon enough.

Xiaomi Mi4c Is Also Going To Come With 64GB Of Internal Storage, according to a source close to the matter, Xiaomi Mi4c is going to be shipped out in both the 16 and 32GB models. The 16GB model is going to be running 2GB of RAM, while the larger storage model is going to come running with 3GB of RAM. However, perhaps the biggest surprise that we have come across is that there is going to be a 64GB internal storage model available for customers. The source has not stated anything regarding the amount of RAM present in this particular version, so we will just stick to our guts and believe that it will come with 3GB RAM as well.

Other specification details include a 5 inch screen with a resolution measuring at 1080p. There is going to be a 3,080mAh battery present and since the chipset running inside Xiaomi Mi4c is Snapdragon 808, an LTE modem is also going to be incorporated in it. Moving on, one critical feature present in the handset is that unlike the remaining Xiaomi smartphone lineup, Mi4c is probably going to be the first to feature a Type-C USB port.

Not only is this particular port able to speed charge the mobile device, but it will also increase data transfer speeds, something that smartphone users desperately needed. With Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 feature, Xiaomi Mi4c will immediately have its battery level spike up to 60 percent in a matter of 30 minutes. Coming to the pricing details of the upcoming smartphone, the source states that the 32GB model is going to retail for 1,499 Yuan, which makes it equal to $235 USD.
What this means is that 16GB model could be priced at 1,299 Yuan, or $204 USD, while the highest storage model will be slightly more expensive than the 32GB version. Unfortunately, we do not have the pricing details of this model, but if this leak quickly emerged, then you can rest assured that we will also come across the pricing leak shortly.

Source : wccftech | Image Via techgrapple

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Windows 10: Download ISOs

Most Awaited Windows OS i.e. Windows 10 is officially here, Microsoft has now released the OS to consumers around the world. Most of you will download the OS through Windows Update to obtain your free version of Windows 10, if you need an ISO of the OS, Microsoft has you covered.

Before you begin, Make sure you have:

• An internet connection (internet service provider fees may apply).
• Sufficient data storage available on a computer, USB or external drive for the download.
• A blank USB or DVD (and DVD burner) with at least 4 GB of space if you want to create media. We recommend using a blank USB or blank DVD, because any content on it will be deleted.
• Read the System Requirements.
• If you will be installing the operating system for the first time, you will need your Windows product key (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx). For more information about product keys and when they are required, visit the Microsoft FAQ page.
• For Enterprise editions please visit the Volume Licensing Service Center

Use the media creation tool to download Windows. This tool provides the best download experience for customers running Windows 7, 8.1 and 10. To learn how to use the tool, go to the Installing Windows 10 using the media creation tool page. Tool includes:

• File formats optimized for download speed.
• Built in media creation options for USBs and DVDs.
• Optional conversion to ISO file format.

Download WINDOWS 10

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In India these Lumia Devices Can Get 4G LTE support Through Latest Update

Last week, Microsoft rolled out the latest non-preview version of its mobile OS, Windows Phone 8.1 Update 2, to the Lumia 830 in India, alongside a firmware update for a trio of other handsets. The latter was said to include a minor firmware tweak, to add 4G LTE connectivity support to local Indian variants of these devices. Lumia 1520, Lumia 1320, Lumia 1020, Lumia 930, Lumia 925, Lumia 920, Lumia 830, and Lumia 625.

Users of these devices can either install the latest update through the Push Notification or go to Settings > Phone update > Check for Update to manually download it. Then go to Settings > Mobile + SIM to enable 4G.

'The update only adds support for FDD-LTE (1800MHz) due to hardware limitations; future Lumia devices available in India will also include TDD-LTE (2300MHz) support'. WMPU

Source: WMPU via NeoWin 

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WhatsApp Adds Mark As Unread and some other features in its latest Update

In the new update of WhatsApp for the Android , messages can be marked as ‘unread’ by tapping and holding the conversation. They are given a green status, serving as a reminder for users to reply to someone another time.

The messaging service also has a new custom notifications setting, giving users the ability to mute a conversation for eight hours, one week or one year.

Tones, vibration lengths and pop-up notifications can also be customised.

