TechPC Corner

Friday, September 20, 2013

Samsung sends spies to uncover Apple's iPhone line phenom

The Korean electronics giant may use ads to mock fanboys waiting for the iPhone, but that doesn't mean it's not curious about why Apple buyers will sit in line for eons for the device.

by Shara Tibken

September 20, 2013 10:46 AM PDT

An Apple videographer cheers with Brian Ceballo, the first person to get his hands on the iPhone 5S at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

NEW YORK -- You can't have an ad campaign mocking people waiting in line for the iPhone and then wish you had the same lines. Or can you?

Apparently Samsung thinks it can. Along with the hundreds of consumers, reporters, and app promoters converging Friday on Apple's flagship store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue for theiPhone 5S/5C launch were employees from the Korean giant.

Smartphone companies often check out the competition, either quietly or in a very public way. During Samsung's Galaxy S4 event inMarch in New York, for example, HTC hired people to promote its brand outside the venue. Woman decked out in HTC gear touted the benefits of that company's devices over those from Samsung while handing out snacks to reporters waiting in line.

In the case of the iPhone launch Friday,however, Samsung kept its presence pretty clandestine. It didn't hand out fliers or post advertising or display anything identifying itself as Samsung. It didn't even talk to anyone in line. Rather, a Korean video and photography crew documented the scene and interviewed reporters to figure out why Apple has such a rabid following.

The videographers asked questions such as, "Is the line shorter or longer this year than last?" and "Is the crowd more excited or less than previous years?" All questions revolved around whether Apple seemed to be losing a bit of its cool factor or if the company's fans remained as loyal as ever.

"Other companies release new phones, but there's not as much passion and heat [from buyers]," a Korea-based producer from Samsung Broadcasting Center/Cheil Worldwide, who asked not to be named, told CNET at the iPhone launch. "It's only Apple. Why? We're curious."

Hundreds of people await the iPhone 5S and 5C launch at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

The video group appeared to come from the Samsung Broadcasting Center/Cheil Worldwide, not from the electronics arm. Samsung is best known for its phones and TVs, but its parent company -- Samsung Group -- also owns operations in everything from shipbuilding to clothing. Cheil is a Korea-based Samsung Group company focused on marketing and communications. It works with Samsung Electronics on campaigns from time the time, but it's unclear who organized the study and what the information will be used for.

The producer noted that the information would only be distributed internally and that Samsung specifically chose the Fifth Avenue store in Manhattan because of its size and the amount of hype surrounding the store. The person said Samsung wasn't doing studies at any other stores.

A US-based Samsung representative declined to comment.

When it comes to smartphones, Apple and Samsung are the only two companies that make any money. Together, they ship more than 40 percent of the world's smartphones, and they generate the vast majority of the buzz. Their rivalry has been fierce in the market and in the courtroom, with Apple and Samsung clashing over everything from patents to phones. Apple may have popularized the touchscreen smartphone category, but Samsung now dominates the segment, shipping more than double the numbers of devices as Apple.

Even though Samsung sells more devices than Apple, it doesn't generate the same lines at its product launches. Its Unpacked event to unveil the Galaxy S4 in March drew thousands of people, but lines didn't stretch around the block to actually buy the device in stores. As the company tries to become a bigger brand and control an even larger chunk of the market, it's important for Samsung to develop a loyal user base like that of Apple.

Samsung has been building more buzz around its brand by releasing ads mocking Apple fanboys, particularly those who wait in line for the newest devices. One TV ad, released around the time of last year's iPhone 5 launch, made fun of Apple's earliest adopters who wait in line for hours.

The tag line for that campaign was "the next big thing is already here."

How to Block Calls, Texts, and Messages in iOS7

If you've been longing for a way to block numbers and messages on your iPhone, your day has finally come.

By Jeffrey L. Wilson
September 19, 2013

Let's be honest with ourselves for a moment, shall we? There are people or companies in our lives whose calls or texts we'd never like to receive again. EVER. Unfortunately, the Apple iPhone has lacked basic blocking capabilities since its inception, which is quite perplexing when you think about it. If you're an Apple user who's ever wanted to ban someone from contacting you via your mobile device, this was undoubtedly a source of much frustration. Fortunately, iOS 7 now lets you block to your heart's content.

iOS 7 now ensures that spammers, exes, and bill collectors will never be in your hair again (unless they email or snail-mail you). Ever cooler, iOS 7's blocking abilities aren't limited to inbound calls and text messages. You can use it to block FaceTime and iMessage messages, too.

Are you ready to learn how to block calls, texts, and message in iOS 7? Excellent. Here's the short version: You simply go to Settings, select either "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime" and then select "Block." You then need to add people from Contacts who you'd like blocked. If you're a newbie iPhone user (if, say the iPhone 5c or 5s is going to be your first Apple handset) and you'd like a more detailed, step-by-step primer on blocking calls, texts, and messages, check out our slideshow. iOS 7 is chock full of harassment-avoiding goodness and has vital accompanying images that will help you block, block, and block some more.

Remember, applying blocks to calls, texts, and FaceTime, and iMessage messages requires iOS 7. If you're still running iOS 6 you can't take advantage of this wondrous new feature, but you can easily update your operating system to Apple iOS 7 using these simple steps. And, really, why wouldn't you? Besides having a fresh new design and excellent blocking features, iOS 7 may be the most secure mobile operating system available.

Let's get started.

