Latest News - Page 2744

The United States Air Force is boosting pay for drone pilots, and using additional manpower from the Air Force Reserves, in an effort to fill a drone pilot gap. Drone pilots are in high demand by the US military, with current pilots working up to 14 hours per day, six days per week, according to the US Air Force.

Current drone needs to help battle ISIS in Iraq and Syria have placed additional strain on the Air Force, despite initial plans that demand would drop after most troops were withdrawn from Afghanistan. Now, the Air Force is trying to find ways to entice pilots to stay in the military and continue leading operations.

"We thought we were drawing down and had a plan in place to man this enterprise that would, if we had actually drawn down, we'd be fine right now," said General Mark Welsh, US Air Force chief of staff, in a statement to the media. "We've met the operational demand signal, but we're doing it by putting people in a position where they're not having a debate whether they want to continue doing this."

Microsoft has announced a new skin pack featuring characters from "The Simpsons," which will be available on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One in late February. It will cost $1.99.

Gamers will get to try out Home, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie, and 19 other characters from the longstanding popular TV show. Support for Minecraft on other platforms is expected to follow the Xbox 360/Xbox One launch.

"We have an active community of more than 14 million die-hard Minecraft fans on Xbox Live enjoying the wide range of downloadable content on Xbox, and they have been clamoring for us to bring Simpsons characters to the game," said Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, in a blog post. "We are thrilled to partner with Twentieth Century Fox and Gracie Films to bring The Simpsons to life on Minecraft Xbox 360 and Xbox One editions. I can't wait to see what the community creates."

The threat of mobile malware continues to increase, with rates jumping 75 percent in 2014, according a report published by Lookout. Mobile users are urged to run some type of anti-virus and anti-malware security platform on their smartphones and tablets, as threats rise.

There are a number of different types of attacks, but ransomware has cybersecurity firms extremely anxious, especially as users download apps and other files from unknown sources. It may be harder to infect users with ransomware, but payouts are larger, as victims have to turn over a ransom for full control of their devices again.

"It all goes back to monetization, what's the endgame?" pondered Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and CTO of Lookout, in a statement published by CNBC. "While it can be complicated it can generate a huge amount of money. The bad guys aren't stupid and they wouldn't do this if they weren't making money."

Developers are finding a wide variety of different uses for the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, and Toyota has demonstrated its TeenDrive365 distracted driving simulator. Participants sit down in a stationary car wearing an Oculus Rift headset, taking them through a simulation that involves multiple distracted driving scenarios.

Scenarios include other vehicles on the road, in-vehicle passengers, radio, and text messages - with drivers suffering the "consequences of distracted driving within the virtual setting," providing a more realistic view of everyday distractions that drivers face.

"Oculus Rift provides a virtual reality driving experience that mirrors real life behind the wheel, giving us a powerful, one-of-a-kind way to show parents and teens how everyday distractions can affect their ability to drive safely," said Marjorie Schussel, corporate marketing manager of Toyota, in a statement to the media.

Google has halted sales of its Glass wearable system, but said there is still interest in launching the smart glasses to consumers again in the future. The company has struggled to woo app developers and plans to transition a new department to take over for the Google X division that initially conducted research for Glass.

Despite halting Glass sales, Google pledged to help continue support companies and consumers using the product - including police agencies and other major testers.

The first version of Glass was released in April 2013 to a small number of testers, available through the Explorer program for $1,500. About one year later, Google released Glass to the public, but analysts said sales were small, as price, privacy concerns, and a lack of apps limited interest.

Marriott was fined $600,000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for blocking Wi-Fi hotspot access at its Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. The company said it was concerned about rogue wireless hotspots, and flooded guests' Wi-Fi networks by sending disassociation packets.

Instead of being able to use their own Wi-Fi hotspots, visitors had to pay up to $1,000 per device for access to Marriott's Internet service.

"Marriott International listens to its customers, and we will not block guests from using their personal Wi-Fi devices at any of our managed hotels," a Marriott spokesperson said in a statement. "Marriott remains committed to protecting the security of Wi-Fi access in meeting and conference areas at our hotels."

Game developers have noticed the rise of eSports, as 12 percent of game developers say they are creating a game they believe fits the description as an eSport, according to the GDC State of the Industry report. Game studios describe a potential eSport as one that is a "competitive, skill-based multiplayer game.

Furthermore, 79 percent of survey respondents believe eSports will be a long-term, sustainable market, especially with Twitch and other broadcasting competitions making viewership even easier.

"Creating a game as an eSport causes it to become a hobby and an interest outside the act of playing it," a game developer said in the GDC "State of the Industry Survey." "This increased engagement is one way of allowing a game to become part of a player's life in ways that [don't] require them to always be investing their time into playing it."

A security researcher has developed a USB wall charger that can intercept, log, and decrypt signals sent from Microsoft's wireless keyboards. The KeySweeper was developed by Samy Kamkar, a giving sort, who has released instructions on how to build the device online.

