The UK firm that wants to give big spenders a big shock

One British firm is seeking to put the buzz back into budgeting by giving bank customers an electric shock if they overspend.

Intelligent Environments has launched a platform which can link the Pavlok wristband, which delivers a 255 volt shock, to a bank account.

If the funds in the account go below an agreed limit, the band kicks in.

It can also work with smart meter Nest to turn down the heating and save energy bills if funds are low.

No bank has yet announced that it will be offering the Interact IoT (Internet of Things) platform to customers but Intelligent Environments lists several British banks as clients for its existing online banking platforms.

Chief executive David Webber told the BBC the idea was about consumer choice.

"This is about reacting to changes in your financial well-being," he said.

"Willpower is great if you've got it - not everybody has."

He dismissed the idea that the concept is too controlling.

"If you get home and decide you can afford for it to be warmer you can turn it back up again," he said of the smart meter's automated "economy mode" for home heating.

The Pavlok wristband "shock" function can also be deactivated, Mr Webber added.

He admitted that it had "frivolity" but said it proved the concept.

Mr Webber said he believes the Internet of Things - the idea of connected devices communicating with each other as well as with their owners - will be a landcape-changing industry.

"I think the Internet of Things will be as transformational as tablets and smartphones were a number of years ago," he said.

"I think the interconnectedness of devices is going to transform the way we think and manage whether it's our cars or the things in our home.

"Perhaps you could use this sort of platform where, if you're running short of money your car slips into economy mode, rather than sport mode," added Mr Webber, who insisted that the platform was secure.

'Road to hell'

However Prof Alan Woodward, a cybersecurity expert from Surrey University, said the more connections which are made between devices, the greater the risk of a security weakness.

"Having a convoluted interaction between systems is almost inevitably going to lead to unintended security flaws," he said.

"I know this type of technology is developed with the best of intentions but the road to hell is paved with them.

"Just because you can connect devices en masse doesn't necessarily mean you should."

Google's conversation-based Assistant takes on Amazon

Google has announced a conversation-based tool to control smartphones, smartwatches and other devices.

Google Assistant can be used to find information, play media and carry out tasks - such as booking cinema tickets - via a back-and-forth chat between the user and the software.

The firm also announced a voice-activated device with a built-in speaker called Google Home to deliver the tech to living rooms.

It will compete with Amazon's Echo.

Amazon launched its own dialogue-based smart home device in 2014, which is powered by the firm's proprietary virtual assistant Alexa.

Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai credited Amazon with pioneering the idea.

His announcement was made at the start of the firm's IO developers' conference in California.

"Google's new Assistant is its attempt to bring together a set of disparate efforts that have lacked a coherent brand," commented Jan Dawson from Jackdaw Research.

"Referring to the combined functions of Google Now, OK Google, and other elements has been tough in the past, because there wasn't a single name for this functionality.

"This should help Google compete more effectively both with Amazon's Echo device but also with better-branded personal assistants like Siri, Cortana, and Alexa."

Google Assistant can link into third-party services including Ticketmaster, Spotify, Uber and Whatsapp. But Alexa already works with many more.

"Amazon should take note of Google Home given Google's search and artificial intelligence capability, but Alexa has an early lead in third-party integration," noted Geoff Blaber from the CCS Insight consultancy.

Chat app

Google Assistant also plays a role in a new chat app called Allo, in which it can make suggestions based on what the user is talking about with their friends.

One executive demonstrated the AI tool proposing a restaurant to visit when two users discussed wanting to eat Italian food.

Allo's other unusual feature is that it can provide replies on a user's behalf.

This includes commenting on pictures sent by friends, thanks to its use of image recognition algorithms.

The company said the suggestions should improve the more people use the app.

A partner video chat app called Duo was also unveiled. A distinguishing feature is a live view of the caller, which is shown on the recipient's screen before they decide whether or not to answer.

Virtual reality

In the past, Google IO has provided a first look at the next version of smartphone operating system Android.

But this year many details about Android N were released weeks ahead of the event.

However, there were new details about a forthcoming virtual reality feature called Daydream.

It introduces a dedicated VR app store and provides a set of specifications that devices must meet in order to provide a lag time of less than 20 milliseconds between movements of the user's body and on-screen responses.

