Philips MiniLed Series Android TVs launch in Singapore

Source: TP Vision. The 75PML9506 Android TV.

 

The Philips 9500 series MiniLed models are now available in Singapore. The new displays feature MiniLed and quantum dot technology for better contrast and greater colour.

These displays are available in 75" and 65" screen sizes. Each 4K UHD high dynamic range (HDR) display runs on a Philips P5 processor with artificial intelligence (AI). Dolby's premium sound and video formats, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, further enhance the look and sound for HDR content.

Everything looks more vivid thanks to MiniLed technology. With MiniLed, over a thousand intelligent backlight zones are independently dimmed or brightened to enable pin-sharp contrast and real depth. Additional action comes with four-sided Ambilight - intelligent LEDs around the edge of the TV respond to on-screen action and emit an immersive glow.

Users enjoy the convenience of DTS Play-Fi wireless audio streaming technology, which enables compatible products to be controlled via Wi-Fi while streaming music simultaneously. They can also tailor their listening experience with Mimi Sound Personalization. Unique hearing profiles are created after taking a short hearing test on an iOS or Android device, then synched with the displays via QR code.

The standard RAM storage in the new Philips TVs is 4 GB, up from 3 GB previously. The internal memory for apps, saved files, and other software functions has also doubled, from 16 GB to 32 GB. The memory expansion eliminates delays in streaming content that occur due to insufficient memory, and speeds up the start-up process.

The Philips MiniLed series has a 120 Hz native display panel and supports technologies such as Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). It comes with AMD FreeSync Premium technology, the latest HDMI 2.1 connectivity, and Automatic Low Latency Mode (ALLM). ALLM automatically switches to ultra-low latency settings when gaming begins.

The new Philips Android TVs can be voice-controlled. Users can talk to Google Assistant, and ask Alexa-compatible devices to control the display.

Details

Manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs)

75” PML9506 - S$7,399

65” PML9506 - S$4,599

75” PML9516 - S$7,399

65” PML9516 - S$4,699

Firefox Focus on Android launched by Mozilla

Source: Mozilla. Mozilla launches Firefox Focus for Android.

Mozilla, the champion for an open and freely accessible Internet, has launched Firefox Focus for Android users to meet the growing demand from users of mobile devices who want more privacy online.

Firefox Focus allows its users to browse the web without being followed by tracking ads, which are notoriously for slowing down the mobile experience. The announcement comes over six months after the successful launch of the Firefox Focus for iPhone and iPad users last November, and includes an ad tracker counter, tracker disabling and a notification reminder, among other features.

"While we knew that Focus provided a useful service for those times when you want to keep your web browsing to yourself, we were floored by your response – it’s the highest rated browser from a trusted brand for the iPhone and iPad, earning a 4.6 average rating on the App Store," said Barbara Bermes, Product Manager for Firefox Mobile at Mozilla, in a blog post.

The Android release of Firefox Focus includes:

· An ad tracker counter – the counter lists the number of ads blocked per site while using the app.

· Disable tracker blocker – For sites that are not loading correctly, the tracker blocker can be disabled.

· Notification reminder – When Focus is running in the background, Mozilla sends a notification so that users can erase their browsing histories.

"Since we support both custom tabs and the ability to disable the ad blocking as needed, it works great with apps like Facebook when you just want to read an article without being tracked," Bermes said.

Interested?

Download Firefox Focus on Google Play and in the App Store.

Android malware that has many faces, escaping detection

ESET researchers have discovered another banking trojan on Google Play – this time disguised as a Flashlight widget and targeting a potentially unlimited number of apps. Based on code that was primarily used for ransomware, the attackers are now trying their luck with phishing for banking credentials, ESET resaerchers said.

Android users were the target of another banking malware with screen locking capabilities, masquerading as a flashlight app on Google Play. Unlike other banking trojans with a static set of targeted banking apps, this trojan is able to dynamically adjust its functionality.

Aside from delivering promised flashlight functionality, the remotely controlled trojan comes with a variety of additional functions aimed at stealing victims’ banking credentials. Based on commands from its command and control (C&C) server, the trojan can display fake screens mimicking legitimate apps, lock infected devices to hide fraudulent activity, intercept SMS messages and display fake notifications in order to bypass two factor authentication.

