LG announces a new 5.5-inch QHD panel, which should be part of the G4

We are mere weeks away from the launch of the G4 smartphone, so what better time for LG to announce a new 5.5-inch LCD display? LG's new panel features a 2560x1440 (QHD) resolution with 538PPI.

The South Korean giant is claiming that this new QHD panel has much more accurate colors thanks to a huge 120% color gamut, with LG using AIT (advanced in-cell touch) technology to deliver increased touch sensitivity to the new panel, as well we other improvements such as higher contrast ratio and brightness compared to competing QHD panels.

LG doesn't name the G4 specifically, but it did tease that this new QHD panel would make an appearance in an upcoming flagship device.

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Apple Watch expected to sell 1 million units during opening weekend

Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster has said in his recent research note that Apple Watch sales in the opening weekend should reach over one million units.

These one million future Watch owners include all preorders and launch sales, but it doesn't include walk-in customers, so this number could be much higher. Munster's numbers are coming in from his prediction of loyal customers who are keen to get their hands on Watch from their orders on April 10. He also expects Apple to sell around 300,000 units in the first 24 hours, which will be an 8% attach rate on iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus preorders.

Munster believes that Apple will sell 8 million units over the entire year, which will have Apple secure $4.4 billion or so in revenue. We should expect units to reach 40-50 million by 2017, which will account for around 10% of Apple's projected revenue for the year. This would mean that 8-10% of iPhone users will be wearing a Watch in the future.

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IBM outs cybercriminal group running 'Dyre Wolf' scam

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Apr 2, 2015 7:48 PM CDT

A well-organized Eastern European cybercriminal group is using social engineering that includes phishing and phone calls paired with malware to steal money from US businesses. IBM, which discovered the surprisingly sophisticated operation, call it "The Dyre Wolf" - and while the group has netted just $1 million so far - the organization of the group is rather alarming.

Once victims click on a fraudulent link or attachment, the malware is installed and waits for users to access a bank website. Instead of going to the bank's website, a fake screen says the bank website is down, so victims have to call a phone number. Once dialed, victims turn over bank information and a large money wire transfer is initiated by the criminals.

"What's very different in this case, is we saw a pivot of the attackers to use a set of social engineering techniques that I think are unprecedented," said Caleb Barlow, VP of IBM Security, in a statement to Reuters. "The focus on wire transfers of large sums of money really got our attention."

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Xbox One exclusive Quantum Break delayed to 2016

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Apr 2, 2015 7:23 PM CDT

Microsoft has just lost itself an Xbox One exclusive for this year, with the company coming out and announcing with Remedy Entertainment that Quantum Break won't be seeing the light of day until next year.

Head of Publishing for Microsoft, Shannon Loftis, said: "We've got the strongest games lineup in Xbox history right now, with 2015 blockbuster exclusives like Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Fable Legends, and Forza Motorsport 6, and more we'll announce in the coming months. With so many games launching this year, moving Quantum Break to 2016 extends our incredible portfolio into next year with a monster new IP".

Sam Lake, Remedy Entertainment's Creative Director and the face of Max Payne explained: "We're really proud to be part of the incredible Xbox One line-up. We thank our fans for their patience, and want them to know that the team is taking advantage of this opportunity to polish and fine tune the game to create the kind of standout entertainment experience they've come to expect from us".

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NSA finding it harder to recruit specialists following Snowden leaks

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Apr 2, 2015 2:09 PM CDT

The National Security Agency (NSA) should be able to find itself 1,600 new recruits in 2015, with a heavy focus in computer science and math, but the task is getting harder. A combination of rising Silicon Valley tech employment/salaries mixed with Edward Snowden's intelligence leaks have damaged trust in the NSA from the public - and possible job recruits.

The NSA has around 35,000 employees across the country, and trying to compete against tech companies to recruit employees from leading universities is proving difficult. A lack of trust is a major issue that is making some people think-twice before trying to land a job with a security clearance.

"Before the Snowden leaks we looked at the NSA as being a spy agency, and they did what they were supposed to do," said Matthew Green, assistant research professor at the Johns Hopkins Information Security Institute, in a statement to NPR. "But we've learned that they've been collecting this incredible amount of information. And they're not shy about doing whatever they have to do to get access to that information."