Daydream also includes a reference design for a VR headset mount - into which a variety of smartphones could be fitted - and a controller - a handheld device featuring a trackpad and two buttons.

Google is not making either, but hopes that manufacturers will put the designs into production.

"One of the worst things about Samsung's Gear VR [headset] is the control system - Daydream looks much better," said Mr Dawson.

The firm also announced an upgrade to its smartwatch operating system Android Wear.

It now supports "standalone" apps, meaning the software can go online via wi-fi or a watch's own 3G/4G connection, rather than having to link up via a smartphone.

This should make apps run faster and addresses a problem that had also plagued apps on the original version of Apple's rival Watch OS.

In addition, the updated Android Wear provides ways to reply to messages beyond speaking into the device's microphone.

Users will able to:

• select from a choice of "smart reply" suggestions
• draw letters on the screen that then get converted into text
• type in words via a small keyboard

How practical this will be is unclear, particularly as an on-stage demo went wrong.

"Android Wear 2.0 is a reset for Google's wearables platform," said Mr Blaber.

"Having learned lessons from the first generation, Google and partners will hope 2.0 will kick start wearables adoption and usage."

Analysis: Dave Lee, North America technology reporter

Very impressive, Google, but it feels like you're a little behind.

Facebook already has a smart chat app. Amazon already has a cool assistant you can talk to in the kitchen.

And Oculus and Samsung have the Gear VR, a smartphone-powered headset.

So, the task for Google is both straightforward and enormous. Do all that, just better than everyone else.

Google's head-start in smart messaging is that its algorithm is by far and away the smartest.

And unlike Samsung's VR headset that needs a Galaxy phone, Google's Daydream mount is designed to work with a range of handsets.

The biggest cheer, mind you, wasn't for any of the new products.

Instead, it was news of a fresh range of emoji depicting female professionals that drew delight from the audience here.

Instant apps

Google rounded off IO's first event of the week with a look at a feature that could shake up one of Android's key principles.

Rather than making users install an additional app each time they want to access a new service, the firm wants to make it possible to quickly download just the code needed to carry out a specific task.

"We are evolving Android apps to run instantly without installation," explained Google executive Ellie Powers.

"We call this Android Instant Apps.

"As a developer... you'll modularise your app and Google Play will download only the parts that are needed on the fly."

Examples given included a parking meter app that automatically presents its payment interface when a motorist leaves their car at a stand, and a news app that streams its videos when a user clicks a link.

The idea echoes the Scopes found in Ubuntu's smartphone OS and Microsoft's App-V facility, which both aim to provide access to third-party services without making users download full apps.

Analysts had mixed feelings about the proposition.

"Android Instant Apps [are the] first real signs of the post-app era," tweeted Gartner's Brian Blau.

But Creative Strategies' Carolina Milanesi wrote: "Is it like a smart preview that will get me to install the apps I don't have?"

And Moor Insights' Patrick Moorhead added: "When I think about Android Instant Apps, why is the first thing I think of [a] security panic?"

iPhone 7 Tipped to Launch in 3 Variants

Apple's upcoming smartphone has been subjected to various leaks, leaving little to the imagination. Now, a new report further reveals that the new iPhone 7 will come in three variants.

Until this leak, the iPhone 7 was expected to release in two variants - iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. However, this screenshot from Mobipicker tips that there might be another variant called either the iPhone 7 Pro or iPhone Plus Premium. This may explain why Foxconn and Pegatron, both Applesuppliers, are looking to urgently mass hire large number of workers.

The addition of a third variant has increased production demands, and therefore the companies need more people to speed up the manufacturing process. This also means that all the three variants have now left Apple's drawing board and have reached manufacturing tables.

There is no information on what unique utility the third variant will offer. Whether this rumour is true or not, readers should take all leaks until the official unveil with a pinch of salt. In this year's release, Apple isn't expected to go for a major design overhaul, and is keeping most things same except for a few tweaks. The antenna bands may be shifted to the top and bottom edge, while there might just be the addition laser autofocus in the camera. The larger variant is tipped to have a dual camera setup, accompanied by 3GB of RAM.