The malware can affect all versions of Android. Because of its dynamic nature, there might be no limit to targeted apps – the malware obtains HTML code based on apps installed on the victim’s device and uses the code to overlay the apps with fake screens after they are launched. ESET researchers have seen fake screens for Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Westpac Mobile Banking, but also for Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and Google Play.

The trojan, detected by ESET as Trojan.Android/Charger.B, was uploaded to Google Play on March 30 and was installed by up to 5,000 unsuspecting users before being pulled from the store on ESET’s notice on April 10.

Those who have downloaded a flashlight app recently can check in Settings > Application Manager/Apps >  to see if they have the Flashlight Widget. The app cannot be uninstalled conventionally, but only if the device is first booted in Safe mode.

ESET advises users to stick to official app stores when downloading apps, and downloading apps which are popular going by the number of installs, ratings and review content. ESET also says that if an app asks for permissions that are unusual for its function – like device administrator rights for a Flashlight app – to rethink the download. Last but not least, use a reputable mobile security solution.

Google Play apps may not be what they seem

Source: ESET. Rogue apps.

Researchers at ESET, a global player in proactive cybersecurity, have discovered 13 new Instagram credential stealers on the Google Play store. While they appear to have originated in Turkey, some apps used English localisation to target Instagram users worldwide. Altogether, the malicious apps have been installed by up to 1.5 million users.

According to ESET, the new credential-stealing apps appeared on the official Google Play store as tools for either managing or boosting the number of Instagram followers. To lure users into downloading, the apps promised to rapidly increase the number of followers, likes and comments on one's Instagram account. Detected under the name Android/Spy.Inazigram, the malicious applications were phishing for Instagram credentials and sending them to a remote server. The compromised accounts can be used to spread spam, ads, and raise follower counts of other users.

For example, one of the apps named Instagram Followers requires the user to log in via an Instagram lookalike screen. The credentials entered into the form are then sent to the attackers' server in plain text. After having entered the credentials, the user will find it impossible to log in, as explained in an "incorrect password" error screen.

The error screen also features a note suggesting the user visits Instagram's official website and verifies their account in order to sign in to the third-party app. As the victims are notified about unauthorised attempt to log in on their behalf and prompted to verify their account as soon as they open Instagram, the note aims to lower their suspicion in advance.

According to ESET, victims can tell if their accounts have been compromised if they see an unfamiliar icon under their installed applications. They will also have seen a notice from Instagram about someone attempting to log into their accounts. Finally, their Instagram accounts might appear to have increased following and follower numbers, and experience replies to comments that they have never posted.

ESET suggests that victims uninstall the unfamiliar apps or use a reliable mobile security solution to remove the threats. They should also change your Instagram password immediately, as well as wherever the same password is used. ESET recommends using a different password on each of their accounts. 

ESET also advises users to use a mobile security solution, and stick to popular apps marked as Top Developer or found in the Editor's Choice category. While developers may appear popular going by the number of installs, ratings and the content of reviews, ratings and reviews are not always reliable.

Upon ESET's notification, all 13 apps have been removed from the store.

Check Point shows how apps can be turned into Android malware

Source: Check Point blog. Watch the video.

Getting the Pokemon GO app from unofficial sources can lead to malicious app downloads, Check Point has warned.

In a video, Check Point explains how cybercriminals can repackage the Pokemon GO app for Android, turning it into malware that can steal sensitive information or spy on the unsuspecting user.



The company advises gamers to download apps that can detect and stop such repackaged malware.

Interested?
 
The official Pokemon Go app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or the Apple App store, or via the official website.

Hashtag: #PokemonGo

Yahoo Mail adds to the types of content that can be added to emails

The updated Yahoo Mail app users can now send files from Google Drive or Dropbox, as well as GIFs from Tumblr when as part of their email messages. Now that users can manage multiple mailboxes from the Yahoo Mail app, the latest update helps them send emails that include content via more sources from any of their email addresses.

Source: Yahoo. Add GIFs
from Tumblr to emails.

When composing an email in the Yahoo Mail app, users can choose from top-trending GIFs around the world, courtesy of Tumblr. Tapping on the cloud icon in compose mode will lead to an invitation to connect Google Drive or Dropbox accounts, allowing instant access to all files in the cloud. Yahoo Mail will also surface items based on title or file contents for easier searching.