A low data usage option for WhatsApp voice calls has been implemented and the new sections showing Google Drive backup usage suggests that the feature could be returning after it was introduced and deleted earlier this year.

The update can currently only be downloaded manually..

Source: independent | Image via AndroidPolice

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Microsoft has released Windows 10 Mobile build 10149, only for Fast Ring users

Microsoft releases another build of Windows 10 Mobile users and this time, it is build 10149; the download is  only available to Fast Ring users in the Insider program.

The download is available now by going to Settings - > Update and Security -> Phone Update and then having your device look for the new build. This release is only for Fast Ring users.

Microsoft has pointed out that this build still has the missing post-upgrade migration screen, and as such, the lock screen will appear frozen for up to 10 minutes after installing. If you do restart your phone before this process finishes, you will end up in a 'funky state' as Microsoft calls it, so sit back and relax.

As usual, you should only install this on a backup device as these builds have been known to have quite a few issues with them.


Here 's what's new in this release:

• Microsoft Edge: The first thing you’ll notice in this build is that the Microsoft Edge branding is now included. This build also has the address bar at the bottom – this is a change that Microsoft made based on feedback from Windows Insiders. The option to view websites in mobile view or desktop view is also included in this build as well.

• IMPORTANT NOTE: The result of the naming switch from “Project Spartan” to Microsoft Edge means that the Microsoft Edge app has a new app ID. This will cause any favorites, cookies, history and reading list items that you had saved in the Project Spartan app to be lost after upgrading from a previous Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview build.

• General UX improvements and refinement: You’ll see a lot of UX improvements and refinement in this build. Microsoft has fixed an issue where many Live tiles pinned to Start would appear blurry – so your Start screen looks much more clear and crisp. You’ll also see a lot more refinement of controls with updated icons and visuals (such as the volume controls). Overall, you’ll find the OS more responsive to use.

• Improvements to Cortana: Cortana’s Notebook is in its final stage with a combined Profile and Settings experience now. You also now set up Quiet Hours in Cortana’s Notebook as well.

• Flashlight quick action: One of the top pieces of feedback Microsoft heard from Windows Insiders for Action Center in Window 10 Mobile was to add a Flashlight quick action so you can quickly turn your phone’s flash into a flashlight; this feature is now included. Just open Action Center, and expand quick actions to check it out for yourself. You can customize which quick actions are always shown in Action Center without having to expand.

• Check out the updated Photos app for Windows 10: Microsoft has published an update to the Photos app via the Windows Store Beta. This update includes general performance and reliability improvements, as well as new capabilities such as support for animated GIFs (works on phones with 1GB of RAM or higher). This was a top request from Windows Insiders! And now links to your saved photos, screenshots, and camera roll are available on the Albums page.

• Automatic camera upload via OneDrive: Automatic camera roll upload is now managed directly with the OneDrive app on your phone. Make sure you open the OneDrive app and go to settings to set camera upload to be turned on or off depending on which you prefer.

• Update your apps: Make sure you check the Store Beta and download the latest updates for apps. Many of our first party apps such as Outlook Mail and Calendar, Music, Movies & TV, and the MSN apps (News, Weather, Sports, and Money) are updating independently of builds so Microsoft can get changes to you faster. Make sure you have the updated versions of these apps to get the best experience on your phone.

Source :Neowin

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WhatsApp Update : Windows Phone User now able to make voice call and send audio files

Finally, WhatsApp releases its new update for the Windows Phone users, the time has finally arrived: voice calling is finally here for everyone. After being announced more than a year ago then launching in private beta earlier this year, the calling feature is here after a long and twisting road.

Of course, there's another minor addition in this update as well. Here's the full breakdown of what's new in WhatsApp version 2.12.60:

• WhatsApp Calling: Call your friends and family using WhatsApp for free, even if they're in another country. WhatsApp calls use your phone's Internet connection rather than your cellular plan's voice minutes. Data charges may apply. Available on Windows Phone 8+.

• You can now send audio files (available on Windows Phone 8.1+)

And there you have it, the wait is finally over. If you want to get started calling all of your buddies from the warm, green comfort of WhatsApp, you can grab the update from the link below.

