Showing posts with label Digital. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Digital. Show all posts

Saturday, April 27, 2013

AT&T's Digital Life home automation system launches in 15 markets

It’s been a long time in the making but AT&T’s home security and automation system is finally launching. Customers in 15 different markets (Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Boulder, Colo., Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia, Riverside, Calif., San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis and select areas of the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area) can place their orders for Digital Life starting today according to a press release on the matter.

AT&T is peddling two different packages here: Simple Security and Smart Security. The first option is essentially a basic alarm system with sensors, HSPA base station and 24-hour battery backup for $30 per month with an installation fee of $150.

For an extra $10 per month and a $250 installation fee, you can get the basic version of Smart Security which includes your choice of three additional features. Customers can choose between a motion sensor, carbon monoxide sensor, glass break sensor, smoke sensor or what’s described as a takeover kit. Additional features like a camera system, water detection package or energy management can be added for between $5 and $10 each per month plus the cost of installation.

The security aspect of Digital Life consists of 24/7 professional monitoring with the ability to alert police and fire authorities. Customers can choose which alerts they wish to receive as well as how they receive them. With remote access, customers can monitor and control a number of aspects in their home remotely from a smartphone, tablet or PC. Options here include locking or unlocking doors, checking in on the kids or pets or adjusting the thermostat.

It certainly sounds like a neat system but there are a few restrictions. AT&T can only install the system in a single-family, detached home in the markets listed above. What's more, the installation fees can quickly add up if you plan to purchase a number of services.


View the original article here

Friday, April 12, 2013

Google's Inactive Account Manager secures your digital existence after you kick the bucket

Google's Inactive Account Manager secures your digital existence when you no longer roam the Earth


If you're worried about what will happen to your mounds of digital data when you pass away, Google has just announced a feature for keeping said libraries secure. The outfit's Inactive Account Manager allows users to set time out periods of three, six, nine or 12 months for inactivity before deleting all of the stored files or having them handed over to a family member or "trusted contact." Those still left roaming the Earth can be granted access to Blogger, Drive, Gmail, Google+ and more without an application process, or they can simply be notified of the situation. Before any predetermined action is taken, the system will beam out a text and an email -- so if you're still around, you can halt matters from progressing further. Set up that digital will via the source links below and or by accessing the Google Account settings page.


Source: Google (Public Policy Blog), Inactive Account Manager

Sunday, March 24, 2013

AT&T to launch Digital Life in 15 markets, hopes to enter home automation field

AT&T Expands Digital Life Launch Markets

Customers in More Places Will Experience the Security, Simplicity and Efficiency of AT&T Digital Life
Dallas, Texas, March 22, 2013

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Customers in 15 markets across the U.S. will soon get to experience the newest technology in home security and automation, AT&T Digital LifeSM. AT&T* today announced expanded initial launch plans for Digital Life from eight to 15 markets beginning this spring. AT&T will continue to launch Digital Life in new markets across the nation, with plans to reach up to 50 markets by the end of 2013.

Smart Security

The core of AT&T Digital Life is a complete security solution. Through dedicated 24/7 monitoring centers, professionals will alert police and fire authorities of emergencies, along with customers, including details on where the event inside the home occurred. Customers can choose from security features such as window sensors, glass break detectors, carbon monoxide sensors and more.

Simple Automation

With a state-of-the-art, user-friendly application, customers can easily manage and control security and automation devices by setting up programs and alerts. For instance, you can get a notice when your front porch video camera sees motion or set your system to turn on lights, unlock the door and change the thermostat when the garage door opens. The all-digital, wireless Digital Life platform allows extensive flexibility with the sensors and services available to customers which include water leak, CO, smoke and glass break sensors, thermostats for managing energy, wirelessly-controlled door locks, video cameras, and more.

"We've been building AT&T Digital Life with the intent to establish a strong position in an industry ripe with potential to connect customers to their homes in a game-changing, wireless-centric experience," said Kevin Petersen, senior vice president, AT&T Digital Life. "We did extensive research, listened to our customers and worked hard to build a solution with an unmatched set of assets. We are excited for our customers to begin experiencing Digital Life and all the benefits it offers."

Experience AT&T Digital Life

Digital Life offers a simple purchasing process with several options. Customers may experience the services inside an AT&T store before making a purchase, order through a call center representative, visit att.com/digitallife, or schedule an appointment with an in-home sales consultant.