The KeySweeper can be built for as little as $10 and simply appears to be a typical, and functional, USB wall charger. The charger monitors all Microsoft keyboards in range. The transmissions are encrypted, but the researcher has found multiple bugs that enable easy decryption. The design also includes optional features, such as an internal rechargeable battery that keeps the device working even after being unplugged, and SMS notification when keywords are typed into the keyboard.

There is a detailed build log on GitHub, and also a video on YouTube. Microsoft has fired back by insisting that all models manufactured after 2011 feature AES encryption, which isn't decoded by the system, but Samy Kamkar has recently purchased a vulnerable model from Best Buy last month.

Microsoft's head of the Windows Insider program recently extolled the virtues of 32-bit Windows on Twitter and announced that Microsoft will be providing 32-bit versions of Windows 10. This is surprising considering that 92.8% of new Windows computers utilize 64-bit operating systems.

32-bit operating systems pigeonhole users to 4GB of user addressable memory, not just RAM. Many GPU's feature much more than 1GB of RAM, and this drains the user addressable memory pool, so subtract a portion of video memory (it's not a direct 1:1 ratio) from the total RAM you can actually use. Add in PCI and ACPI and the pool starts to get pretty shallow, so why oh why is Microsoft still moving forward with 32-bit?

Of course Microsoft has to consider all of the existing computers that run 32-bit versions of the operating system, which are estimated to be roughly 71 million. This is based off of computers that are currently receiving patches, but it could expand into the hundreds of millions. Considering that Windows is deployed into over a billion computers this still seems like a small fraction of the user base, and with the vast majority of systems being 64-bit compatible it is interesting that Microsoft will still develop 32-bit versions.

We demand better graphics and more immersive gameplay, but that comes at a cost. As video games progress the amount of storage they require is exploding. Some current games can chew up to 40GB each, and this can grow even more with DLC. Nyko has the bases covered with a new innovative enclosure that snaps onto the top of the PS4. The internal PS4 drive is limited by capacity, and users can upgrade it, but it requires a 2.5" drive. These are limited in capacity, and higher in cost, compared to their larger 3.5" brethren.

The Data Bank supports 3.5" drives, which can be between $40-$50 cheaper than 2.5" models. 3.5" drives currently top out at 6TB for consumer models, and heftier capacities are on the horizon. The Nyko Data Bank will retail between $30 and $40 when it is released. The Nyko Data Bank snaps to the top of the PS4 and is connected via a pass-through power cable on the rear of the unit. The design mimics the PS4's aesthetics, but it does add a large component to the top of the console.

6TB might seem a bit over the top for most PS4 users, but after a few years data begins to pile up. If the lifespan of the PS4 is as long as the PS3, there will be a need for additional capacity at some point. Those with large media libraries will also find the Data Bank useful. With todays game consoles geared to be the hub of the home entertainment center it is surprising they still stick with capacity-limited 2.5" drives, but this is likely driven by size constraints more than any other consideration.

The groom's speech at a wedding comes with many challenges; balancing the jokes, quirky anecdotes and grand gestures of love, and all to be delivered in front of the most important people in your life. That pressure wasn't quite enough for Ed, a 28 year-old accountant from London.

In the ultimate declaration of love, Ed made a resolution this year to deliver his speech in his fiancé - Mariana's native Spanish. The only problem was that Ed didn't speak a word of Spanish. With the wedding fast approaching Ed knew time was running out...

Microsoft Lumia had discovered that, like Ed, 36% of people around the globe would have also loved to "learn something new" as their 2014 resolution*. So when Ed submitted his resolution to Microsoft Lumia as part of the #MakeItHappen campaign, they came straight to his rescue.

Legendary Director James Cameron originally planned to release three sequels to his 2009 sci-fi hit 'Avatar' starting from 2016 onwards, but with filming yet to commence, he's announced that the release date has had to shift back a year.

Speaking to ABC News, Cameron admitted that the plan was perhaps "too ambitious", stating:

Even though 'Avatar' holds the record for the highest grossing film of all time at $2.7B worldwide, speculation that the combined budget for the next three films could reach as high as a billion dollars means the films are still an inherently risky proposition for distributor 20th Century Fox.

I bet you were excited at the first half of the title, with the second half feeling something like the love of your life telling you that she's marrying your best friend Jack. Google has announced their limited market pilot release of the much anticipated modular Ara smartphone and it's going to be the small United States island territory of Puerto Rico.

Why Puerto Rico, you ask. According to Google, its population is very diverse when it comes to the smartphone market, contains a lot of phone carriers and is a "gateway to the world" in regards to internet - due to it being a junction point for underwater cables. There are further small benefits like same-day shipping all over the island and some designated free trade zones.

When asked if the Ara launch will be coming to the rest of the globe soon, or at all, Google's ATAP director Regina Dugan simply stated "we don't know the answer to that question."

Reports have surfaced stating that Samsung have offered to buy BlackBerry for a pretty $7.5 billion US, although both companies deny talks taking place. Released by Reuters on Wednesday, their account of proceedings states that Samsung was looking toward this buyout in order to gather valuable BlackBerry patents during its never-ending battle with Apple.