The iPhone 7 variants are expected to sport the Smart Connector, with Apple getting rid of the 3.5mm audio jack. However, there are conflicting reports that reject the absence of the jack.

Namotel 'Achhe Din' Claimed to Be World's Cheapest 4-Inch Smartphone: Report

Namotel promoter Madhava Reddy at a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday reportedly marketed the world's cheapest smartphone, the Namotel Achhe Din, for just Rs. 99.

Priced at Rs. 2,999, the 3G-enabled smartphone will reportedly be made available for bookings between May 17 and May 25 at its special launch price. However, the exact booking process is not clear. You need to sign up for a service called BeMyBanker to proceed with the booking, and also to provide details about your Aadhaar and your photograph, but BeMyBanker's website is not loading at present.

It is available on a cash-on-delivery basis ​*with "nominal delivery charges." The company's websiteadds, "This model is limited and it is applicable only for India and who holds Aadhar Identity." The number of units available has not been announced, or precise delivery dates.

The company website lists four other smartphones as well, ranging from Rs. 1,999 for the 4G LTE-enabled Aazadi to Rs. 1,99,999 for the VVIP luxury smartphone.

As per a PTI report in the Financial Express, Reddy claimed that at its launch price, the Namotel Achhe Din is the "world's cheapest phone with a 4-inch display". Other specifications include Android 5.1 Lollipop, a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, and 1GB RAM.

While a smartphone is shown alongside the Namotel Achhe Din listing on the company website, the listing also says, "Pictures shown in the website is for illustration purposes only," casting some doubt on the credibility of the company and product.

Not much is known about Namotel at this point, and it appears to be a Bengaluru-headquartered startup that began operations in 2016. The company on its 'About Us' page claims it was established under the auspices of the 'Make in India' campaign. It also claims to have offices in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Chennai, and adds, "We aim to create [a] new business model with sustained profitability and high sales growth since the very first year of operations. Namotel will be on the path of an ambitious journey to becoming India's first consumer brand, empowering people with quality innovative products."

This is of course not the first ultra-low priced smartphone with seemingly incredible specifications being marketed in India. The Docoss X1 was the latest example. The smartphone segment saw a buzz in February when Ringing Bells launched its Freedom 251 smartphone at just Rs. 251. The smartphone made headlines for a few weeks, and caught attention of the entire world. Freedom 251 from Noida-based startup Ringing Bells however soon lost its sheen. 

The smartphone was surrounded by controversies that even lead to an FIR registered against the makers. The biggest highlight of the smartphone was its pricing rather than any specifications under the hood. The company received close to 60 million registrations in few days but after taking initial bookings for the handset, the Freedom 251 makers announced pre-booking money to be refunded to users and also confirmed that it would take cash on delivery, upon delivery. The first orders will supposedly be delivered in June.

Later, another India-based brand - mPhone - made headlines about its range of smartphones, offering great specifications at good prices. Unlike with Ringing Bells, the controversy surrounding the makers of the mPhone 'Mango' smartphones was due to the financial state of the proprietors, who were reportedly arrested at the launch of the brand in India for bank fraud.

Asus ZenFone 3 Allegedly Spotted in Benchmark With Snapdragon 820 SoC, 4GB of RAM

Asus has been teasing its ZenFone 3 series of smartphones which is set to launch on May 30. However, ahead of the launch, the alleged Asus ZenFone 3 is said to have passed the AnTuTu benchmark test with a Snapdragon 820 SoC on board.

The benchmark results shown in an image posted on Weibo reveal further details about the handset's innards. The Asus handset is listed with model name Z016D, believed to be ZenFone 3, and packs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. The Asus Z016D model will run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out-of-the-box, as per the benchmark result. It packs a full-HD display and sports a 23-megapixel rear camera alongside an 8-megapixel front camera. As with other benchmark related leaks, the complete specifications of the Asus ZenFone 3 are not available as of now. The Weibo user claims that the alleged ZenFone 3 scored 135,000 on AnTuTu benchmark listing.

In its recent teaser, Asus confirmed its 'Zenvolution' press event at the side-lines of Computex 2016 on May 31 will have three ZenFone 3 series smartphones. The Taiwanese company is widely expected to reveal the Asus ZenFone 3, ZenFone 3 Deluxe, and ZenFone 3 Max handsets.