For the complete array of AT&T offerings, visit www.att.com. To learn more about Digital Life availability, visit www.att.com/digitallife.


Source

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

National Archives donates 1.2 million digital objects to Digital Public Library of America pilot project


National Archives donates 12 million digital objects to Digital Public Library of America pilot projectThe new Digital Public Library of America (or DPLA) will be kicking off its first big pilot project at the Boston Public Library next month, and it's now gotten a big shot in the arm courtesy of the US National Archives. It announced today that it's donating some 1.2 million digital objects to the effort, which range from founding documents to Civil War photos to World War II posters. That initial effort from the DPLA, dubbed the Digital Hubs Pilot Project, aims to stitch together a number of individual digital libraries now spread across the US into one network, and make the items from the National Archives and other institutions freely available to the public. In a statement, US Archivist David S. Ferriero says "the ability to seamlessly search across the collections of major cultural, historical, and research institutions improves democracy through education, and furthers the principles of Open Government." You can find the full announcement, and more on the DPLA at the source link.


Source: DPLA

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

MasterCard announces MasterPass digital banking service, gives Australia and Canada first dibs

MasterCard Delivers on the Promise of a Digital Future

February 25, 2013

Australia announced as the first market to deliver MasterCard MasterPass Digital Wallet

Sydney, 25 February 2013 – MasterCard today unveiled MasterPassTM – the future of digital payments – and announced Australia as the first to launch the ground-breaking digital wallet technology in March 2013.
MasterPass brings together all of the ways consumers pay for things, from traditional plastic cards to digital wallets, and gives them the ability to make a payment from wherever they are with one simple experience.

Partners already working with MasterCard on MasterPass include Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ME Bank, JB Hi-Fi, AHL, Harvey Norman, Roses Only, Merchant Warrior and Paycorp.

With a simple click, tap or touch – online, in-store or anywhere – using any payment card or enabled device, MasterPass gives Australians access to a range of cards in their digital wallet with one button. MasterPass is the evolution of PayPass Wallet Services announced in May of last year.
Leading the transition to digital payments, MasterPass speeds up the online checkout process. Users can choose to pay from a list of pre-stored cards and shipping addresses kept securely in the digital wallet, removing the need to manually enter payment details as is necessary with most existing online payment systems.

"It's about convenience, accessibility and security," said Eddie Grobler, MasterCard Australasia divisional president.

"Australian consumers want to embrace mobile payments, and MasterPass is a crucial step in the evolution from plastic cards to digital wallets.
"With MasterPass, consumers can safely do their grocery shopping on the train on the way home from work, or make a last minute gift purchase on their lunch break, without the need to re-enter card and shipping details."

Partners already signed up are excited about the opportunity this creates for their own business.
In a first for Australian banking, Westpac customers will be able to checkout seamlessly on their mobile phone, ensuring a faster and more convenient shopping experience," said David Lindberg, Chief Product Officer, Westpac. "Westpac is proud to support ideas that make our customers' lives that little bit easier."

The MasterPass suite of services includes:
MasterPass checkout services – to provide merchants a consistent way to accept electronic payments regardless of where the consumer may be. For in-store scenarios either at the register or in the aisle, MasterPass supports the use of NFC, QR codes, tags, mobile devices used at points of sale or traditional plastic cards. For online purchases, MasterPass provides shoppers a simple check-out process by eliminating the need to enter detailed shipping and card information with every purchase.

MasterPass-connected wallets – to enable banks, merchants and partners to offer their own wallets. Consumers can securely store card information, address books and more in a secure cloud, hosted by an entity they trust. The wallet is open, which means that in addition to MasterCard cards, consumers can use other branded credit, debit and prepaid cards.
MasterPass value added services – to enrich the shopping experience before, during and after checkout. This includes more information like account balances and real-time alerts, loyalty programs, as well as Priceless offers and experiences.
Merchants and Financial Institutions Embrace MasterPass

Since the introduction of PayPass Wallet Services in May of 2012, merchants and financial institutions worldwide continue to support MasterCard and its digital payments strategy. With today's announcement, merchants, issuers and supporting partners working with MasterCard to support the launch of MasterPass include:

Financial institutions: BBVA Bank, BMO, BNLPOSitivity, BNL Italy, BNP Paribas Fortis Belgium, Banco Sabadell, Banco Santander, Banca Sella, Citi, Commonwealth Bank, Deutsche Bank Italy, EMS, EnterCard, EURO 6000, European Merchant Services, Fifth Third Bank, Handelsbanken, International Card Services Netherlands, Intesa Sanpaolo, Lake Trust Credit Union, ME Bank, NAB, SEB Kort, SIA, Swedbank, TMG Financial Services, UniCredit and Westpac.

