Emojis might be your next password. Here's why

People commonly use emojis to express moods, emotions and nuances in emails and text messages

Current News :  Would you rather unlock your smartphone with a plain four-digit PIN or with a smiley-face emoji? Would it be easier and more pleasant to remember emojis for example, or “2476”?

Smartphone users commonly use emojis to express moods, emotions and nuances in emails and text messages – and even communicate entire messages only with emojis. In 2015, a British company tried using emoji passcodes in place of PINs at bank ATMs. But there had been no formal study of how easy they were to use, or how secure they were in comparison to other methods, like PINs.

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To learn more, in the lab and in the real world, a team of researchers from the Technical University Berlin, Ulm University and University of Michigan, led by TU Berlin Ph.D. candidate Lydia Kraus, developed EmojiAuth, an emoji-based login system for Android smartphones. How well would users remember their emoji passcodes? Could they be more secure, too? And might they be more fun, adding a bit of enjoyment every time a user unlocked her phone? (read more...)

Web browsing and more: Nokia 3310 mobile model is back with a revamp

Unlike the original, which was known for its sturdiness, the new Nokia 3310 will allow web browsing

 

 

Latest News : Finnish brand Nokia, a former mobile star, launched three new Android smartphones and unveiled a revamped version of its iconic Nokia 3310 model more than a decade after it was phased out.

Unlike the original, which was known for its sturdiness, the new Nokia 3310 will allow web browsing.

The new version will bring back its predecessor's popular "Snake" game and distinctive ringtones, said Arto Nummela, the head of Finnish start-up HMD Global which will produce the phone under a licensing agreement with Nokia.

"The telephone will allow you to talk for 22 hours, ten times more than the original," he said during a presentation in Barcelona on the eve of the start of the Mobile World Congress, the world's biggest mobile phone show.

Launched in 2000, Nokia's original 3310 sold nearly 120 million units worldwide before it was discontinued in 2005, making it one of the world's best-selling mobile phones.

Analysts said resurrecting the popular model was a clever way for HMD Global to relaunch Nokia's brand.(read more...)

After Note 7 fiasco, Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge explodes in US: Report

After the Note 7 fiasco, a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge owner in the US has claimed that the device which he received as a replacement for the Note 7 exploded while charging.

According to the PhoneArena website, the person went to a popular US wireless carrier's store with a damaged Samsung Galaxy S7 edge -- the highest-selling device from the South Korean tech giant.

The customer claimed he received the unit two weeks ago after turning in his replacement Note 7 smartphone (version 2 with the "safe" battery).

"According to the owner, it was charging overnight using the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) charger," the report added.

Last month, a construction worker in Ohio sued Samsung after his Galaxy S7 edge exploded.

"The victim suffered second and third degree burns and had to go through painful skin grafts," PhoneArena reported.

Three US customers from different states -- Nevada, Pennsylvania and California - have already complained about the fire-prone Note 7 devices and may go for a class-action lawsuit against Samsung.

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Over 5.7 million watched a Facebook live link, waiting for Samsung Note 7 to explode

Ever since Samsung Galaxy Note 7 burst into flames, the company has been struggling to restore confidence and trust in the firms products despite the unrelenting attack from users who bought the smartphone. The blitzkrieg is even more severe on social media. On Monday, Dose, a viral content website, decided to test whether Note 7 catches fire or not by charging it for four hours and broadcasting it live on its Facebook page. Although many waited eagerly to see the premium phone explode, it did not burst into flames. The video has garnered more than 58k shares and 5.7 million views till now

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Google launches AI-powered Pixel smartphone; will cost Rs 57,000 in India

With an aim to lead the world of smartphones with its artificial intelligence (AI)-based technology, Google on Tuesday launched much-awaited Pixel — a new premium device completely designed by the tech giant with Google Assistant built right-in — at a special event here.

India is among the first six countries where Pixel is being launched. Starting at Rs, 57,000, it will be available for pre-order in India starting October 13 on e-tailer website Flipkart and at over 1,000 plus multi-brand retail stores, including Reliance Digital, Croma and Vijay sales, among others.

The launch also ended the Nexus branding under which the company has always released phones in partnership with other original equipment manufacturers like LG (for Google Nexus 5) and Huawei (for Google Nexus 6P).