Additional features:

Preview large files instantly on iPhone and iPad, without downloading it first

Delete drafts permanently on Android

Android home screen widgets offer dynamically-updated information about the inbox: a preview, a badged icon, and a shortcut to the compose screen.

Interested?

These updates to the Yahoo Mail app are available for iOS (version 4.3) and Android (version 5.4).

posted from Bloggeroid

Palo Alto Networks describes behaviour of XBot Android trojan

Palo Alto Networks has recently discovered 22 Android apps belonging to a new Trojan family called Xbot. This Android Trojan is regularly updated and is capable of multiple malicious behaviours.

Xbot tries to steal victims’ banking credentials and credit card details via phishing pages crafted to mimic Google Play’s payment interface as well as the login pages of seven different banks’ apps. In Asia Pacific, only users in Australia have been targeted, along with Android users in Russia elsewhere in the world. Importantly, of the seven bank apps Xbot seen to imitate, six belong to some of the most popular banks in Australia.

While this malware does not appear to be widespread, Palo Alto Networks researchers observed the author making regular updates and improvements indicating that this malware could soon threaten Android users across the world.

Apart from stealing banking and credit card details, this malware can also remotely lock infected Android devices. It can encrypt the user’s files in external storage such as SD cards and demand a US$100 PayPal cash card as ransom. In addition, Xbot can also steal all SMS messages and contact information, intercept certain SMS messages, and analyse SMS messages for mTANs (mobile transaction authentication numbers) from banks.

Xbot primarily uses a popular attack technique called activity hijacking by abusing some features in Android. It is important to note that the apps Xbot mimics are not themselves being exploited. Starting with Android 5.0, Google adopted a protection mechanism to mitigate this attack but other attack approaches used by Xbot are still affecting all versions of Android. Xbot was implemented in a flexible architecture that could be easily extended to target more Android apps.

While Android users running version 5.0 or later are so far protected from some of Xbot’s malicious behaviours, all users are vulnerable to at least some of its capabilities. As the creator appears to be putting considerable time and effort into making this Trojan more complex and harder to detect, it’s likely that its ability to infect users and remain hidden will only grow, and that the attacker will expand its target base to other regions around the world.

Palo Alto Networks recommends using preventive security measures that automatically detect unknown malware and generate protection sets before an enterprise or device is compromised.  Customers can also refer to IPS signature (13997) for details about Xbot C2 traffic information. 

Interested?

Read the blog post about XBot from Palo Alto Networks

posted from Bloggeroid

Google brings free Wi-Fi to Mumbai Central Station, introduces Indic keyboard app

Source: Google Asia Pacific blog.

Starting 22 January, those passing through Mumbai Central station in India will have access to free, high-speed Wi-Fi, courtesy of Google. The service is part of a project announced in September 2015 to provide high-speed public Wi-Fi in 400 train stations across India.

Working with Indian Railways, which operates one of the world's largest railway networks, and RailTel, which provides Internet services as RailWire via its fibre network along many of the railway lines, Google's Access & Energy team plans to cover 100 of the busiest stations in India before the end of 2016, with the remaining stations following in quick succession.

"We’re hoping those of you from — or travelling through — Allahabad, Jaipur, Patna and Ranchi, will be as excited to learn that your stations are up next!" said Gulzar Azad, Head of Access Programs in India for Google in a blog post.

"Commuters will be able to tell if there is high-speed Wi-Fi available if they can see the ‘RailWire Wi-Fi’ network in Wi-Fi settings. If you see it, select it and follow the simple steps below to gain access on your phone and up to two additional devices, like a laptop or tablet — you’ll just need an Indian mobile number to get an access code for each device."

Azad said the Wi-Fi will initially be free, with a drop in speed after the first hour online. The long-term intention is to charge for the service in some way for self-sustainability.

The news follows an 18 January announcement that Google has developed a touch-based keyboard for the easier input of Hindi—and ten other Indian languages—with a phone or tablet. The Google Indic Keyboard app has been downloaded over 10 million times, and supports the alphabet used for that language, a transliteration keyboard, and handwriting input. Both Latin characters and native characters are recognised.