Merchants: AHL, American Airlines, Argos, Boots, Grocery Gateway, Harvey Norman, Hikingboots.com, JB Hi-Fi, LogiTRAVEL, Mediamarket Spa Italy, MLB Advanced Media, Park Avenue Coffee, Roses Only Group, Runningshoes.com, Vodafone Italy and Wintercheck Factory. In addition to these merchants, through our work with service providers and payment gateways worldwide, MasterPass will be available at more than 5,900 merchants.

Technology partners: Adyen, Buckaroo, CQR, Cardinal Commerce, Cart32, CO-OP Financial Services, DataCash, Demandware, ICBA Bancard inc., Merchant Warrior, mFoundry, Moneris, OPENTECH.com, Paycorp Holdings, PSCU, Reply, Sage Pay, SIA, The Members Group, Usablenet and VeriFone Systems, Inc.

Supporting Partner Quotes
"In a first for Australian banking, Westpac customers will be able to checkout seamlessly on their mobile phone, ensuring a faster and more convenient shopping experience. Westpac is proud to support ideas that make our customers' lives that little bit easier." David Lindberg, Chief Product Officer, Westpac

"Commonwealth Bank is committed to delivering the world's most advanced technology and solutions to our customers. The payments space is a great example for this. Introducing our customers to the convenience, safety and efficiency of MasterPass is therefore the right step for us. Australians are tech savvy, so whether it is via computer, tablet or mobile, they will be able to enjoy the benefits of MasterPass on whatever device they are using." Dr Michael Baumann, General Manager Payments Development, Commonwealth Bank

"NAB is continually looking for ways to improve, extend and enhance our cardholders' experience, whether they are paying in-store or online. MasterPass provides a simple and secure way for Australians to use their digital devices, including computers, tablets and mobiles, to enable payments and NAB is pleased to take part in this industry innovation." David Berry, GM Cards & Personal Loans, NAB
"We are very pleased to be working with MasterCard on the MasterPass wallet and keen to confirm how our customers perceive this simple and convenient service, which helps people buy goods and services over the internet. We believe this new financial service will only increase in relevance as more people buy online." Tom Bekiaris, Group Executive, Product & Strategy, ME Bank
"As Australia's leading technology and entertainment retailer it's vital we play a role in shaping the future of digital transactions. MasterPass represents a genuine step change for Australian retailing. By empowering our customers with a safe, efficient, innovative payment solution we're able to ensure every JB Hi-Fi experience online is a satisfying one." Richard Murray, CFO, JB Hi-Fi
"At Harvey Norman we seamlessly integrate the customer experience across all channels and being able to access different payment platforms is integral to this experience. MasterPass will enable us to continue to provide our customers with a secure and efficient payments experience, with added convenience when making their online purchases."Chris Mentis, Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Harvey Norman

"After building an outstanding strategic alliance with MasterCard's PayPass through our market-leading brands including Event Cinemas and Thredbo, we are excited about opportunities associated with the next generation of technology including MasterPass. Most customers begin their journey with us in the digital space, by booking and buying cinema and travel experiences online and on mobile. Innovation that supports this is a huge focus for our business going forward." Kristie Atkins, Director of Sales, AHL
"Digital payments represent the lifeblood of our business, so pioneering MasterPass is a key step in giving our customers the freedom to buy whenever they like, wherever they like. As Australia's leading online florist and gift retailer our customers demand an efficient payment process – that's exactly what MasterPass provides." James Stevens, CEO, Roses Only Group
"At Merchant Warrior we are committed to Innovation, Security and Leading edge technologies that empower merchants to offer flexible online payment solutions. We are proud to be one of Australia's premier payment gateways participating in the launch and implementation of MasterCard's MasterPass. We envision this partnership, through MasterPass, to be a step forward in the evolution of Next Generation Digital Payment solutions and are excited to play a part in shaping the future of Payments." Rakesh Pathak, Founder & CEO, Merchant Warrior
"As a leading provider of e-commerce payments solutions and innovation Paycorp are thrilled to partner MasterCard in offering MasterPass to our customers. We are impressed by the wallet's design allowing payment instruments and delivery addresses to be easily added or selected to complete the order checkout process. Our merchants will be surprised at how simple it is to integrate MasterPass to their existing e-commerce or m-commerce interfaces all within a highly secure environment. The open nature of the wallet allows a variety of payment instruments to be loaded, this truly is an online replacement for the physical wallet." John Caliguri, Managing Director, Paycorp Holdings
Find a complete list of MasterCard's news announcements from Mobile World Congress in our Digital Press Kit and follow us @MasterCardNews #MWCashless #MAMobileSymp to join the conversation.


