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Researchers can ‘steal’ data by tracking a PC monitor’s brightness

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Don’t worry about someone reading your login details through the window any time soon, though. As the methods imply, a data thief would still have to breach the victim computer and have cameras they control within line of sight. This could be helpful for intelligence agencies performing Stuxnet-style intrusions, but an attacker can’t just sit outside your home and read data from your computer monitor. Still, it gives ultra-secure facilities something to think about — they might not want to place cameras behind air-gapped computers lest a rival nation pull off some Mission Impossible-level espionage.

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Apple will give the option to buy iOS and Mac apps as a bundle

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Obviously, not every developer will decide to take advantage of the feature, so you may still end up buying multiple copies of a single app in some circumstances. According to Apple, it plans to allow developers to start selling universal purchases this March. The company says it will also unify Mac and iOS App Stores categories to make applications easier for people to find.

The universal app bundles should become available once Apple releases iOS 13.4, tvOS 13.4 and macOS Catalina 10.15.4 to the public. The move is part of Apple’s ongoing Project Catalyst initiative, which the company announced back at WWDC 2019. Apple’s end goal with Catalyst, according to a Bloomberg report from last year, is to eventually allow developers to merge their iPhone, iPad and Mac applications into a single app.



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Motorola Razr teardown looks inside the flexible phone

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In fact, you’ll have to heat the back of the phone to loosen up the glue and pry it open with plastic implements before you can get to any of the device’s internal components. Then, once inside, you’ll have to contend with dozens of screws and cables. The display, which needs more TLC than a non-foldable screen, is the very last thing you’ll remove from the whole assembly. PBKreviews says the teardown was far from easy and “would probably even go as far as saying [that the phone isn’t] repairable at all by most people.”

Motorola released a “Caring for Razr” video in January, telling users that “bumps and lumps are normal” on the phone’s display. It suggests keeping it dry, not using screen protectors and closing the phone before tossing it in your pocket or purse to prevent accidents from happening. The good news is that it’ll only cost $299 to have the Razr’s screen repaired “for circumstances that fall outside of the warranty.” Sure, that’s no pocket change, but as Phone Arena notes, that’s only $20 more than a new Galaxy Note display. It’s also just a tiny fraction of the $1,500 you’d have to pay for a new Razr.

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‘Gears of War’ boss Rod Fergusson leaves to take over ‘Diablo’

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After 15 years of working on Gears of War games, The Coalition studio head Rod Fergusson announced he’s leaving the Microsoft franchise to join Blizzard Entertainment. Starting in March, he’ll “oversee the Diablo franchise.” Fergusson has been a part of every Gears game released so far, dating back to his role as a producer on the original — check out his comments on updates to the “roadie run” in 2007 — and he’s been in charge ever since Microsoft acquired the franchise in 2014.

His departure comes as Microsoft is expanding its ownership of development studios with new acquisitions like Ninja Theory and Obsidian, and considering different paths of distribution by pushing Xbox Game Pass and streaming. That directly impacts the Gears franchise, which is about to launch a PC-only tactics spin-off.

Meanwhile, Blizzard recently revealed it’s working on Diablo IV, which comes after many players had a negative response to news of the Diablo Immortal mobile game. We’ll probably hear more about those games, and everything Microsoft has planned for the future of Gears, sooner rather than later.



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IMDb’s free streaming service will have every episode of ‘Lost’

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Just when you’ll get to watch depends on the series. Every episode of Ally McBeal will be available on IMDb TV starting April 1st, but you’ll have to hold out until May 1st to be confused by Lost (in sync with the 10th anniversary of the finale). Malcolm in the Middle appears on June 1st.

This probably won’t make you regret your subscription to Hulu (or other paid services, for that matter) given the age of the shows. As with IMDb TV’s other additions, it’s more about scooping up viewers who don’t want to pay for Prime Video or might drift toward rival free services like the Sony-linked Crackle. The Disney-owned shows could give you a reason to check out IMDb TV and keep coming back, even if it’s just for nostalgia’s sake.

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HBO Max forms a production unit devoted to streaming movies

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You won’t have to wait long to see the fruits of the new production wing’s labor when the first Warner Max movies are due to arrive in 2020. The involved companies haven’t said which one will be first out of the gate.

There’s not much mystery to the strategy. Ideally, this lands HBO Max the occasional Bird Box-like hit without having to invest massive amounts of cash or risk cannibalizing Warner Bros.’ theatrical releases. The problem, of course, is that competitors won’t necessarily hold back. Netflix is believed to have spent upward of $130 million on a heist movie with Dwayne Johnson and Gal Godot, for example. Streaming giants like these may have no qualms about outspending HBO Max, in part because they don’t have a conventional movie business they want to protect.

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Ecobee’s Family Accounts put limits on smart home control

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You’ll have access to Family Accounts so long you’re using the latest version of Ecobee’s Android or iOS apps. It’s a simple update, but it could go a long way toward locking down your smart home tech. It reduces the chances of a lost phone posing a threat to your smart home account, for a start. This also makes it more realistic to trust smart home controls to guests. You can let a good friend turn up the heat without giving them more authority than they really need.

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NYPD will replace handwritten logs with an iPhone app later this month

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The app will send notes to a department database, which offers a few benefits over the physical notebooks. It could eliminate potential abuses, like faking entries in order to get search warrants, and headaches, like having to interpret illegible handwriting. Plus, individual officers won’t have to keep track of dozens of notebooks. Instead the logs will be managed in the database, and officers will be able to do quick database searches through the app when they’re in the field.

Of course, there are potential drawbacks. Police union officials fear the app could lead to invasive real-time tracking of officers’ locations, and unlike physical notebooks, phones can stop working and be hacked. The NYPD won’t be alone, though. As you’d expect, many major departments across the US have already moved away from log books.

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WhatsApp desktop security flaw gave intruders remote access to files

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Facebook built WhatsApp on an Electron framework that makes it easier to deliver multi-platform apps based on web technology. As Ars Technica explained, though, Electron isn’t secure if an app is based on an outdated web engine.

The flaws affect WhatsApp’s desktop software from version 0.3.9309 and earlier, as well as people who paired the app with WhatsApp’s iOS editions before 2.20.10. You’re probably safe if you downloaded the app recently or have been vigilant about staying current. This is mainly a reminder that web-based apps aren’t automatically safe, and that secure messaging is only truly secure if you’re on top of upgrades.

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Ariel will fully unveil its hybrid supercar this summer

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While auto enthusiasts will likely want to hear about the Hipercar’s specs, they can expect some changes to the car’s looks too. A representative told Autoblog that “certain things will have changed,” but gave no further details. Ariel will hopefully announce pricing information as well. In 2017, founder Simon Saunders said, “It will be an expensive car because of the technology involved. But when compared to £1 million-plus supercars, which it will outperform, it’s going to represent excellent value for money.”

Ariel planned on fully unveiling the Hipercar in 2019 and then selling it in 2020. Now that the specs won’t be fully divulged until the second half of 2020, we may not see the car go on sale until 2021 or later.

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