"By making mobile input easier for almost one billion speakers of Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu, we also hope to see more engaging content in these languages on the web," said Linda Lin, Product Manager, Google in a separate blog post.

January 2016 also saw the launch of YouTube home pages customised for Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, in the local language and domain. YouTube was previously available in Nepali, Sinhalese and Urdu.

Interested?

View the associated video
How to watch YouTube videos offline
Download the Google Indic Keyboard from the Play store

LG Watch Urbane 2nd edition is a phone, too

Source: LG.

The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition, which the company says is the first Android Wear smartwatch to feature cellular connectivity, will begin rolling out to customers worldwide starting this month in the US and Korea. Key markets in other parts of the world will follow in the months ahead.

Compatible with both Android and iOS smartphones*, the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition allows users to answer calls and check messages without the assistance of a tethered smartphone.

The LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition features a classic timepiece design consisting of a hairline-etched stainless steel body and a full-circle 348ppi P-OLED display. The three buttons on the right side provide quick access to shortcut settings, LG Health and apps. Moreover, its high-capacity 570mAH battery and Power Saving Mode enables the smartwatch to last throughout the day with power to spare.

“Keeping people connected to the world is our business and the LG Watch Urbane 2nd Edition was designed specifically to meet the needs of customers who want to communicate anytime, anywhere,” said Juno Cho, President and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company. “The wearable category is still in its infancy and we plan to continue introducing exciting devices that appeal to a diverse audience.”

Interested?

Price and purchase details will be announced locally at the time of availability.

China unicorn* announces top 10 rankings in the Google Play store for Wi-Fi crowdsourcing app

Source: Play Store.

WiFi Master Key, a free Wi-Fi hotspot-crowdsourcing app, is seeing a surge in popularity in Southeast Asia as it helps a growing community get online in the region.

When a user shares a Wi-Fi hotspot with the community, other users can use the shared information in the database to get online for free. To protect privacy and security, the app does not reveal any shared Wi-Fi passwords; instead, it encrypts and stores the shared information in its cloud database.

Wifi.com, the Shanghai-based startup, which lets users easily and safely connect to free Wi-Fi hotspots shared by other users, was ranked 10th on Google Play's tools app chart in the Philippines for the week of October 19. In Indonesia, it is also ranked 10th, for tools apps.

The app became the No. 1 tools app in Malaysia last month, while also becoming the No. 5 most popular free app in the country. In Vietnam, it became on September 22 the No. 1 tool app, and the No. 5 free app in general.

Wifi.com founder and CEO Chen Danian said in a recent speech that WiFi Master Key has become an important tool for many on-demand services in China. He said: "WiFi Master Key will help more and more people get online for free, while providing better mobile services as we dig deep into our expanding data pool."

Launched in September 2012, Wifi.com set the record of being China's youngest unicorn mobile Internet company to achieve a billion-dollar valuation earlier this year, after closing a US$52 million Series A funding. As of August 2015, the app has connected a total of 700 million users, 360 million monthly active users, and an average of close to 30 million connections daily. WiFi Master Key set up regional headquarters in Singapore in May to tap into fast-growing markets in the region. 

Interested?

Download the app

*A unicorn is a startup which is valued at more than US$1 billion. The figure is fairly rare, just like the legendary unicorn.

Smartfren Android subscribers to get smart start screen from Celltick

Source: Android Play Store.
The MySmartfren app.

Celltick, a mobile marketing provider, has partnered Smartfren Telekom (Smartfren), a telecommunications company in Indonesia, to launch an intelligent start screen for Android subscribers.

Smartfren will provide its 12 million subscribers fast access to their most frequently used applications and functions, including special offers through a customised version of Celltick’s Start that will be preloaded on Smartfren Android devices. Existing Smartfren users will be able to download promotions via SMS broadcast, the Smartfren website or the Mysmartfren application.

Start provides users with an intelligent start screen. Smartfren users will get a quick view into the most relevant news, personal social media feeds, weather, web search and more. With the latest version of Start, users can personalise their start screens with stickers and play interactive games utilising innovative lockgames technology. Start utilises a recommendation engine that uses big data techniques and collaborative filtering methodologies to adapt the start screen to users based on how they use their device.