The 34-second YouTube video shared by Asus showed three handsets - first with 'Clarity' tagline, second with 'Desire' tagline, and the third with 'Unlimited.' The official video tipped some of the features of the upcoming ZenFone 3 series including a fingerprint scanner at the back, metal frames, and large screen size. The YouTube video titled 'Zenvolution is coming' had a tagline that said, "Get ready to redefine clarity, desirable detail, and unlimited viewing area." We can expect Asus to share more teasers as the official launch approaches.

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Nasa's New Horizons Spots Kuiper Belt Object

After making a historic Pluto flyby last July and now in deep space, Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft has twice observed a first object in Kuiper Belt - a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune.

"1994 JR1" is a 145-km-wide Kuiper Belt object (KBO) orbiting more than 5 billion km from the Sun.

Taken from the spacecraft's Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) in April, the images shatter New Horizons' own record for the closest-ever views of this KBO in November 2015 when New Horizons detected "JR1" from 280 million km away.

The observations contain several valuable findings.

"Combining the November 2015 and April 2016 observations allows us to pinpoint the location of JR1 to within 1,000 km, far better than any small KBO," said Simon Porter from Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in Boulder, Colorado.

The more accurate orbit also allows the science team to dispel a theory, suggested several years ago, that JR1 is a quasi-satellite of Pluto.

The team also determined the object's rotation period, observing the changes in light reflected from JR1's surface to determine that it rotates once every 5.4 hours (or a JR1 day).

"That's relatively fast for a KBO. This is all part of the excitement of exploring new places and seeing things never seen before," added science team member John Spencer from SwRI in a Nasa statement.

The observations are great practice for possible close-up looks at about 20 more ancient Kuiper Belt objects that may come in the next few years.

New Horizons flew through the Pluto system on July 14, making the first close-up observations of Pluto and its family of five moons.

The spacecraft is on course for an ultra-close flyby of another Kuiper Belt object, "2014 MU69", on January 1, 2019.

Google to Launch Tools to Build Chat Bots in Messaging Apps at I/O 2016: Report

Google is reportedly planning to leverage chat bots by providing software intelligence to developers to build them. At Google I/O 2016, the company is reportedly going to unveil tools for software developers that will help them build chat bots inside messaging apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and Hangout.

Chat bots are essentially personal assistant style interactive software powered by artificial intelligence. An example would be a bot within a messaging app that offers information, answers questions, and performs tasks without leaving the app. Google appears to be using its strength in artificial intelligence to give the developers' tools to make messaging apps more interactive by building chat bots for them.

The Information reports, "Essentially, Google wants to get into the bot-making business more broadly than people realized, and in a way that's similar to Microsoft's strategy, and relying on its strengths in artificial intelligence to convince developers to use its tools."

These chat bots decrease interaction on the smartphone, making it all available on one app. For example, an e-commerce chat app will shows suggestions based on what you text and allow you to purchase a product without leaving the app. Facebook and Microsoft have already dived into the chat bots market, and Google is following suit, albeit not soon enough.

Recently, Facebook introduced chat bots in its Messenger app, but they haven't yet taken off like the company would've hoped. Chat bots are still in its early stages, and Google's entry into the market will really help bolster this technology further.

Google does not have its own messaging app, and clearly missed the bandwagon, when apps like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat shot to fame. The tech supreme is now trying to settle with software tools for creating chat bots, a department Google clearly reigns in.

Google is expected to make some sort of an announcement at the I/O on Wednesday vis-a-vis chat bots. The search conglomerate is also expected to announce final version on Android N, the two Nexus smartphones, a revamped Cardboard, an Android VR headset, and possibly a demo of the prolonged Project Ara.

No Imminent Rebound in Apple's iPhone Sales, Say Analysts

Berkshire Hathaway's new stake in Apple is a bright spot in an otherwise dismal few months for the tech giant. Analysts at Canaccord Genuity Inc. are telling clients that iPhone sales, which have been struggling, aren't going to get a boost this quarter.