Source

Saturday, February 9, 2013

High Contrast's 'Spectrum Analyser' embraces our glitchy digital history (video)

High Contrast's 'Spectrum Analyser' embraces our glitchy, trippy digital history video


Forget the rose-tinted view of the early digital era that we sometimes get from chiptunes. High Contrast's new "Spectrum Analyser" music video triggers our nostalgia by embracing the messiness and imperfections of computing in the '80s and '90s -- all while producing the kind of psychedelic journey we'd have expected from the '60s. We almost don't know where to start. The flood of Windows screens? The polar bear fighting game? The endless, purposeful video glitches? There's no one frame that can illustrate just how much 8- and 16-bit history is packed into one space. As long as you're a fan of drum-and-bass, it's best to catch the video after the break if you want a trip down memory lane... just expect a few odd detours.



Source: Hospital Records (Twitter)

Editorial: Nintendo's digital content problem and how the Wii U is making things worse



The Wii U's launch was a bit rocky, to say the least. Missing features, promised TV services and slow-loading, day-one firmware updates left Nintendo fans frustrated and disappointed. The company is still cleaning up the mess too, announcing that it will push two additional software updates to fix the console's slogging load times. A quicker console will certainly be welcome, but the Wii U spring updates are missing an opportunity to close a rift that divides Nintendo from its loving customer base: how it handles digital content ownership.


Ever buy an Xbox Live game? You probably know that purchase is tied to your Xbox Live account, and will be available on any subsequent Xbox you purchase. Not in Nintendo's world; Kyoto's digital sales are tied to the gaming hardware, not the user's account. It's been a sore spot for Nintendo gamers for some time now, and the Wii U was the company's chance to make amends -- except it didn't. Like its predecessors, the new console locks content to the device it was originally purchased on, imprisoning digital purchases in a physical cage. The Wii U takes content confinement a step further with its support for legacy software, providing a near-perfect example of the folly of Nintendo's content ownership philosophy: the isolated sandbox of its backwards-compatible Wii Menu.

Editorial Nintendo's digital content problem and how the Wii U is making things worse


The functionality of the Wii U's backwards-compatible mode is undeniable -- it's a near-perfect replication of the original hardware's system menu. Too perfect. Despite offering a fully functional emulation of Nintendo's previous-generation hardware, the Wii U's legacy support is riddled with muted consequences, perplexing limitations and lost potential. The sandbox itself, for instance, is built on the Wii U's expansive beach of internal storage (8GB to 32GB, depending on the model), but limits itself to the paltry 512MB of virtual storage within its personal playpen. This corresponds with the original Wii's available storage, but stands as an example of how the Wii U fails to deliver a superior Wii experience over the original hardware, presenting an adequate facsimile instead.


Sandboxing the Wii U's backwards compatibility affords Nintendo some degree of protection, isolating the security flaws of the previous generation from the new hardware's operating system. That security comes at a price: isolating one device-based ownership model within another owned device. That is to say, your Wii U content is tied to your Wii U console, but your Wii content can now be tied to a virtual Wii within your Wii U console without giving ownership of its content to its parent Wii U console. Confusing? Absolutely. By isolating Wii content from its new console's core system, Nintendo has fragmented its own ecosystem. Kyoto's failure to integrate this content leaves users to juggle two digital stores on one console. The 3DS adds yet another eShop to the pile, making content management as a Nintendo fan needlessly complicated.



