Microsoft dates Windows 8.1’s demise
t would stop accepting new app submissions for its Windows 8 and 8.1 apps in the Microsoft Store on 31 October this year. Application developers will still be able to submit updates for existing apps until 1 July 2023, when Microsoft will stop distributing updates for Windows 8 and 8.1 devices.
Apple says no data compromised after Aussie teen hack
The boy, 16, from Melbourne, broke into the US computer giant’s mainframe from his suburban home many times over a year
The teen downloaded 90 gigabytes of secure files and accessed customer accounts without exposing his identity
Apple contacted the US Federal Bureau of Investigation when it became aware of the intrusion , The FBI then referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police (AFP).
AFP raid on the boy’s family home produced two laptops, a mobile phone and a hard drive that matched the intrusion reported by Apple.
The sensitive documents were saved in a folder called “hacky hack hack”
An Apple spokesman said the company’s information security personnel “discovered the unauthorised access, contained it, and reported the incident to law enforcement” without commenting further on the specifics of the case.
“We… want to assure our customers that at no point during this incident was their personal data compromised,” the spokesman said.
Xiaomi’s Poco F1 phone threatens a price war
Xiaomi has unveiled a smartphone with high-end features and a budget price, under a new brand.
The Poco F1 features the latest Snapdragon chip, a larger-than-normal 4,000mAh battery and up to eight gigabytes of RAM – matching Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 in those specifications.
The basic model of the Poco F1 – which has 6GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage – is 20,999 rupees ($300; £233).
The top-end version, with a synthetic fibre back and more RAM and storage – is 29,999 rupees ($430; £332).
The Poco F1 has only been confirmed for India at this point, where it will be released on 29 August. But its Chinese maker has said it plans to bring the handset to about 50 other countries.
The market research firm says Xiaomi’s success is in part down to it increasing sales through physical stores while maintaining its “dominance in the online space”.
Gold Coast plans to open up expanded fibre network to telcos
Gold Coast is funding a $10-million expansion of its fibre network, adding a 37-kilometre loop.
The council said that the new fibre loop will deliver financial benefits in excess of $2.5 million, both from cost savings as well as telco revenue.
Nexium will sell capacity on the expanded network to telcos and other businesses; the City said that “several companies” are already negotiating access.
The loop will cover Broadbeach, Burleigh, Varsity Lakes and Robina. The City is eyeing the potential further expansion of the network, hooking up the southern and northern parts of the Gold Coast.
The existing 65-kilometre fibre backbone, which runs from Helensvale to Broadbeach, was rolled out of the last 18 months, ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The initial rollout cost $4.5 million.
We’re developing a low-latency, high-core-count fibre optic network that has the capacity to deliver the fastest internet speeds in Australia,” the Gold Coast’s chief innovation and economy officer, Ian Hatton, said in a statement.
“When finished, the network will be 100 times faster than what exists today,”
Microsoft clamps down on sick ‘Momo suicide game’ in ‘Minecraft’
“Momo” is a viral challenge that asks people to add a contact via WhatsApp – they are then urged to commit self-harm or suicide. The “game” has fueled comparisons to the sinister “Blue Whale challenge” that led to reports of suicides in Russia and the U.S, as well as the online fictional character of “Slender Man.” In 2014 two 12-year-old girls in Wisconsin attempted to kill a classmate in an attempt to please the horror character.
The Buenos Aires Times recently reported that police in Argentina are investigating whether “Momo” is linked to the suicide of a 12-year-old girl in the district of Escobar.
The grotesque image associated with “Momo” recently appeared as an avatar in “Minecraft.” The avatar is a so-called “mod” – a personalized addition to “Minecraft” made by a user, known as a “modder.”
The macabre avatar reportedly chases “Minecraft” players while brandishing a mobile phone with the WhatsApp icon.
ACCC whacks Trivago over misleading price listings
The ACCC says Trivago’s TV advertising and website, “from at least December 2013”, breached Australian Consumer Law by presenting the site as an impartial and objective price comparison service.
However, room prices were actually prioritised according to advertisers who were willing to “pay the highest cost per click fee to Trivago”, the regulator claims.
An investigation by the commission suggests users “overwhelmingly” clicked on the prominently displayed prices, even though they may not have been the best deal.
ecause of the design of Trivago’s website and representations made, consumers were denied a genuine choice about choosing a hotel deal, by making choices based on this misleading impression created by the Trivago website
claims the online strike-through comparisons were false or misleading since they often compared an offer for a standard room against a luxury room at the same hotel to create the impression of greater savings for the standard option.
Trivago has stopped airing television ads that make representations about price since April this year.
Internet melts down over Liberal leadership crisis in Canberra
AFTER days of chaos in Canberra, social media in Australia has completely melted down with thousands of comments about the state of politics.
As Peter Dutton announced this morning that he would stage a second challenge for the leadership, Twitter erupted.
Shortly after at 9.44am, during a press conference by Mathias Cormann, Mitch Fifield and Michaelia Cash, there were a whopping 604 tweets per minute on the platform.
Joes Podcast for 23/08/2018
Google releasing its own version of a smart display later on this year
- Google is preparing to release a display with its smart speaker ( which is likely to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show ) just before christmas this year.
- Earlier this year google introduced its new Smart Display platform to partners such as Lenovo, JBL, LG and Sony, enabling them to build Echo Show-like devices. But google hasn’t yet built its own till now.
I’m excited about this – continue to talk about ways of making my own google home display.
I wonder what it would look like and what it will be called.
- Google targets to ship around 3 million units for the first batch of this new model of smart speaker that comes with a screen…
- After Amazon introduced the Echo Show last summer, Amazon managed to ship only 315,000 Echo Show units in 2017.
- I recon if the price is right Google will sell heaps of these things.
Huawei and ZTE banned from
Australian 5G networks.
Govt says security risks too great.
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/huawei-zte-banned-from-australian-5g-networks-500708
- Chinese vendors Huawei and ZTE have been banned from supplying equipment for 5G networks in Australia.
- The move to ban Chinese vendors like Huawei from participating in 5G networks came after an extended period of discussions.
- Back in June, Huawei executives refuted government claims it posed a security risk, calling the criticism “ill-informed”
- Huawei has previously been banned from bidding for NBN work (although its rival ZTE was allowed in that instance).
- The government considers that the involvement of the chinese vendors who are likely to be subject to extra-judicial directions from a foreign government ( namely the chinese government) and that conflict with Australian law, may risk some failure by the carrier to adequately protect a 5G network from unauthorised access or interference.”
( Rumours of Backdoor access )
“A long history of cyber incidents shows cyber actors target Australia and Australians.
- The ban of Huawei, in particular, is likely to have a major impact on the 5G plans of some carriers, as well as the economics of their forthcoming builds. Vodafone warned that the decision will create investment uncertainty, particularly in the lead-up to the 5G spectrum auctions happening in November.
idrive device backup:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/backup-all-of-your-smartphone%E2%80%99s-data-with-this-dollar20-solution/ar-BBMhNg4