"Based on our survey work, we believe consumers continue to delay purchases of new iPhones ahead of the iPhone 7 launch likely in September," the team, led by T. Michael Walkley, said in their note. "In fact, we believe iPhone sales in the US market will fall below 50 percent of total smartphone sales during the June quarter for the first time since the larger screen iPhone 6 products launched."

The team does expect sales to ultimately pickup with the launch of the next iPhone, also noting that they "believe the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s products have enabled Apple to materially increase its share and installed base of the premium tier smartphone market with Android users switching to the iPhone." Apple's sales are typically centered around new product launches, but the firm certainly doesn't want to lose market share to competitors at any point in the year, especially when that product makes up more than 60 percent of revenue.

Other firms on Wall Street have also been cautious about the Apple's sales outlook. Barclays PLC sent out a note prior to the firm's latest earnings, calling this year a make or break one. The team at Barclays was even skeptical that the iPhone 7 could turn things around. "Our research indicates [iPhone 7] prototypes do not suggest any must-have form factor changes," the analysts, led by Mark Moskowitz, said at the time. "In such a case, IP7 could be more of a replacement cycle versus a mega cycle (i.e., [iPhone 6])."

Apple's most recent quarter failed to alleviate many analysts' worries. "Our concerns about slowing smartphone market growth and elongating refresh cycles were reinforced by iPhone units [sales], which declined 16 percent year-over-year in the quarter," analysts at Deutsche Bank AG said after the report. Barclays' Moskowitz also voiced his concerns after Apple's earnings. "We expect shares of Apple to be under pressure near term. We had been concerned the stock's recent 'hope rally' overlooked the potential of more air pockets in the model, due to tenuous smartphone demand. Reality set in on Tuesday," Moskowitz said.

Flipkart Investor Tiger Global Cuts Stake in Amazon

Tiger Global Management, the largest investor in Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart, has reduced its stake in US rival Amazon by about two-third in the January-March 2016 quarter.

The hedge fund has cut its exposure to 1.04 million shares worth over $618 million (roughly Rs. 4,137 crores) as of March 31, 2016, from 3.19 million shares worth $2.16 billion (roughly Rs. 14,462 crores) in the December quarter, according to a filing at the US SEC.

The fund also entirely dissolved its stake in Snapdeal-backer Alibaba Group Holding.

Besides, it has brought down its stake in Chinese e-tailer JD.com (by about 25 percent) and Apple (over 46 percent). Tiger Global has taken stake in Zillow Group, which provides real estate and mortgage information, valued at about $23.6 million (roughly Rs. 158 crores) at the end of the quarter.

Over the past few months, Flipkart has also faced a series of markdowns from its investors.

A T Rowe Price-managed mutual fund had marked it down by 15 percent in April while Morgan Stanley-backed mutual fund had done so by 27 percent in February, according to reports.

Amazon India, Flipkart and Snapdeal are currently locked in a battle for market leadership in the burgeoning Indian e-commerce sector.

The three firms have been aggressively spending billions of dollars on marketing, strengthening their supply chains and acquiring customers with predatory discounts.

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Nokia Returns to Mobile Phones With Brand-Licensing Deal

Finnish telecom equipment maker Nokia said Wednesday it plans a global comeback into its former goldmine of handsets and tablets, by licensing its brand to a newly-created Finnish company.

Nokia "will grant HMD Global Ltd. the exclusive global licence to create Nokia-branded mobile phones and tablets for the next 10 years," the world's former number one handsets company said in a statement.

As part of the process, HMD Global and its Taiwanese partner, FIH Mobile of FoxConn Technology Group, will take over Microsoft's feature phone business for $350 million, which it had bought from Nokia in 2014, the US company said in a separate statement.

Nokia was the world's top mobile phone maker between 1998 and 2011 but was overtaken by South Korean rival Samsung after failing to respond to the rapid rise of smartphones.

In 2011, it chose to bet on the Windows mobile platform, which proved to be a failure. The new product portfolio will be based on Android.

The Finnish company sold its handset unit to Microsoft in 2014 for some $7.2 billion which dropped using the Nokia name on its Lumia smartphones.

The conditional deal between Microsoft and Nokia's new brandlicensing partners is expected to close in the second half of 2016.