Nintendo has fragmented its own ecosystem.


Unfortunately, Nintendo doesn't see the problem. NOA told us that it feels the "tailored approach" of maintaining three separate storefronts is "the right one," further explaining that the sandboxed Wii menu was designed to "protect the investment that consumers had already made in Wii software." A nice sentiment, but not a very reassuring one: a lost, stolen or damaged Wii U could blip multiple generations of purchases out of existence. Damaged consoles can be repaired for a modest fee, of course, but hardware replacements are at Nintendo's discretion. If you manage to convince the company to move your Wii U Basic content to a Deluxe, you'll need to send both units to its support department to make the transfer. If anything, the company protects content from its users. Makes Nintendo's digital sales push a little harder to swallow, doesn't it?


DNP Editorial Nintendos digital content problem and how the Wii U is making things worse


Worse still, the new console's most important innovation is still shackled by the bonds of device ownership: the Nintendo Network ID. This personal account finally associates living, breathing humans with a centralized Nintendo account, but cripples itself by refusing to work with any device besides its console of origin. The Nintendo Network ID could have been the unified account gamers have been asking Nintendo for, but instead it's little more than a retooled friend code and local user login. That isn't to say Nintendo isn't trying; the Wii U is the company's most sophisticated online device to date, packing a manageable friends system, an improved shopping experience and even its own quirky social network -- but that alone isn't enough.



Frankly, Mario needs to get with the times.


If Nintendo wants the gaming masses to be comfortable diving into its new digital frontier, it's going to have to make a few changes, none of them minor. First of all, the Wii U's legacy sub-menu needs to go. It stands for everything the company is doing wrong: segregation, stagnation and fragmentation. Cleaning up the Wii U's cross-generational mess and integrating the Wii Shop channel with the Wii U eShop will give users a wealth of content in a single location, instantly expanding the fledgling console's meager digital software library while creating a streamlined shopping experience. The Nintendo Network needs to be freed from its bonds too, registering ownership of purchased content and acting as a unified user account and ensuring customers that their digital purchases are protected against console failure, theft or a fanboy's urge to upgrade to Deluxe hardware. Finally, Nintendo needs to update the 3DS for the newly christened Nintendo Network, allowing users to link their entire Nintendo arsenal under one flag. Truth be told, it's a huge and possibly terrifying task -- but frankly, Mario needs to get with the times.



It's strange to think of Nintendo as afraid of change. This is the company that built a touchscreen handheld with two displays, shook up the industry with motion control and even took the 3D fad for a spin 15 years early, so why is it so behind the curve when it comes to content management and delivery? Whatever its reservations are, the company is trying to catch up -- Wii U documentation promises that the Nintendo Network ID will work with "future" consoles, and a recently announced merger of the company's handheld and console gaming units promises to integrate the architecture of Nintendo's next generation. Admirable goals, to be sure, but we're not certain Nintendo can afford to wait. After all, its competition's next generation is right around the corner.


Source

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Kodak closes its digital imaging patent sale, settles disputes

Kodak Completes $527 Million Transaction Related to Digital Imaging Patents
ROCHESTER, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eastman Kodak Company has completed a transaction for the sale and licensing of its digital imaging patents for net proceeds of $527 million.
The transaction, which achieves one of Kodak's key restructuring objectives, follows other recent major accomplishments that include final Court approval last week for the company's interim and exit financing. Kodak's monetization of IP assets further builds on its momentum toward emergence in mid-2013.
A portion of the $527 million was paid by 12 intellectual property licensees organized by Intellectual Ventures and RPX Corporation. Another portion was paid by Intellectual Ventures, which acquired a substantial majority of the digital imaging patent portfolio subject to these new licenses, as well as previously existing licenses.
"The licensing and sale of our digital imaging patents is another major milestone toward successful emergence," Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said. "We are on track to emerge as a profitable, sustainable company."
The completion of the sale enables Kodak to repay a substantial amount of its initial DIP loan, satisfy a key condition for its newly approved financing facility, and position its core Commercial Imaging business for future growth and success.
Kodak retains significant competitive advantages and strong growth prospects in its core Commercial Imaging businesses. In addition to retaining rights to use the 1,100 digital imaging patents sold in the transaction, Kodak maintains ownership of about 9,600 patents, including many focused on its core business.
The transaction includes an agreement to settle current patent-related litigation between the participants and Kodak, which avoids additional litigation costs and helps to ensure that management and the company's resources focus on enhancing core operations.