“We are committed to providing technologies that add value to the mobile lifestyle of our subscribers, while making it easy for them to use it. Celltick Start allows us to lead the way in providing the best of breed mobile experience on the best of breed network available in Indonesia. We continue to show our commitment to providing high value to our subscribers with this partnership,” said Hermansyah, Head of Service of Smartfren. “By working with Celltick, we will provide localised and targeted services that build loyalty and deliver value to our millions of subscribers.”

"We continue to focus on developing an intelligent, engaging start screen that users love and value,” said Ronen Daniel, CEO of Celltick. “Adoption of Start by Smartfren is further proof to the market leadership position of our value proposition and the joint vision of both companies to provide high quality services to Android users. We are fully committed to ensuring success of this partnership.”

The Start ecosystem includes hundreds of themes, plug-ins, stickers and lockgames (Editor's note: games that can be played on a locked screen). In 2014, Celltick powered billions of mobile-initiated commerce transactions for virtual and physical goods, serving more than 150 million active consumers across 25 countries.

Interested?

Download Mysmartfren

360 Security, iQIYI claim top spots in App Annie download rankings

360 Security, a mobile antivirus and performance application for Android users, said it had gained 11 places on the Google Play download chart to rank as the 6th most popular app to download worldwide in July according to the App Annie Index. A heightened awareness of mobile security among consumers combined with the recent launch of a campaign in Korea and Japan is credited with contributing to this most recent ranking.

360 Security offers consumers an all-in-one utility for virus protection, memory optimisation and power saving. According to the App Annie report, the 360 Security app has been gaining popularity globally, when security apps have seen a rise in downloads. Since launching on Google Play two years ago, the 360 Security app has become a top security application among Android users, ranking number one in 90 countries on the Google Play Store's Tools Ranking, the company said.

Stated Yan Huang, COO of 360 Security: "We have seen an increase in awareness among consumers to take extra steps to protect their mobile devices. Our latest ranking on Google Play further establishes the importance of 360 Security and mobile protection. Furthermore, the continuous improvement of the user experience and our new features increased our popularity."

The app is the only all-in-one free speed booster and antivirus app. With one click, users can speed up their devices, or clean up junk files for bigger memory space and longer battery life, while protecting their devices from viruses, malware, adware, ransomeware, vulnerabilities or trojans.

iQIYI, an independently operated subsidiary of Baidu and one of the largest Internet and mobile video service providers in China, separately announced that App Annie had named its iQIYI Video HD app as the 6^th most downloaded app worldwide for iOS and 9^th by revenue. The app gained 10 places by downloads and nine places by revenue in July 2015. The app also ranked among the top five iOS Entertainment apps in China by monthly active users.

The report attributed iQIYI Video HD's surge in the worldwide rankings to iQIYI's growth in paid subscribers, driven by its "massive library of premium content".

Interested?

Read the App Annie report
Download the 360 Security app from the Play Store
Download the iQIYI Video app from the App Store

SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick transfers images across mobile devices, computers

SanDisk, a flash storage solutions provider, has expanded its mobile memory solutions suite with the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick, a wireless mobile flash drive. Building on its award-winning SanDisk Connect Wireless family, the reinvented SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick enables easy sharing, transferring and accessing of photos and videos between mobile devices and computers through Wi-Fi*.

“With more and more content being consumed on multiple handheld devices, we realized there is a need to reinvent our category of mobile memory solutions. The new SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick, compatible with iOS and Android, is designed to meet the growing storage needs of today’s generation at an affordable price,” said Mark Eng, Country Manager, SanDisk Singapore. “The redesigned SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is the perfect companion to help people expand storage and wirelessly transfer content on their favorite mobile devices.”

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is Windows 10 compatible, has up to 128GB of capacity and allows up to three mobile devices to transfer content at a time. It can support a single stream for up to 4.5 hours on a single charge**. The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick is bundled with the SanDisk Connect app, which enables easy management of content between devices*** including iOS and Android devices; tablets; Macs and PCs – all via password-protected Wi-Fi connectivity.

Besides the SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick, SanDisk’s mobile memory solutions now include SanDisk microSD cards; the SanDisk iXpand Flash Drive; the SanDisk Ultra Dual USB Drive and the new Dual USB Drive with Type C Connector.