• Download WhatsApp from the Windows Phone Store

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Windows 10 Mobile TP 10136 users may get an update

Those of us who have installed the Windows 10 Mobile Technical Preview Build 10136 can attest that while it looks a lot better than 10080, it is not the most stable operating system.

Now Winuser.ir reports that Microsoft is pushing out an “Insider Fast Configuration” update to some 10136 users meant to address some of the issues.

It present it is not clear what the update fixes, but given the number of bugs in W10M we can only call any update to the OS welcome.

source: wmpoweruser 

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Nokia says the company will return to the smartphone Market in 2016

When Microsoft bought Nokia's Devices and Services division in 2013, there was an agreement made that keeps Nokia from entering the smartphone business until the fourth quarter of 2016. However, it appears that Nokia will indeed be doing just that once that agreement expires.

In a statement to Reuters, Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri noted today that his company will be licensing and designing phones and getting them manufactured and sold through other third-party channels.

""We will look for suitable partners. Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license."

This news comes as Microsoft announced earlier this week that it would merge its devices group with its operating system division under the new Windows and Devices Group. Stephen Elop, the former CEO of Nokia, has now left Microsoft as its devices head, along with its phones leader Jo Harlow.

Source: windowscentral

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Cortana will be available for Android phones at the end of June

Now-a-days Microsoft focusing on cross-platform approach to software development it wasn't a great surprise, few weeks ago Microsoft confirmed that its Cortana digital assistant would be made available on Android and iOS this year, as a 'companion app' to Windows 10.

On May 26, Microsoft announced that:

The Cortana companion will be available for Android phones at the end of June and for iPhones later this year.

However, in its announcement yesterday that Cortana is heading to the Xbox One, Microsoft briefly referred to its Android plans again - but that planned launch date seems to have slipped:

Starting in July, the beta of the Cortana app for Android Phones will be available to test as a companion to Windows 10 PCs.

It is not clear what has caused Microsoft to push back the launch of the Cortana app on Android from June to July, but it seems a safe bet that the company wanted to give itself a bit more time to fix bugs and make final improvements to the app before releasing its first public beta.

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Facebook Connect is no longer available

Last year, Facebook announced an update to their Graph API that will impact Microsoft apps and services. Facebook’s Graph API is the tool that they use to connect your Microsoft account to Facebook. It brings contact information from your Facebook friends into Outlook.com and the Windows People app, keeps those contacts up-to-date and provides options in apps and services like Photo Gallery, Movie Maker and OneDrive.com to share to Facebook. They collectively refer to these features as “Facebook Connect”. Due to these changes, Facebook Connect features will no longer be supported. If you’ve connected Facebook to your Microsoft account, your Facebook contacts will stop syncing to Outlook.com or the People app on your Windows devices, and the sharing options to Facebook will stop working as early as 9 June.

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Leaked : Windows 10 Build 10134 – dark Microsoft Edge, and more!

A new build of Windows 10 has been leaked yesterday with a couple of new things and some tweaks throughout the operating system and this time it is version 10134.

Microsoft added that as going forward, their focus is on squashing bugs and polishing up the OS to get it ready for the July 29th release. Knowing this, it's not a huge surprise that the OS does not have any major new features or updates. In fact, it has fewer changes than what were shown by Gabe Aul with build 10136.

So what’s new in this 10134?

1. Microsoft Edge gets a dark theme

There are a couple of new customization features already available on Windows 10, and there are some hidden ones – such as the ability to enable a dark theme for the OS. Enabling the dark theme via Registry Editor enables a dark theme for most elements of the OS, such as the Clock dialog, Settings app, etc. Unfortunately though, not all of the applications have a dark theme yet – at least on the latest, official Windows 10 Build.

 Microsoft has added a dark theme for Microsoft Edge on Build 10134, which you can enable using a registry hack. If  you want to enable Microsoft Edge’s dark theme on Build 10134, just follow the steps below:

• Open Registry Editor (regedit.exe)
• Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Themes\Personalize
• Create a new DWORD value and name it “AppsUseLightTheme”
• Set the value of the DWORD value to “0”
• Restart File Explorer, and you should now have the dark theme.