Nokia said the new Finnish company, HMD Global, is a private venture in which Nokia will not hold equity.

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Samsung Galaxy S7 Active release date: unveiling of powerful flagship expected this month

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is rumored to be made official in the coming days.

In true Samsung fashion, a Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is well in the offing. According to the rumor mill, the heavy-duty flagship variant will be available before June.

Samsung's latest offerings were released earlier than usual. Since Samsung Galaxy S6 Active was released exclusively by AT&T in June last year, it is expected that the latest iteration of the Active Line will be out earlier as well. This makes a May launch likely.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 Active has been all around the web in the past few days. During its visit to GFXBench, it showed off its 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution.

However, earlier leaks pointed to the device getting a 5.1-inch touchscreen and not 5.5-inch. If the benchmark listing is accurate, Samsung is opting to enlarge even the screen of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active.

The device had Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor under its hood with 4GB RAM and 32GB storage space to boot. The rest of the specs are expected to be the same with its standard and Edge counterparts, although there was no mention in the listing.

For those unfamiliar, the specs sheet of last year's Samsung Galaxy Active handset includes a hefty 3600mAh battery, a 5MP front-facing shooter and a 12MP rear-facing camera.

However, the front camera for the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active indicated in the GFXBench listing seems to be a downgrade instead of an upgrade, inviting suspicions on the accuracy of the information.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active will come with a tougher, more durable design. The smartphone is trading the metal casing with a rugged polycarbonate edges.

Also, the capacitive keys will be made into physical buttons. Overall, Samsung is beefing up the structure and build of the Samsung Galaxy S7 Active so that it will be more hard-wearing, as it is expected to be.

The cherry on top will be the military-grade protection of the device. Since the S7 line now has IP68 rating, which means that they are water and dust-resistant, Samsung found a way to kick things up a notch through this higher level of protection.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Active is expected to arrive this month at the earliest.

Samsung Pay Announces Support for Membership and Loyalty Cards in the U.S.

Samsung Electronics America announced today that Samsung Pay—the most widely accepted mobile payment system—is giving U.S. users another way to slim down their physical wallets with the support of membership features. Samsung Pay users now have easy, direct access to merchant membership and loyalty cards to receive savings, rewards and other offers—all on their supported Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

The average American household carries almost 30 loyalty cards.¹ With the new feature announced today, Samsung Pay lets users access all of their merchant membership and loyalty cards from one, easy-to-use application on the supported Samsung Galaxy smartphone that is already in their hands. With Samsung Pay, users no longer have to worry about fumbling through their wallet to find the right card, or worse, forgetting it and missing out on savings.

Users can upload and store merchant membership and loyalty cards in Samsung Pay—including from their gym, drug store, grocery store or any of their favorite retailers. Samsung Pay’s new membership feature can also be used to store other cards such as insurance and personal identification cards for safe keeping. To use membership or loyalty cards, users simply launch the Samsung Pay app, select the appropriate card, hold their Samsung Galaxy smartphone screen up to the merchant’s scanner, and let the card’s barcode be scanned at the register

“With this new feature, Samsung Pay is giving users quick access to their favorite membership and loyalty programs and making shopping even easier,” said Nana Murugesan, VP of Strategy and Operations for Samsung Electronics America. “Right now, shoppers have several things—credit and debit cards, membership cards, coupons, gift cards—they need to take out of their wallets and scan at the register. Samsung is simplifying the check out experience by bringing those items to your phone, representing our next step toward a world without physical wallets.”

About Samsung Pay

Samsung Pay, a mobile wallet service from Samsung Electronics, is simple, safe and works virtually anywhere plastic cards are accepted. Samsung Pay supports all major payment networks and many of the country’s major financial institutions, and it continues to expand its partnership ecosystem^*. Click here for the full list of financial partners that support Samsung Pay.

SIMPLE: Samsung Pay is easy to use. Users simply swipe up from their eligible Galaxy smartphone, scan their fingerprint and pay at millions of merchants across the country.

SAFE: Samsung Pay uses tokenization, Samsung KNOX, and fingerprint authentication to provide secure payments. Samsung Pay users are fully protected against fraud by card issuers, and merchants receive Card Present rates with no EMV liability shift.