Interested?

The SanDisk Connect Wireless Stick features a two year warranty**** and is available in Singapore at capacities of 16GB, 32GB, 64GB and 128GB at manufacturer suggested retail prices (MSRPs) of S$49, S$69, S$99 and S$169 respectively.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about SanDisk's other mobile memory solutions.

*Compatibility: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4Ghz capable device. Mobile device: iOS version 8.0 or higher. Other Wi-Fi enabled devices: a web browser, WebDAV client. PC or Mac: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Mac OS 10.6 or higher

**Based on streaming 720p content at 2mbps to one device; actual life and performance may vary depending upon usage and settings; battery not replaceable
***App available for download on the App Store, Google Play store and Amazon Appstore for Android.
****See www.sandisk.com/wug

LG G Watch R gets connectivity boost with Android Wear update

With the latest Android Wear update, LG's first-round smart watch, the G Watch R, will become Wi-Fi capable, the company has announced. The G Watch R is one of three LG Android Wear devices.

Source: LG.

LG's G Watch, G Watch R and Watch Urbane devices will be updated over the next few days as the firmware over-the-air (FOTA) update is rolled out around the world. 

In addition to G Watch R's new Wi-Fi capabilities, all three LG devices will now support interactive watch faces available for download from Google Play. Interactive watch faces allow users to tap on specific areas of the watch display in order to see additional related information.

The latest update also will allow LG's Android Wear devices to support apps that perform specific functions*, such as displaying a four-day weather forecast or performing translations in foreign languages right on the watch itself. As there's no need to pull out and turn on a phone, Android Wear apps deliver convenience and save time for users.

Interested?

Read Google's blog post on the Android Wear blog

*Some features require a connection via Bluetooth to a compatible device with a data network connection.

Use PC or Mac apps from iOS, Android devices

Source: Parallels website.

Parallels has updated its Parallels Access app for remote access to PCs and Macs* on both iOS and Android platforms, a move targeted at various user segments including professionals who want to travel light, but still access all their computer files on the go.

Parallels Access transforms mobile devices into more powerful computing machines by allowing them to remotely run any application, edit documents, and search through and access all the files on a remote computer through a universal file manager. It also allows users to tap any computer with a web browser to access and run everything on a remote computer without requiring any plug-ins or extensions. 

“The need to do more on mobile devices has been a growing trend among both consumers and business professional alike. Our latest Parallels Access update brings new features that make it easier than ever before to get work done with native touch gestures on mobile devices, as well as from any computer with a web browser,” said Jack Zubarev, President of Parallels. “Parallels Access makes every application and file on your remote work and home computers available at your fingertips no matter where you are, so you can be productive on the go.”

“As the market shifts increasingly towards mobile applications, solutions that can further turn a mobile device into a powerful computer are becoming increasingly necessary,” said Laura DiDio, IT Analyst and Principal of ITIC. “The latest update to Parallels Access further extends this invaluable functionality to make the practice of working remotely from your mobile device more efficient and powerful.”

Additional features for both Android and iOS include:

· Universal File Manager with local file support, cloud storage, file previews and access to photos

· New “remoteless” connection for File Manager–connect to a computer to access files without taking over the screen

· Ability to transfer files from a remote computer to other apps on iOS and Android

· Enhanced file preview for files on a remote computer–now supports Microsoft Office files

· Improved Wake-on-LAN feature which offers additional ways to wake a remote computer

· Ability to work with multiple monitors in a web-browser session from a remote computer allowing the user to switch between available displays, or see them all at once

· Access to photos on a mobile device from the desktop agent, including the ability to take photos and copy them to a remote computer

Additional updates for iOS only include:

· Universal support for portrait and landscape for enhanced usability

· New OneDrive support for cloud storage in addition to existing support for Google Drive and Dropbox providing consumers additional options

· File previews in icons through File Manager for easier navigation

· 64-bit support for new CPU architecture on iOS devices

Interested?

Parallels Access 3.0 is available in the Apple iTunes App Store and on Google Play with a one week free trial. Individual subscriptions are available for purchase for US$19.99 for one year or US$34.99 for two years. Users can access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android tablets and phones or computers with a modern web browser. As a limited-time offer, new customers who purchase Parallels Access can get a two-year subscription for US$29.99.