(We got this Tip from @gus33000 via wmpoweruser)

2. Snipping Tool picks up an update

On Build 10134, Microsoft has updated its Snipping Tool also and it packs a much-needed feature. On Build 10134, users can delay the snipping tool which is indeed a really nice addition. Take a look at the screenshots below to see what else is new on Snipping tool:

As expected, there aren’t many new things on Build 10134. However, there are some new options for Windows Updates on Build 10134. There’s a new option on Windows Update which lets you “try new features” – which is presumably for Insiders to get new (under-development) features after Windows 10 gets released to the public.

Source: wmpoweruser

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Windows Mobile 10 update process, build 10080 for slow ring testers

 Windows 10 Mobile update process.

 “Microsoft will continue to work closely with mobile operators on testing to meet and exceed quality bars. The input of mobile operators is invaluable to the testing process. Microsoft will use their input, as well as input from the millions of Windows Insiders, to decide when to send out mobile updates to Windows 10 devices.”

No new build of Windows 10 Mobile was released this past week, but we did learn that build 10080 would likely not be released to slow ring testers due to numerous bugs and complaints. Typically, Microsoft will release a build to the fast ring and then release it to the slow ring a week or two later with a few fixes in tow. In this case, it looks like slow ring participants will likely get a newer build of Windows 10 Mobile. Again, Aul said 10080 "isn't likely" to be released, but there is still a chance that Microsoft may roll it out .

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Android's factory reset leaves personal information behind million devices

Most important data, such as user credentials, can be easily recovered from an Android handset after performing a factory reset, according to a University of Cambridge report. The feature, which is claimed to "erase all data" from the device and is especially recommended come resale time, will not work as advertised on up to million Android handsets.

A factory reset will not properly wipe the data partition, where "credentials and other sensitive data are stored", on up to 500 million handsets, while on a further 130 million devices it will not properly clean the user-accessible storage. Even worse, relying on encryption to secure sensitive data does not help.

When encryption is turned on, the report says, it is still possible to recover the encryption key, which allows recoverable data to be decrypted. The security researchers claim that they "could recover Google credentials on all devices" -- 21 popular Android smartphones, made by five different vendors, running Android versions ranging from 2.3 Gingerbread to 4.3 Jelly Bean were used for the purpose of the study.

According to Google's own data, those distributions power 50.2 percent of all Android devices that are currently in use. Those include tablets, of course, but, fundamentally, Android is the same across all devices that run it -- so, the factory reset security problems should not be limited to Android smartphones.

The report says that, among other things, an attacker could exploit the weakness of the Android factory reset to access Google accounts and backed up data linked to them -- the latter includes contacts, calendar entries, Drive files, Wi-Fi credentials and more; basically, what is selected to be synced with your Google account is at risk.

Part of the blame lies with vendors, for not delivering drivers and updates that effectively fix the problem, and the other part lies with Google, which has not implemented "support for proper deletion of the internal and external SD card in all OS versions". One of the problems pointed out is that factory reset is not consistently implemented -- triggering it from Android allows the user to also use it for the microSD card, but this option is not provided when using the feature via recovery mode.

Vendors are apparently aware that a factory reset might not work as expected, with HTC revealing on its One (M8) help page that "A factory reset may not permanently erase all data from your phone, including personal information".

There are issues even on Android 4.4 KitKat, which, in the Android Open Source Project flavor, supports full disk encryption (FDE), like every Android release after, and including, version 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. FDE is said to be "more appropriate" for users, but it has to be turned on from the get-go to be effective. Enabling it before the factory reset, like with other distributions, may also make sensitive data easily recoverable. The problem is not all smartphones support FDE, nor FDE for the aforementioned data partition.

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Microsoft shares What happen if you upgrade a non-genuine Windows to Windows 10

Many users have a same confusion about what happens if they upgrade a non-genuine version of Windows to Windows 10. Today according to  Terry Myerson 's post, if you are using a non-genuine version of Windows and you want to upgrade to Windows 10 then, there will be a watermark placed on your desktop. Microsoft has not yet shown the non-genuine watermark in Windows 10. However, in other versions of Windows, it appears in the bottom right corner and says "This is not a genuine copy of Windows". If you buy a Windows machine that displays this message, you should return it.

He also added in his post that  the Microsoft will be offering “attractive” Windows 10 offers to non-genuine Windows users.