ALMOST ANYWHERE: Samsung Pay is the most widely accepted mobile payment system. Samsung Pay works with the majority of existing and new terminals, including most magnetic stripe, EMV and NFC terminals. For more information on Samsung Pay, 

​Apple makes a house call after iTunes zaps 122GB of customer's music

In a world where people buy electronics online without ever talking to another human being, the Genius Bar staff in an Apple Store offer a distinctly personal relationship between a company and its customers. But that's nothing compared to what James Pinkstone experienced when two Apple technicians visited his home to figure out why iTunes apparently deleted 122GB of his music collection.

Pinkstone, director of studio and operations for Atlanta, Georgia-based creative agencyVellum, blogged about the loss in May in a post titled "Apple Stole My Music." A backup restored the data files, but that wasn't the end of the saga. Apple sent two engineers to Pinkstone's house to try to reproduce the problem using a special version of iTunes to track what went haywire, Pinkstone said in a follow-up blog post.

They couldn't reproduce the problem, Pinkstone said, but it appears Apple is tackling the issue. The new iTunes 12.4 arrived Monday, and according to TechCrunch, it's got "safeguards" to protect against file deletion.

Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Millions of hacked LinkedIn IDs advertised 'for sale'

A hacker is advertising what he says is more than one hundred million LinkedIn logins for sale.

The IDs were reportedly sourced from a breach four years ago, which had previously been thought to have included a fraction of that number.

At the time, the business-focused social network said it had reset the accounts of those it thought had been compromised.

LinkedIn now plans to repeat the measure on a much larger scale.

One expert said the service should have reset all its accounts the first time round.

LinkedIn is often used to send work-related messages and to find career opportunities - activities its members would want to stay private.

Criminals could make use of this information or see if its subscribers had used the same passwords elsewhere.

"We are taking immediate steps to invalidate the passwords of the accounts impacted, and we will contact those members to reset their passwords," a spokeswoman for the California-based firm told the BBC.

"We have no indication that this is a result of a new security breach.

"We encourage our members to visit our safety centre to ensure they have two-step verification authentication and to use strong passwords in order to keep their accounts as safe as possible."

Login leak

Details of the sale were first reported by the news site Motherboard.

It said the details were being advertised on at least two hacking-related sites.

A total of 117 million passwords are said to be included.

The passcodes are encoded, but in a form that appears to have be relatively easy to reverse-engineer.

LinkedIn had about 165 million accounts at the time of the breach, but the discrepancy in the figures might be explained by the fact that some of its users logged in via Facebook.

Invalidated IDs

After the breach first occurred, a file containing 6.5 million encrypted passwords was posted to an online forum in Russia.

LinkedIn reacted by saying it had invalidated all the accounts it believed had been compromised and emailed affected members saying they needed to register new passwords.

But Motherboard has tracked down one user, whose details are in the batch currently on sale, and found that the password listed for him was still active.

A security researcher who has also been given access to about one million of the advertised IDs said he believed it was "highly likely" that the leak was real.

"I've personally verified the data with multiple subscribers [of my own site] 'Have I been pwned'," Troy Hunt told the BBC.

"They've looked at the passwords in the dump and confirmed they're legitimate."

Another expert noted that the problem stemmed from the fact that LinkedIn had originally "hashed" its passwords but not "salted" them before storing them.

Hashing involves using an algorithm to convert passwords into a long string of digits. Salting is an additional step meant to stop unauthorised parties from being able to work around the process.

"A salt involves adding a few random characters, which are different on a per-user basis, to the passwords [before they are hashed]," explained Rik Ferguson, chief technology officer at the cybersecurity firm Trend Micro.

By doing this, he added, you prevent hackers from being able to refer to so-called "rainbow tables" that list commonly-used passwords and the various hashes they produce, and then see if any of the hashes match those in the stolen database.

LinkedIn introduced salting after the attack, but that only benefits the login databases it generated afterwards.

"Using salting is absolutely best practice for storing passwords under any circumstances and was the case back in 2012 as well," Mr Ferguson said.

"If LinkedIn is saying now that it didn't know which accounts had been affected by the breach, then the sensible thing to have done at the time would have been a system-wide forced reset of every password."