*Hardware requirements:
iPad: iPad mini 2 and iPad 2 or later running iOS 7 or later
iPhone: iPhone 4s and later running iOS 7 or later
Android: most tablets and phones running Android 5.0

Remote computers can be a PC running Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7, or a Mac running OS X El Capitan (experimental support), OS X Yosemite (10.10) or OS X Mavericks (10.9).

Agent upgrades will happen automatically once the update becomes available or users will be notified immediately if not. Parallels recommends users update their client software on their mobile devices following agent upgrades on their computers to ensure compatibility.

Plantronics headsets to be controlled from Apple Watches and Android Wear wearables

Plantronics, an audio and wearable technology specialist, announced that the latest version of its Plantronics Hub for iOS and Android now supports the Apple Watch and Android Wear, broadening the company’s reach to include other devices within the growing mobile device ecosystem.

With the new smart watch extension, people can now manage the headset experience directly from their wrist. Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android lets users manage, customise, and control premium Plantronics Bluetooth headsets, including Voyager Legend, Voyager Edge, and Voyager Focus UC. The controls include muting and unmuting the headset, volume control, battery status, and ending calls. 

Interested?

Plantronics Hub v3.5 for iOS and Android with smart watch support is free and available* now..

*Plantronics Hub for iOS requires iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6, 6 Plus and iOS 8.3; Plantronics for Android requires OS v2.3.3 and later

Android vulnerability renders phones lifeless

Trend Micro has discovered a vulnerability in Android that can render a phone apparently dead. The handset does not ring, make notification sounds, and is unable to make calls, with a lifeless screen. If the phone is locked, it cannot be unlocked.

The vulnerability is present from Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) up to the current version, Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), the company said, pointing out that these versions account for more than half of Android devices in use today. "No patch has been issued in the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) code by the Android Engineering Team to fix this vulnerability since we reported it in late May," the company said in a statement.

The vulnerability lies in the mediaserver service, which is used by Android to index media files that are located on the Android device. This service cannot correctly process a malformed video file using the Matroska container (usually with the .mkv extension). When the process opens a malformed MKV file, the service may crash, and bring the rest of the operating system down with it.

This vulnerability can be exploited in two ways: either via a malicious app installed on the device, or through a specially-crafted website. The first technique can cause long-term effects to the device – an app with an embedded MKV file that registers itself to auto-start whenever the device boots would cause the OS to crash every time it is turned on, for instance. 

For now, Trend Micro recommends users who have been affected to restart their devices in safe mode.

Interested?

More information is on Trend Micro’s blog post.

Mobile security software such as Trend Micro’s Mobile Security for Android Smartphones and Tablets can help protect data and devices.

Word, Excel and Powerpoint are now on Android phones

Source: Microsoft.

Microsoft has announced the general availability of Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Android phones today. The apps offer the touch-optimised Office experience currently available on Android tablets, but with a user interface redesigned for a smaller screen.

Word, Excel and PowerPoint for Android phone join Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive for Android, and the company says this launch completes the Office experience on Android devices.

Like Office for iOS and for Android tablets, the core viewing, creating and editing experience is available for free. With an Office 365 subscription, users will be able to access subscription-only benefits such as more robust editing and authoring features; 1TB of OneDrive storage and 60 minutes of Skype unlimited worldwide calling per month.

Key features of Office apps for Android phones include:

· Familiar Office experience: Documents have formatting and content in the right places. The navigation and menu options in the ribbon are placed at the bottom of the screen within reach of thumbs.

· Access documents quickly: Create, open, edit and save files in the cloud from an Android phone for access anywhere and anytime. OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, Dropbox, Google Drive, Box, and SharePoint are supported.

· Work together: Share ideas, insights, presentations with tracked changes and comments. Share the documents by emailing a hyperlink or attachment.

· Easy to get: Microsoft has partnered with over 30 global, regional and local OEMs such as Samsung, Sony, LG and others to preload the apps on Android devices. Many of these devices will be landing in retail stores later this year.

Interested?

To download Office for Android phone, visit the Google Play* store or check out the Office blog here.