One area Microsoft has not yet clarified is if you are part of the Insider program and upgraded a non-genuine build to the new OS, if you will still see this watermark.

Source: Microsoft via NEOWIN

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Windows Phone 8.0 devices won't be able to be unlocked for development purposes anymore

If you are a Windows Phone app developer and want to continue testing your apps on Windows Phone 8.0, you might want to take heed of an email Microsoft is sending to app developers today. After 7 p.m. Pacific time today, Windows Phone 8.0 devices won't be able to be unlocked for development purposes anymore.

Here's the text of what Microsoft is sending to app developers:

The Windows Phone 8.0 certificate that validates developer unlocks will expire today May 13, 7pm, Pacific Daylight time. We recommend that you re-unlock your Windows Phone 8.0 test devices prior to today 7pm, to continue testing for another 24 months.

After today, no Windows Phone 8.0 device will be able to be developer unlocked, and you will have three options to continue testing Windows Phone 8.0 packages: – Update the phone to Windows Phone 8.1 and unlock it for developer testing – Submit apps as beta through the Windows Dev Center and test with Windows Phone 8.0 devices – Test Windows Phone 8.0 apps via the Windows Phone emulator

Any Windows Phone 8.0 device currently unlocked will continue to be unlocked and work as a test device until its certificate expires. To maximize the time available to test with this device, please lock then unlock the device before May 13, 2015 7pm PDT.

Note that this change has no impact on apps available in the Windows Phone Store, has no impact on Windows Phone 8.1 devices, nor will it impact customers with Windows Phone 8.x devices.

This shows that Microsoft is making developers distance themselves from making apps that support the older Windows Phone 8.0 in favor of the current Windows Phone 8.1 OS. Microsoft has already announced that all Windows 10 devices will have access to a "developer unlock" mode in its settings.

Source : windowscentral 

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Microsoft has now rebrand more than fifty Nokia stores location at Brazil

The company announced yesterday that all more 50 locations in Brazil will be re-branded as part of a larger push to have more than 100 points of sale in the country by the end of 2016.

By Microsoft 

Microsoft also confirms that it will kick off its rebranding efforts with the Microsoft Store at the Eldorado Mall in Sao Paulo on April 29. To celebrate the launch, the first 100 customers to buy a Lumia smartphone at the location will receive a "special gift " . The gift to be give is not yet discussed .

It's important to stress that these locations don't seem to be full-blown Microsoft Stores, with Microsoft noting that the shops and kiosks will use a "franchise model" throughout the country. Still, it's a good sign that the Microsoft name will be gaining a larger footprint in an important market.

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Wearable device transforms your thumb into a tiny trackpad

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing a new wearable device that turns the user’s thumbnail into a miniature wireless track pad.

They envision that the technology could let users control wireless devices when their hands are full – answering the phone call while cooking, for instance.

“It’s very unobtrusive. When I put this on, it becomes part of my body. I have the power to take it off, so it still gives you control over it. But it allows this very close connection to your body,” said lead author Cindy Hsin-Liu Kao, a graduate student at the MIT.

The device could enable subtle communication in circumstances that require it, such as sending a quick text to a child while attending an important meeting.

According to Kao, the device was inspired by the colourful stickers that some women apply to their nails.

The researchers envision that a commercial version of their device would have a detachable membrane on its surface, so that users could coordinate surface patterns with their clothes.

And it’s easily accessed by the other fingers – even when the user is holding something in his or her hand.

For their initial prototype, the researchers built their sensors by printing copper electrodes on sheets of flexible polyester.

The researchers said requiring surface contact with the operator’s finger for just two or three seconds was enough to guard against inadvertent activation and deactivation.

A paper describing a prototype of the device is scheduled to be presented at the Computer-Human Interaction conference in Seoul, South Korea this week.

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Microsoft reveals series of phones which are receiving Windows 10

According to a post, by Gabe Aul, Microsoft is in the midst of testing Windows 10 on a variety of different Lumia handsets. While there isn't an exact date for release, there is still more than likely a week of testing that needs to be performed in order to ensure a successful build can be pushed to the expanded list. Although this is not final, Aul and the team intend to push out the Windows 10 build to the devices listed below.