View the original article here

Google backs French digital publishing innovation initiative with €60 million incentive

Libert, Egalit, Payday Google backs French digital publishing innovation initiative with 60 million incentive

Google's long had a contentious relationship with France. But it seems the Mountain View-based company has come up with a way to squash that problem: by throwing money at it. Taking to the company's official blog today, Chairman Eric Schmidt announced the creation of a €60 million Digital Publishing Innovation Fund, in cooperation with French prez François Hollande, that will help "stimulate innovation and increase revenues" for the country's publishing houses. And in a move that's in no way self-serving as a gesture of goodwill, Google's also pledging to partner with those publishers to help monetize their digital offerings using AdSense. In the search giant's defense, it had
begun to work more closely with La France back in 2011, even going so far as to create a cultural center in Paris; a city it once described as "one of Europe's fastest-growing Internet economies." So, okay, maybe there's more to this investment than beefing up the bottom line. Now, if only Google could talk to Hollande about the hashtag...
Source: Official Google Blog

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Google Play Magazines offers free digital versions to print subscribers

Google Play Magazines offers free digital versions to print subscribers


Google Play's magazine subscriptions have always, sadly, existed separate from a publications print offerings. Meaning, even if you already had the paper edition of Beer Advocate delivered to your home, you still had to cough up for the digital version. That's finally changed, however, which should make many magazine hounds quite happy. Now when you select a new periodical, you'll be offered the standard monthly and yearly subscription options, along with the new "free for print subscribers." You'll need to verify your subscription before Google will allow you to download issues, but that's one less barrier to entry for those looking to dip their toes in the digital magazine pool. For a bit more info check out the source link.

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Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Review: 1Password for iOS keeps your digital life safe

For a security mechanism that has existed since mankind traded places with apes to raise to the top of the food chain, passwords have shown a surprising longevity. Passwords act as gatekeepers to our email, banking, social media accounts, and just about anything else that we do, regardless of whether we are online or not.

Unfortunately, humans are not very good at either creating or remembering passwords. Left to our own devices, we tend to pick passwords that are easy for us to remember, which is good, but also easy for others to guess, which isn't good. For this reason, Web developers try to gently coerce us into adopting more secure password generation habits by enforcing an ever-increasing set of rules on their sites: Your password must be at least eight characters long, contain one or more uppercase characters, a symbol, a smiley, and be typed standing on your left foot under a full moon while sacrificing a chicken…

1Password's login screen

Alas, all these restrictions make passwords difficult to remember, and our predictably poor response is to come up with one “good” password, which we keep reusing over and over again. The problem with this approach is that anyone who knows or learns this password can also gain access to all our other accounts—and if you use the same password to post photos on a social network and do your banking, it’s easy to see where trouble might arise.

This is a very serious problem; according to a survey conducted by security firm CSID, 61 percent of Americans—nearly two out of every three people—admit to using the same password on different sites. And, to make things worse, many write that one password down and stash it in a wallet, or store it in a plain-text file on the computer, where it is up for grabs for anyone bold enough to make a move.

As a researcher once said, the ideal password is one that is hard to guess, impossible to write down, and can only be used in one place. This combination of requirements is very hard for a human to achieve, but AgileBits’s 1Password 4 makes it an absolute breeze.

1Password 4 is the latest entry in the company’s long-running family of password management software. As a Universal app, it runs on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad, and requires iOS 6 or higher; it works by creating a virtual “vault” in which you can save many different kinds of sensitive information—passwords, of course, but also credit card and bank account numbers, passport data, software keys, and so forth.

Despite being branded as a “password management tool,” therefore, 1Password is capable of keeping of every last bit of information that you don’t want others to see—which is absolutely crucial when you realize that, with an iPhone in your pocket or an iPad in your bag, you basically carry your entire digital life around with you in a small package that is as convenient for you to use as it is for someone else to steal.

Categories make organizing your secure data easy.

According to Agile Bits’s press material, 1Password 4 is a complete rewrite of its predecessor, a fact that is readily visible to anyone who has ever used previous versions of the software. Everything in the app has been re-engineered with the goal of making it easier to organize and use your information.

