Apple introduces two-step verification for Apple ID

Apple has introduced a new two-step verification process for accounts that use the Apple ID. This will help protect your account from being accessed from a new device by an unauthorized person.

What this does is whenever you or someone else tries to access your Apple ID from a new device, along with the usual username and password, the device will also ask for a verification key. This verification key will be sent to one of the devices that you have registered. You will then have to enter the verification key into the new device to complete the log in process. This way, if someone gets access to your Apple ID, they won’t be able to log in until they also get access to the verification key.

Apple lets you choose one of your iOS devices as the default device to which the verification key is sent every time. You also get a recovery key, which can be used in case you forget the password or lose the default device.

Following the recent security fiasco with the Apple ID, where a bunch of hackers remotely wiped a technology journalist’s MacBook after getting access to his Apple ID, it is imperative that one takes as many precautions as possible and enabling this two-step verification process is the first thing you need to do if you have an Apple ID.

To enable the two-step verification, click here and then log in with your Apple ID. Then click on Password and Security, answer the questions and then you will get the option to setup two-step verification for your Apple ID.

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First Samsung Galaxy S4 mini live photos appear

With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now official, it's time for the rest of the new generation Galaxy devices to start making an appearance. It turns out the first one to break ground is the Galaxy S4 mini.

SamMobile has got hold of some live photos of the smartphone, which reveals a design quite similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4. The photos below confirm that the S4 mini will even feature the back cover design of its bigger brother.

The Galaxy S4 mini (GT-I9190) will be available in a dual-SIM version as well (probably carrying the Galaxy S4 mini duos moniker and GT-I9192 model number).

    
Samsung Galaxy S4 mini live photos

Despite its name and resemblance to Samsung's flagship, the Galaxy S4 mini allegedly won't pack a monster of a CPU, but rather a 1.6GHz dual-core CPU and a 4.3" Super AMOLED display of qHD resolution (960x540 pixels, 256ppi).

It's slightly bigger than the ongoing Galaxy S III mini, which features a 4" display of WVGA resolution. Unfortunately, the S4 mini's CPU type isn't known at this point, but what's known from the photos above is that the smartphone will run what's currently the latest version of Android -4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

According to the source the Galaxy S4 mini is expected to make its debut in June or July this year.

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RUMOR: The next iPhone will likely be a marginal update

Sources from the Apple supply chain are at it again. This time the rumors circulate around the end of May arrival of components, which would point to an arrival of the next iPhone in the the third quarter of this year.

According to said sources the next iPhone will allegedly be a marginal upgrade of the iPhone 5 (perhaps called the iPhone 5S). The next-gen iPhone should come with an improved processor, perhaps a higher-megapixel camera with new module or even a redesigned flash ("Smart Flash") with white and yellow LEDs in order to improve color reproduction.

Foxconn Electronics chairman Terry Guo has noted that he expects company performance to start picking up after April or May, which could coincide with the beginning of the production of the latest iPhone.

According to the sources if the components supply goes smoothly the next-gen iDevice could be delivered to retail channels in 1 to 2 weeks time, which would mean a realistic Q3 launch (Apple needs to gather up stock as the production rate is far lower than initial demand).

Finally reports are mentioning a cheaper, plastic-made iPhone too, but as we are getting the "cheaper iPhone" each year we take those rumors with an extra pinch of salt. Besides, every time the new iPhone comes out last-year's model gets discounted, technically making it the "cheaper iPhone".

Source | Via

Heins: Android and WP are not mobile computing platforms

BlackBerry CEO, Thorsten Heins, in an interview with Computerworld, said that Android and Windows Phone as not sharing his vision of a "mobile computing future" where mobile devices could be used for the same tasks as computers.

He also added that Android and Windows Phone "are not mobile computing platforms" but didn't specify in what regard exactly.

Heins said BlackBerry "really thought hard about" building BB services for Windows Phone and Android but rejected the idea for the aforementioned reasons.He didn't say anything about iOS, however.

When asked if BlackBerry will build a BlackBerry 10 OS tablet device Mr Heins noted "We are running a few projects" on "how we can take it to the next stage and not just be another tablet". He added "If I build a tablet, I will not build it for the hardware purpose... I will do this around a service".

Source | Via

Sony Xperia Z gets an update, fixes sudden-death issue

Sony is now seeding the first update for the Xperia Z (C6603) flagship. Its build number is 10.1.A.1.434, the Android version stays 4.1.2 Jelly Bean and the Kernel seems to be the same - 3.4.0.

Even though there is no official change log for this unexpected update, rumors have it the new release addresses the sudden-death issue plaguing random Xperia Z (C6603) units. So, while it doesn't add any extra functionality, the update might save quite a lot of trouble for many Xperia Z owners out there.

Sony is releasing the update in stages both via the PC Companion app and over-the-air. You should check both for the update and if it isn't available for you already, it should pop up in a few days.

If you are of the impatient kind, you can follow the source link to download the update and proceed to flash it manually but, since doing so will void your warranty, you better make sure you know what you are doing.

Source | Via

RUMOR: The next iPhone will likely be a marginal update

Sources from the Apple supply chain are at it again. This time the rumors circulate around the end of May arrival of components, which would point to an arrival of the next iPhone in the the third quarter of this year.

According to said sources the next iPhone will allegedly be a marginal upgrade of the iPhone 5 (perhaps called the iPhone 5S). The next-gen iPhone should come with an improved processor, perhaps a higher-megapixel camera with new module or even a redesigned flash ("Smart Flash") with white and yellow LEDs in order to improve color reproduction.

Foxconn Electronics chairman Terry Guo has noted that he expects company performance to start picking up after April or May, which could coincide with the beginning of the production of the latest iPhone.

According to the sources if the components supply goes smoothly the next-gen iDevice could be delivered to retail channels in 1 to 2 weeks time, which would mean a realistic Q3 launch (Apple needs to gather up stock as the production rate is far lower than initial demand).

Finally reports are mentioning a cheaper, plastic-made iPhone too, but as we are getting the "cheaper iPhone" each year we take those rumors with an extra pinch of salt. Besides, every time the new iPhone comes out last-year's model gets discounted, technically making it the "cheaper iPhone".

Source | Via

BlackBerry Q10 pre-orders start in UK and US, launches in late April

Various UK retailers have started taking pre-orders for the upcomingBlackBerry Q10 smartphone. The QWERTY-featuring and BB10 OS powered Q10 pre-orders start at £530 and go a bit higher depending on where you do your shopping.

According to one of the retailers the phone will ship around April 22, while the listings of the others' say just late April.

We also found some US online stores are already taking pre-order as well, but the price there is a bit higher than we anticipated - $880. We are pretty sure the BlackBerry Q10 won't cost that much (previous rumors pointed at a $600-$620 price point for the SIM-free), but the pricing will only become clear after the official US launch date is announced.

We want to remind you BlackBerry is releasing the Z10 flagship tomorrow in the USA. Today the company also announced its BB10 OS application store has passed the 100,000 titles mark.

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