• Lumia 1020
• Lumia 1320
• Lumia 1520
• Lumia 520
• Lumia 525
• Lumia 526
• Lumia 530
• Lumia 530 Dual Sim
• Lumia 535
• Lumia 620
• Lumia 625
• Lumia 630
• Lumia 630 Dual Sim
• Lumia 635
• Lumia 636
• Lumia 638
• Lumia 720
• Lumia 730
• Lumia 730 Dual SIM
• Lumia 735
• Lumia 810
• Lumia 820
• Lumia 822
• Lumia 830
• Lumia 920
• Lumia 925
• Lumia 928
• Lumia ICON
• Microsoft Lumia 430
• Microsoft Lumia 435
• Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM
• Microsoft Lumia 435 Dual SIM DTV
• Microsoft Lumia 532
• Microsoft Lumia 532 Dual SIM
• Microsoft Lumia 640 Dual SIM
• Microsoft Lumia 535 Dual SIM

After releasing the above list Microsoft also added that  " if they find a device specific bug during their testing session, then it MAY be pulled from the list, and, If a phone isn’t listed here it is likely because we have found such a bug, but it MAY get fixed before the next flight."

Source : Microsoft  via NeoWin

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Again Windows 10 Build 10036 Leaks

It has been a few months since we have had a proper build of Windows 10 leak but that changes today as build 10036 has been posted on the web. So far, we’ve seen a handful of leaked screenshots and some videos over the last few weeks of the upcoming Windows 10 build. However, OSBetaArchives has just leaked the upcoming Windows 10 build, build 10036.

Build 10036 doesn’t come with Microsoft’s latest browser, Spartan. The build includes new UI improvements, transparent Start Screen, improved network settings and much more. We don’t recommend installing the leaked build – however, if you want to take the risk, you can download it from here. It’s worth mentioning that the leak is available in two variants: Enterprise and Pro as well.

Microsoft or the Windows team hasn’t yet revealed any official launch date for the upcoming build. However, we expect the company to release a new build to Windows Insiders later next week.

Source: wmpu

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WhatsApp rolls out the Voice Call feature only for Android Users -- how you enable this feature

Previous year WhatsApp announced their plan to add a voice calling feature to its instant messaging app i.e. WhatsApp. The feature was rolling out to users on an invite basis. But the company is finally easing up on that as now it is allowing anyone to get the call feature provided they have an Android phone with the v2.11.561 installed on it, and a friend with the feature willing for you to call them. BetaNews is able to report and confirm that the aforementioned trick is working worldwide.

In Marketplace, there is a bunch of apps which already have the internet voice calling features such as Viber, Hangouts (it charges for international calls), Skype, and even Facebook’s Messenger, WhatsApp isn't the first one to get this. But what makes WhatsApp different over competing apps is the voluminous amount of users it has attracted since its launch in 2009.

While the internet voice calling feature doesn't appear as enticing -- or at least new -- in developed nations, it is evidently a major hit in the developing world such as India, where it has entrenched itself as a front runner in the competition. Furthermore, internet voice calling also allows people in the emerging market to significantly reduce their mobile tariff.

To use this feature, users are required to download the v2.11.561 app on their Android smartphone or tablet (users can install it on a tablet by sideloading the installation file), and ask their friends -- who already have the feature -- to call them up. As soon as the call is over, users will observe visual changes in the user interface of the app as well as an improved call button. At the time of writing, the feature wasn't active on WhatsApp’s Windows Phone and iPhone apps.

Source : BetaNews | Image via Manish Singh

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Gallery: On Windows 10 build 10031 Floodgates are opened

Wzor has now truly opened the floodgates on 10031 bearing all but a physical leak of the x86 variant of build 10031 in a blog post, updated earlier today.

These past few days have shown us a new login screen, Spartan in action, and included in the build unfortunately (for many) the crappy 'new' Recycle Bin is also still there. Many will hope it doesn't make it into the RTM which is expected to roll out by June.

All of the images are from a Russian Windows 10 build, so some aren't too clear as to what we're seeing regarding Settings menus, but it does give us an idea what to expect soon.