This shows prominently in the user interface, which is both gorgeous and extremely user-friendly. The app is organized in a logical way, and the transitions between the various screens are done so well that you’ll find yourself playing with them just for the visual pleasure that they bring.

Once inside the app, new items can be added directly from the Categories tab, where 1Password automatically splits the data you enter into individual groups. For example, there are pre-defined categories for logins, credit cards, software licenses, databases, passports, and so on. Adding and editing items is easy: 1Password uses an interface that is very similar to that of the Contacts app, making the process familiar for any iOS user.

In addition to the default categories, the app also allows you to group your secure items in arbitrary folders, which can be useful, for example, to separate work data from personal information. Folders come in particularly handy when you consider that 1Password can be used to store more than just passwords—for example, I keep confidential information about my clients in it, knowing that it will be safe from prying eyes if my iPhone or iPad should ever be stolen. Often-used items, like credit card numbers, banking logins, and the likes, can also be added to 1Password’s Favourites screen, which helps keeping them within easy reach whenever you need them.

Perhaps my favorite user-interface feature, however, is a built-in browser that allows you to navigate the Web and allows 1Password to automatically fill forms for you using your secure data. This is a major step forward compared to the previous version—which required you to painstakingly copy and paste your data into Safari—and one that dramatically improves 1Password’s user experience.

All your data is protected by strong encryption and can only be unlocked by a single password that you choose when you first set up the app; this makes it both very easy for you to carry all sorts of important information wherever you go, and very hard for anyone else to access it should your mobile device ever become lost or stolen.

The built-in browser allows 1Password to fill 
Web forms for you—no cut-and-paste required.

1Password also employs a number of measures to keep your data safe. For example, even as you browse through your saved items, all sensitive information is discretely blanked out to prevent someone from shoulder-surfing their way into your secrets. You can, of course, easily reveal a particular piece of data by tapping on it, and just as easily copy it to the pasteboard, but the rest remains safely hidden until needed.

You can also set the app to automatically lock your data vault as soon as you leave 1Password, as well as after a certain amount of idle time, so that, should your device end up in ill-intentioned hands without your permission, they won’t be able to access all your passwords just because you forgot to exit the app. Finally, 1Password also offers to automatically clear out your pasteboard after a set period of time, so that other apps don’t have a chance to read your private data without you knowing.

And, if you find the default settings a little too paranoid for your taste, you’ll be happy to know that you can easily change them to suit your needs.

One of 1Password’s strong suits has always been the ability to synchronize your data across multiple devices, and its latest release does not disappoint, with support for both manual sync through iTunes, as well as automatic sync through either Dropbox or iCloud.

There is little to be said here, other than the sync feature really just works. In my tests, both with a completely new data file and with my existing vault, the process worked flawlessly on the first try, and changes propagated from one device to all my others in record time.

One thing that has been removed from this version is the ability to sync locally over Wi-Fi. This seems to have disappointed a number of users, and is the source of much angst in App Store reviews of the software, but I think it was the right move. Wi-Fi sync was a little too finicky, easily broken, and inherently less redundant than cloud-based solutions. For my part, I am happy to know that, if my house goes up in flames alongside all my electronic devices, my digital vault won’t go with it.

An often-forgotten feature of 1Password is its strong password generator, which can be used to create—and store—passwords made up of pseudorandom characters; these are much harder to crack than anything a human could come up with, and can therefore improve the security of your logins dramatically.

Used properly, this generator turns password management on its head: Instead of storing your passwords, the app can automate the entire authentication process from end to end, making it easy to avoid many common security pitfalls, like reusing passwords or inadvertently coming up with passwords that are too easy to crack.

1Password is, quite simply, an excellent secure data management solution for every user, regardless of their sophistication or the complexity of their needs. Its execution is practically flawless, and a significant improvement over previous releases on all fronts.

Pricing—the app costs $18, although it is on sale for $8 until the end of the year—may seem a little steep at first, particularly considering that existing customers will have to purchase 1Password 4 anew.

This price, however, is perfectly reasonable when you consider two things. The first is that a person who gets hold of your passwords can essentially ruin your entire life, both socially and financially. The second is that 1Password gives you a great backup in case of emergency: If your wallet gets stolen, and you have saved all sorts of details about your various identity cards and financial accounts in 1Password, getting out of a sticky situation will be much easier.