Although HTC has manufactured the smartphones, the new device bears Google branding.

With curved sculpted edges and a unibody made up of combination of aerospace grade aluminum and glass, the device comes in two sizes — 5 and 5.5-inch with 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protected super AMOLED display. Pixel is available in two — quite black and very silver colours in India.

Pixel is first smartphone with Google Assistant — a built-in AI programme that works as an intelligent personal assistant and knowledge navigator.

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Twitter launches app to stream its videos on TV

Micro-blogging website Twitter has launched a new version of its app for digital media players -- Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and for Microsoft's video game console Xbox One -- allowing users to see live streaming video available on Twitter.

The app is free and users do not have to create a Twitter account and will feature all the live streaming video available on the network.

"NFL's Thursday Night Football games will all be streamed free via the app as well as content from MLB, the NBA, and media organisations including Bloomberg News," technology website The Verge reported on Wednesday.

Twitter's Apple TV app will have a unique feature that allows users to watch live video and Tweeted video clips, side by side.

The app will be available globally via the App Store for Apple TV.

For the Xbox One, the app will be available in the US, Britain, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico.

For Amazon's Fire TV and the Fire TV Stick the app will be available only in read full story

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Google Photos on iOS can now turn Live Photos into GIFs

US tech giant Google has released Version 2.0 of its Photos app for iOS that now gives users the ability to edit Live Photos and turn them into shareable GIFs and video clips, a media report said.

Live Photos is an interesting feature in Apple's iPhone 6s/6s Plus and SE models camera setting that brings your photos to life by creating a moving image

A Live Photo captures 1.5 seconds of video and audio both before and after you press the shutter button to take a photo. Thus, in addition to a still JPEG image, you also get a three second Live Photo.

"Google first introduced the ability to edit Live Photos earlier this year with the Motion Stills app," technology website Techcrunch.com reported on Friday.

The Motion Stills app improves your Live Photos by helping you to do things like crop out the blurry frames, freeze the background, create cinematic pans, stabilise the images.

In addition, the upgraded app also lets you share video clips on read full story

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Apple slashes prices of iPhone 6s, 6s Plus by up to Rs 22,000: Report

Apple has slashed the prices of its smartphones by as much as Rs 22,000, with the Apple iPhone 6s (128GB) seeing its price tag drop from a maximum retail price (MRP) of Rs 82,000 to Rs 60,000, reported the Times of India on Thursday.

The move comes even as the company said on Wednesday that the initial quantities of the iPhone 7 Plus have sold out globally as it prepares to roll out its new gadget in stores.

Supplies of the larger size of Apple's new phone have been exhausted in all shades, and the smaller iPhone 7 has also sold out in the new jet black colour, the company said.

Here are the new MRPs of the other iPhone models:

1) iPhone 6s Plus (128GB): The 128GB version of the bigger screen variant of Apple Inc's previous flagship will now be available at an MRP of Rs 70,000, after receiving a cut of Rs 22,000, the report said. 

2) iPhone SE (64GB): Launched only earlier this year, the 64GB version of Apple's four-inch smartphone has also got a price cut, from Rs 49,000 to  read more..

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Starting Rs 60,000, Apple iPhone 7 in India from October 7

Apple iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available for iOS lovers in India beginning October 7 - the last in the list of countries.

Available in silver, gold, rose gold and the new black finish (jet black), iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus will be available in 32GB, 128GB and 256GB models, starting at Rs 60,000.

The new jet black finish will be offered exclusively on the 128GB and 256GB models from Apple authorised resellers and select carriers, the Cupertino-based tech giant announced on Wednesday.

Pre-orders for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus begins from September 9 and the shipping will start from September 16 first in 25 countries and other countries a week later.

All iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models will include EarPods with "Lightning Connector" and a Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, also sold separately for Rs 2,500 and Rs 900, respectively.

"Apple-designed accessories including leather and silicone cases in a range of colours will be available starting at Rs 2,900 and iPhone 7 Smart Battery Case will be offered in read more..

Also read: Apple IPhone 7: 10 Highlights Of The New Flagship Device

Also read: Apple Launches Feature Packed IPhone 7 To Help Reverse Dwindling Sales

Also read: Apple Introduces IPhone 7: Water Resistant, Faster With New Camera