All that remains is for Microsoft to deliver on their promise of a faster cycle of build releases for Insiders, which should mean we will get to play around with a new build sometime in the coming week.

Here is screen shot gallary

Source :  WZor.net via Neowin | Image via Neowin

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Lumia 535 update bring Message+ app to some users

Today Lumia 535got a necessary update which addressed the touch screen issues and also delivered the Microsoft’s new Message+ app, which is a replacement for the SMS app on Windows Phone, according to the French website NokiaDay.com report.

Messaging+ is the fast way to chat with your contacts in the People Hub. You can add pictures and videos to your conversations, and share contacts and other files with friends and family. Messaging+ also links to OneDrive, making it easy to share what you want quickly.

The app works best when integrated with carrier services like Joyn, and has recently been delivered by Vodafone in Spain.

Source : NokiaDay via wmpu | image via wmpu

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Know Who Logged into My Computer and When

In Windows, there is one inbuilt too will records all events in your computer called “Event Viewer”. This application records all your computer activities from login to logoff etc.

The Event Viewer can be accessed in all Windows Operating system including Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Here, I”ll show you how to find the login events in Windows 8. To open the Event Viewer, type the eventvwr.msc in Run Command (Open run command Press Win + R Keys ) and press enter.

Now the Event Viewer utility will open, and many logs will be shown to you. To get login events of you computer click Windows logs -> System in the left panel.

The System log will show all the logs from kernel, Wireless network service start. There you can also find out the login event “Winlogon”. Just click the login event to display the properties of that event in the panel below.

In the properties, you can get the much needed information such as Login time, user account, event ID.

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Lock your Folder without using any Software

Everyone wants to hide some of their folders or files which are private. And to lock your folder you need to install a software, and that occupies some space on your hard disk. Today I am going to give you a simple trick to lock your folders or file manually without using any software.

• Paste the code given below in notepad and ‘Save’ it as batch file (with extension ‘.bat‘).
• Any name will do.
• Then you see a batch file. Double click on this batch file to create a folder locker.
• New folder named ‘Locker‘ would be formed at the same location.
• Now bring all the files you want to hide in the ‘Locker’ folder. Double click on the batch file to lock
• the folder namely ‘Locker‘.
• If you want to unlock your files,double click the batch file again and you would be prompted for
• password.
• Enter the password and enjoy access to the folder.

Code

if EXIST "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
goto UNLOCK
if NOT EXIST Locker goto MDLOCKER
:CONFIRM
echo Are you sure u want to Lock the folder(Y/N)
set/p "cho=>"
if %cho%==Y goto LOCK
if %cho%==y goto LOCK
if %cho%==n goto END
if %cho%==N goto END
echo Invalid choice.
goto CONFIRM
:LOCK
ren Locker "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}"
attrib +h +s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-
A2DD-08002B30309D}"
echo Folder locked
goto End
:UNLOCK
echo Enter password to Unlock folder
set/p "pass=>"
if NOT %pass%==type your password here goto FAIL
attrib -h -s "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-
A2DD-08002B30309D}"
ren "Control Panel.{21EC2020-3AEA-1069-A2DD-08002B30309D}" Locker
echo Folder Unlocked successfully
goto End
:FAIL
echo Invalid password
goto end
:MDLOCKER
md Locker
echo Locker created successfully
goto End
:End

Enjoy !!!

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Policy update: Google ban sexually explicit content and nudity on Blogger

Today Google warns all the blog users that if there Blogs contains images and video that are sexually explicit or show graphic nudity on the Blogger platform will be offline by Google end of next month.

Google warns existing bloggers with sexual content or nudity that they will have to either remove the content, set their blog to private and only viewable by the owner, or just leave. But, Google said it will allow nudity if the content offers a "substantial public benefit", which includes nudity in "artistic, educational, documentary, or scientific contexts".

According to the Adult content policy on Blogger :

Changes you’ll see to your existing blogs

If your existing blog doesn’t have any sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video on it, you won’t notice any changes.

If your existing blog does have sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video, your blog will be made private after March 23, 2015. No content will be deleted, but private content can only be seen by the owner or admins of the blog and the people who the owner has shared the blog with.