View the original article here

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

IRL: Western Digital MyBook external hard drives, Doxie Go and Apple's Podcasts App

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
IRL: Western Digital MyBook external hard drives, Doxie Go and Apple's Podcasts App Merry Almost-Christmas, folks. Time to find out if Engadget's editorial staff was naughty or nice this year. If our recent experiences with tech are any indication, we might be atoning for something: Billy's external hard drive is about to die a drawn-out death and Brian's still looking for an alternative to Apple's lousy Podcasts app. But at least Darren's enjoying his mobile scanner, so that 's good, right?

Continue reading IRL: Western Digital MyBook external hard drives, Doxie Go and Apple's Podcasts App

Filed under: Misc, Apple

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Sunday, December 16, 2012

Blue Microphones Spark Digital review: a solid iOS / USB mic for recording on the go

Blue Microphones Spark Digital review a solid iOS USB mic for recording on the go

It was all the way back in January, when Blue Microphones made its CES announcements, that the Spark Digital first broke cover alongside two other mobile recording devices. Our interest was immediately piqued thanks to the mic's USB 2.0 and iOS connectivity, which allows it to support the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch via the 30-pin jack. After a grueling wait that lasted until just a few weeks ago, Blue's latest offering finally arrived. Was the long wait worth it? Does the Spark Digital do its part to bolster Blue Microphones' reputation for stellar recording wares? Join us past the break as we put the peripheral through its paces and give you answers to those very queries.

Gallery: Blue Microphones Spark Digital review

Continue reading Blue Microphones Spark Digital review: a solid iOS / USB mic for recording on the go

Filed under: Peripherals

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Monday, November 26, 2012

Sharp to manufacture 90-inch Aquos LCD screens for digital advertising

Sharp to manufacture 90-inch Aquos LCD screens for digital advertisingSharp is hoping its 90-inch Aquos makes a great billboard

Sharp introduced its new 90-inch Aquos LCD HDTV earlier this year, and though initially created for home use, the manufacturer has already found new applications for the forthcoming display.

On Jan. 28, Sharp will release an industrial version of the 90-inch screen (PN-R903) to be used in commercial spaces as a digital display.

Coming in at 6-feet, 8-inches, the display is being billed as an industry first for providing lifesize images when arranged in portrait view.

The advantages of providing 1:1 scale views of items could prove to be very advantageous to retailers and consumers alike.

While the 90-inch PN-R903 is the flagship of the line-up, Sharp is also planning to release two slightly smaller displays for digital advertising.

A 60-inch model (PN-R603) will also be made available on Jan. 28, while a 70-inch version (PN-R703) is planned for release on Feb. 25.

All three displays will feature full 1080p HD, and will be available with open pricing rather than suggested retail prices from Sharp.

High-definition displays this large aren't quite that common yet, and it will be interesting to see how the retail sector adopts and uses these new Sharp displays to attract consumers.

Via Engadget, Impress Watch

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Slickdeals' best in tech for November 7th: digital cameras, mechanical keyboards and subwoofers

Looking to save some coin on your tech purchases? Of course you are! In this round-up, we'll run down a list of the freshest frugal buys, hand-picked with the help of the folks at Slickdeals. You'll want to act fast, though, as many of these offerings won't stick around long.
Slickdeals' best in tech for November 7th digital cameras, mechanical keyboards and subwoofers
There's no doubt that a little online shopping can help turn the mid-week blues around. Luckily, we have a handful of new discounted items that are ready to greet your open wallets. Canon and Sigma digital cameras top the list, while a mechanical keyboard and powered subwoofer also make the cut. Head down past the break to take a gander, but don't delay. These bad boys are sure to be gone in no time.

Blue Microphones Spark Digital now available, wields USB and iOS mobile recording for $199

Blue Microphones Now Shipping Spark Digital, Studio Microphone for iPad and USB
Spark Digital is the first true studio condenser microphone made for both iPad and USB, bringing professional recording capabilities to the iPad mobile platform
(Westlake Village, CA – November 7, 2012) - Blue Microphones, a leading innovator in microphone technology and design, announces the availability of Spark Digital (www.bluemic.com/sparkdigital), the world's first studio condenser microphone to offer both iPad and USB connectivity.

 

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