The sources are unnamed due to legal reasons, however they have claimed that Samsung proposed an initial price range of $13.35 to $15.49 per share, representing a premium of 38 to 60 percent over BlackBerry's current trading price. It's claimed that executives from these two companies met last week, however a statement was soon after released saying that BlackBerry "has not engaged in discussions with Samsung with respect to any possible offer to purchase BlackBerry."

It has been noted that shares in BlackBerry skyrocketed after the original Reuters report by up to 30 percent, eventually falling back 15 percent following the denial from the company themselves.

Sony Pictures confirmed it will release "The Interview," featuring Seth Rogen and James Franco, on DVD and Blu-ray on February 17. The DVD will cost $14.99 and Blu-ray will be available for $19.99.

The "Freedom Edition" DVD and Blu-ray will feature 90 minutes of bonus content, 14 deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and the Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid" episode that starred Rogen and Franco as guest participants.

As of Jan. 6, "The Interview" generated $31 million from online and video-on demand rentals and sales, along with an additional $6 million from limited theatrical release. SPE said the film cost $41 million to create and wanted to break even - a DVD/Blu-ray movie release should help ensure it is making money on the controversial movie.

Numerous states are now investigating a major data breach suffered by JPMorgan Chase in 2014, asking the company to turn over details regarding its security practices. Customer records that included names, addresses and phone numbers of up to 83 million members were stolen, though account numbers, passwords and Social Security numbers weren't impacted.

"Critical facts about the intrusion remain unclear, including details concerning the cause of the breach and the nature of any procedures adopted or contemplated to prevent further breaches," according to the letter obtained by Reuters, which more than one dozen states sent to JPMorgan Chase.

States also asked if the bank received reports of fraud, and a description of its past and current security protections.

After teasing their first high-end Tizen model in early 2013, then last year announcing a mid-range model for the Russian market and not delivering, the Tizen seemed like it was never going to surface. Media outlets were claiming that Samsung's OS may be kept solely for smartwatches and TVs while Samsung wasted their years away announcing and not releasing phones using their long-awaited Tizen platform.

Announced and available right now in India is the new Samsung Tizen smartphone - the Z1. For the price of $92 (5700 rupees) you can nab yourself a 4-inch WVGA screen, 3G data connectivity, a dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 768MB of RAM, a 1500mAh battery, a 3.1-megapixel rear-facing camera and 4GB of internal storage with microSD compatibility. I know exactly what you're thinking, this phone certainly isn't anything special - and you're right.

To back up their mediocre specifications, Samsung claim that the phone has a fast boot time, excellent web performance and great battery efficiency, further calming that this is due to their "lightweight Tizen platform." To help the phone move units, they've also including a bunch of entertainment content, giving their local market free music streaming and Bollywood movies.

Rolling out to Xbox One preview members today, Microsoft has finished work on a brand new update for their champion console. With regular users to receive this in February, there have been some new features listed and improvements made.

One of the main improvements is the apparent upgrade to the TV functionality, alongside adding new game hubs - a new section for each game, displaying your friends that this title, DVR clips and broadcasts and a VIP view that will highlight popular Twitch.TV streamers. Thanks to the new game hubs, you can also launch the game with a party, track achievements or broadcast game play in snap mode.

As for the TV component, Microsoft have added a OneGuide rollout for the Netherlands, added support for new AV receivers and set-top boxes and have also added Live TV trending for France, Germany, Brazil and Mexico. This Live TV streaming service will also be supported on Windows Phones and Android for Xbox One Digital TV tuner customers in France, the UK, Germany Italy and Spain.

First we covered the Xbook Duo, which placed a non-backwards compatible Xbox One and an Xbox 360 into a single package - now we've got the Playbox. Developed by the same modder, he's thrown a PS4 and an Xbox One into the same shell - confusing and worrying elitists worldwide.

In the lead up to these two creations, Eddie Zarick has thrown a PS4 and Xbox One into their own separate shells, but as the famous saying goes "¿Por qué no ambos" (why not both?). The Playbox hosts the PS4 component on the left side of the system and with the Xbox One on the right.

Both consoles are powered by a single cord, however they don't function at the same time due to overheating constraints. You can flick an easy-to-reach switch on the back to help change from one console to another at your will.

Apple Pay is helping lead a mobile payment revolution, with consumers and retailers seeing a wider number of payment options at checkout. Mobile security is expected to reach upwards of $11 billion in 2015 alone, industry analysts forecast, and trying to keep mobile payment platforms will need special attention.

Upwards of 30 million smartphones could be used for mobile payments worldwide, according to Deloitte, with five percent of NFC-equipped devices estimated to be used for in-store transactions. If interest is accelerating in mobile payment adoption, then it's likely cybercriminals will adapt their attack strategies.

"It's very easy to predict that as the adoption of mobile payment systems like Apple Pay increases, that attacks will grow to follow that," said Chris Doggett, North American managing director at Kaspersky Lab, in an interview with the Washington Post. "It's like that famous saying, 'Why do you rob banks? Because that's where the money is.' If Apple Pay becomes a big, pervasive system for payments, you can be sure that the criminals are going to be right behind, figuring out how to breach Apple's security and how to steal money."