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Software is absolutely critical in race to develop autonomous vehicles

Michael Hatamoto | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Apr 2, 2015 11:30 AM CDT

As more automakers begin to test autonomous vehicles, there is a strong demand for software that helps self-driving vehicles make decisions. It's a complicated issue to deal with, as test vehicles sometimes need more than 10 times the amount of software used in commercial aircraft and military fighter jets.

"Cars need much more software than aircraft. The environment in the air is easier, there are no obstacles and they are driven by professional pilots," said Eric Feron, professor of aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech, in a statement published by Reuters. "It is much more complicated on the ground."

German automakers are struggling because current laws restrict vehicle testing on public roads, which is important for data collection. There is concern that Google and US companies will be able to have an advantage in autonomous vehicle software development.

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Delphi's autonomous car successfully finishes cross-country trip

Michael Hatamoto | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Apr 2, 2015 8:30 AM CDT

The Delphi Automotive autonomous vehicle successfully completed a trip from San Francisco to New York, marking the longest autonomous vehicle campaign. The vehicle used was a customized Audi SQ5 SUV, and was first unveiled during the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January.

The vehicle uses six long-range radars, three vision-based cameras, four short-range radars, six lidars, and customized software algorithms working to help the vehicle navigate itself. Engineers hope to use data collected during the 3,500-mile journey to help refine its efforts, while setting future goals for autonomous technology.

"The car actually handled extremely well," said Wayne Cunningham, car tech editor of CNET, after getting the chance to drive the vehicle. "When it saw other cars around, it slowed down. It was following the lane lines too."

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Virtual reality needs killer experience to drive further interest

Hardware powering virtual reality head-mounted displays (HMDs) is accelerating, but consumers are looking for an enjoyable VR experience to embrace. That "killer experience" is more than just a series of apps that draw attention, according to a specialist from the Sony PlayStation Magic Lab.

"It could be anywhere. It could be a virtual space, or a real place that's here on Earth," said Richard Marks, director of the Project Morpheus for Sony, in a statement to CNBC's "Squawk Alley." "Everyone would like to visit somewhere else, whether it be Mars or Hogwarts, and just feeling like you're standing in a place like that is really the killer experience."

VR hardware is improving with better presence - and latency times are getting better - with huge potential for gaming and other markets. It may not just be gaming and movies, as VR provides more realistic simulators and training experiences for the workplace. Once software development matures, there is huge potential in the consumer and business industries.

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Ford fighting to find ways to support wearables, Internet of Things

Michael Hatamoto | Electric Vehicles & Cars | Apr 2, 2015 5:34 AM CDT

Automakers must find ways to cater to increasingly connected drivers and passengers, with Ford saying it is trying to accommodate fitness bands, smartwatches, and other wearables in new vehicles. As more Things connect to the Internet of Things (IoT), connectivity will be expected in newer vehicles that interest auto buyers.

"Now the car is becoming the ultimate technology product, and we are becoming more of an information company," said Mark Fields, CEO of Ford, in a statement to CIO Journal. It's true that vehicles are becoming rolling Internet and tech machines - needing to cater to increasingly connected drivers and passengers.

All collected data will be encrypted and shared when owners authorize it - so Ford Sync can inform drivers if blood glucose levels are dropping, or to share data with physicians. It seems like rather obscure data for a vehicle to monitor, but Ford wants to make health and wellness even more accessible to drivers.

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Details how Pakistan arrested one of the most wanted cybercriminals

Michael Hatamoto | Hacking, Security & Privacy | Apr 2, 2015 4:40 AM CDT

Following an international manhunt dating back two-and-a-half years, the FBI's most wanted cybercriminal was captured in Pakistan earlier this year. Noor Aziz Uddin, a 52-year-old responsible for spearheading a global phone fraud ring, was one of the FBI's most wanted cybercriminals.

Despite traveling between the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Pakistan, Italy and New Jersey, Uddin's ability to hide began to unravel after federal Pakistani authorities received a phone number reportedly linked to him. The Federal Investigation Agency in Pakistan was able to use the phone's GPS coordinates, with help from Uddin's wireless service carrier, to pinpoint his exact location.

The arrest occurred successfully without any violence.

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