*Word, Excel, PowerPoint apps are available in the following app stores in China: Tencent, Baidu, Xiaomi, CMCC, and through the Samsung Galaxy Store worldwide.

Trend Micro shows how Android devices can be made more secure

According to Strategy Analytics, Android dominated the global smartphone market in 2014 with 1 billion units shipped worldwide, accounting for 81% of all smartphones shipped last year.

“Many users choose Android over other OS-based devices because first, the devices can be relatively cheap; second, it’s known for fast and efficient data storage and third, it’s available across different form factors, brands, and price points,” said Paul Oliveria, Researcher at Trend Micro.

Since it is so common, Android is also popular with hackers. Trend Micro has come up with a list of seven security tweaks that mobile users can employ to protect their data:

1. Lock the screen – Enabling a screen unlock code will prevent a device thief from accessing your mobile data.

2. Protect your data – Android comes with security measures that can be easily enabled. The Android security screen also includes an option to encrypt the device.

3. Strengthen passwords and app permissions – Remember to check the features that the app is allowed to access, and don’t forget to use strong and unique passwords. If passwords are re-used, hackers can also reuse them on other accounts.

4. Install a security app – An app that offers anti-theft features like remote wipe-out, tracking, and locking, as well as malware scanning and detection can help mitigate potential threats.

5. Connect to secure networks – Unsecured Wi-Fi networks can be used to intercept data in a ploy called a 'man in the middle' attack. Avoid conducting online banking, financials, and purchasing over public networks. Home Wi-Fi should be secured with a password.

6. Avoid rooting your device – While rooting allows more control over a device, it could also allow malicious apps to access data. This also makes it difficult to patch and update the OS and apps, which could leave your device vulnerable.

7. Download from official app stores – Downloading from third-party sites or app stores is one of the easiest ways for any mobile device to get infected. Limiting your apps to those from official or trusted app stores (like the Google Play app store) can lower the risks.

Need context?

Read Trend Micro’s blog post on securing an Android device

Read the TechTrade Asia blog post on Android smartphones being the most popular device for business smartphones.

Prefer Macs? Acronis Access Connect lets you use them with PCs and mobile devices

Acronis, a data protection specialist, today unveiled Acronis Access Connect – a file and print sharing solution for businesses. Acronis Access Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP) integrates Macs into businesses.

With this new release, Acronis Access Connect adds broad support for mobile workers to securely access files using iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets. This combined support across the range of PC, Mac and mobile platforms lets employees keep using the devices they love, while enabling IT departments to deliver a seamless, scalable, and problem-free file server access and print sharing experience for users.

With Acronis Access Connect, mobile workers and road warriors can now access their work files wherever they need them using the intuitively designed Access Connect mobile clients for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices. Minimal or no end user training is required for mobile users, especially those familiar with Mac and Windows file sharing environments.

For IT managers and professionals, Acronis Access Connect eliminates SMB protocol bugs, performance issues and compatibility problems related to integrating Macs into Windows environments, reducing help desk calls by as much as 70%. Acronis Access Connect installs in a matter of minutes on Windows servers, delivering immediate time-to-value for IT administrators and support personnel. The solution allows employees to be more productive when working with files on their PCs, Macs and mobile devices – as they choose.

As bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies continue to transform the way employees work worldwide, Macs in the workplace are becoming more common. A 2014 survey of 376 IT professionals conducted by Dimensional Research found that user preference is the top reason given by IT administrators for supporting Macs. The survey also found that 66% of businesses are already using Macs today, and more than 70% officially support Macs as a company endpoint.

While many employees clearly prefer Macs, there are challenges from an IT perspective when it comes to file sharing, including compatibility, search performance issues, and a poor user experience. Acronis Access Connect allows Mac users to take advantage of key features they expect when connecting to Windows or networked attach storage (NAS) file servers, including:

· Fast, full content searching using Network Spotlight
· Automatic backups using Time Machine
· Fast browsing of network shares
· Glitch-free operations when using key applications, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite

“Acronis Access Connect cures two of the biggest IT headaches when it comes to file sharing,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO, Acronis. “First, we help IT support the increasing numbers of Mac users by virtually eliminating file sharing support issues, and second, we have opened up filer server access across any device – empowering all of your employees to work and collaborate from anywhere.”

Interested?

View the associated video.