Settings you can update for existing blogs

If your blog was created before March 23, 2015, and contains content that violates our new policy, you have a few options for changing your blog before the new policy starts:
Remove sexually explicit or graphic nude images or video from your blog
Mark your blog as private
If you’d rather take your blog down altogether, you can export your blog as a .xml file or archive your blog's text and images using Google Takeout.

In its content policy for Blogger, Google says "It is our belief that censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression."

Blogs will have until March 23rd to meet the new policy.

Source: Blogger

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Remove the 'Superfish' Malware manually

If you have a Lenovo system that includes the Superfish malware, and you want to remove it. Formatting your system and reinstalling Windows is one way to do this, but while it's a relatively straightforward process, it's a time-consuming one. Using Lenovo's own restore image won't work, because that will probably reinstate Superfish anyway. Performing a clean install from Windows media will work, but you'll have to reinstall all your software and restore all your data from backup to do the job fully.

An alternative is to remove the malware itself. Lenovo has published instructions, but at the time of writing, they're woefully inadequate. Lenovo's instructions describe how to remove the advertising software, but unfortunately, it doesn't address the important bit: the gaping security vulnerability.

The Superfish root certificate can be used to create certificates for any domain, and those certificates will be implicitly trusted by the browser on any Superfish-infected system, leaving victims vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks. To fix this, the certificate itself needs to be removed.

There are several places that the Superfish certificate can be installed. Windows has its own certificate store that includes, among other things, the root certificates that it trusts. Superfish installs its certificate to the Windows store. Some third-party software, including Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird, doesn't use the Windows store; instead, those apps have their own private certificate stores. Superfish can insert its root certificate into those stores, too, though this isn't guaranteed. To make a Superfish system secure, all of these stores must be cleaned.

The first step to cleaning a system is to uninstall the Superfish software. This is done in the conventional way: open Windows' Programs and Features applet (our preferred way: right-click the Start button on the taskbar and pick Programs and Features from the menu). Find an entry called something along the lines of "Superfish Inc. VisualDiscovery" (the exact name may vary; Lenovo's instructions call it simply "Visual Discovery") and double-click it. There won't be any on-screen indication, but after a few seconds, the software is removed.

Lenovo says you should then reboot. It can't hurt.

Next up, it's time to clean out the Windows certificate store. Open up a command prompt (again, we prefer to do this by right-clicking the Start button and choosing Command Prompt), enter the command certmgr.msc, and hit return.

This opens the Windows certificate manager app. On the left-hand side, navigate to Trusted Root Certification Authorities and then, within that folder, to Certificates. You should see the fairly short list of certificate authorities that Windows trusts. One of these will be named "Superfish, Inc." and that's the one we want to get rid of. Select it, then press delete.

Windows will warn you about this action. Deleting root certificates can have grave consequences; get rid of the wrong ones and your browser may stop trusting any secure content or Windows Update might stop believing that patches are authentic, and that's what this warning is here to warn you about. After making sure you have the Superfish certificate (and only the Superfish certificate) selected, hit yes.

If you only use Internet Explorer, Chrome, or Opera and do not have Firefox or Thunderbird installed, you should be good at this point. Internet Explorer, Chrome, and Opera all use the system certificate store, so they are now protected. Firefox and Thunderbird users need to read on.

From within Firefox, open the menu in the top right and choose options. From there, go to the Advanced tab, and within that, the Certificates subtab.

Click View Certificates to see Firefox's list of trusted certificates, and scroll through the list until you see the Superfish entry. Click the entry—in our experience, you'll need to select the second line (the one that includes the "Software Security Device" part)—and then press the Delete or Distrust... button

Firefox will show you a confirmation. After double-checking that it is indeed Superfish that you're deleting, press OK.

The process for Thunderbird is very similar, but the menus and dialog boxes look slightly different for some reason. First, go to the options box.

Then to the Certificates subtab of the Advanced tab.

Click View Certificates and scroll the list until you see the Superfish entry.

Select Superfish and press the Delete or Distrust... button.

Verify that the warning message shows the right information, then click OK.

With that, the task should be complete, and your system will no longer trust the bogus Superfish certificate, nor any sites or software abusing the certificate.

Thank's arstechnica for this amazing tip.

Source: arstechnica | Image via  arstechnica

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