Phone, Messages, and FaceTime

Tap the Settings icon on your iPhone's home screen and scroll down to the "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime" menu options. Tap the appropriate option to begin the blocking process.

The Block Button

After you tap "Phone," "Messages," or "FaceTime," you arrive at a second screen. Scroll down and tap "Blocked."

Add a Contact to Block

Now you engage in the most satisfying part of this process: adding a contact to block. It's simple. You begin by tapping "Add New."

Select a Contact

Tap a contact's name and, boom! That person is blocked. No more annoying calls or messages.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Ragnarok: War of Gods takes the battle to Android

By Xairylle | Tech in Asia

Ragnarok: War of Gods is a mobile MMORPG developed by Neo Cyon and published by Animoca. It is heavily based on Ragnarok Online by Gravity, which itself is based on the manwah or Korean comic Ragnarok: Into the Abyss by Myung-Jin Lee.

Ragnarok Online was the very first MMORPG that I played. I was one of the beta players and continued playing the game for five years or more. That is why upon learning that Ragnarok Online is coming to Android, I was quite excited to give it a try.

Gameplay and mechanics: It’s not about hack-and-slash

Ragnarok: War of Gods is quite simple. You farm monsters in the fields to earn experience and Zeny, the currency in the Ragnarokworld. Pretty simple, right? However, in this game, the highlight isn’t the combat system, but the rest of the game mechanics, which affect how you build your character. Players may choose to play as a Swordsman, Mage or Acolyte, and they can change their jobs or classes after reaching a certain level. Each character class may have different builds. This is where Ragnarok: War of Gods shines as well as gets tricky.

There are two level branches per character — the base level and the job level. Every time a character gains a base level, he is given status points, which he will then distribute among five attributes. The key here is to focus on building two or three attributes that you will focus on in order to come up with a build that will suit your play style.

On the other hand, every time a character gains a job level, he is given a single skill point, which he can use to upgrade an existing skill. Building your character’s attribute goes hand-in-hand with building your skills and in turn, both skills and attributes affect what kind of equipment your character will use.

The character building system is something I like in this game because it makes up for the abundance of rote monster farming. What I don’t like, however, is how my monster-killing gets interrupted by the monotony of having to go home to sell my stuff because inventory space ran out too quickly and once it does, I am either slowed down or immobilized. To avoid this, players can either use inventory expansion items or choose which items to pick up.

Visuals and interface: Yes, they use 2D chibi anime sprites

Ragnarok: War of Gods is made up of a 2D sprite world with cute anime-like designs, which is exactlylike Ragnarok Online. In fact, the character, enemy, and NPC sprites, as well as buildings, attack and skill animations, emoticons, and other elements are taken straight from Ragnarok Online. I believe this is to attract and please the players of the original Ragnarok Online. And in my case, it worked.

Since the game is played via a mobile device, I expected that movement in the game would be simple.Ragnarok: War of Gods offers two ways for players to move about. Players may tap on the screen or use an in-game directional pad. There are also two methods in talking to NPCs and attacking monsters. These alternative methods are convenient especially for people with large fingers that prohibit accuracy on the screen. Also, the in-game directional pad saves players from continuously tapping on the screen to get somewhere. You can just hold the in-game pad towards one direction that your character will keep on walking.

Audio: What just happened?

The game uses the midi format for music, and that’s understandable from a nolstalgic standpoint. I even liked that they used familiar background music and sound effects from Ragnarok Online. What I didn’t like, however, is how it is looped. Background music usually plays continuously without noticeable breaks or with fade-out, fade-in silence in between.

In this case however, the background music looped with awkward breaks. I also understand how background music sets the mood for action and adventure, but in the field map, the background music felt quite off. It was too heavy and energetic for my taste. I ended up turning off the background music and continued playing with the regular sound effects, which worked just fine for me.

The verdict

Rating: 7.5/10

Ragnarok: War of Gods is for gamers who like to think and calculate about character builds and reaping the fruits of their deliberations. It involves a lot of computation, logic, probability, and patience. It is not for gamers who prefer to skip the thinking and jump into the action. Nor does it rely purely on getting great equipment and learning the best spells. If you do not pay attention to the character building system, you might perceive it to be a boring tap-and-kill routine-based game.

Both patient and veteran players will enjoy this game. If you previously played Ragnarok Online, I definitely recommend this. It will stir up nostalgia in your stomach. You will remember your old characters, your old party-mates, and guild-mates. The first few minutes will remind you of your first character, your anticipation of learning a reliable set of skills, and your boss-hunting sprees.

Ragnarok: War of Gods is free to download from the Google Play Store and offers in-app purchases using real money.

(Edited by Terence Lee)

The post Ragnarok: War of Gods takes the battle to Android appeared first on Tech in Asia.

Apple promises to fix iOS 7 lock screen hack

A lock screen vulnerability in the new iOS 7 leaves users' e-mail, photos, Twitter, and other apps open to being used without permission.

by Seth Rosenblatt

September 19, 2013 4:23 PM PDT

The passcode lock screen on iOS 7 suffers from a bug that allows anyone with direct access to the iPhone or iPad to bypass the lock screen and open apps.

The bug, discovered by 36-year-old soldier Jose Rodriguez, who lives on the Canary Islands off the coast of Spain, is remarkably simple to exploit, reports Forbes. Swipe up from the lock screen to access the new Control Center, then open the alarm clock app.

Apple iOS 7

MSRP
$0.00

PROS
Heightened security. Fresh design. Wonderful improvements to Control Center, Notification Center, and multitasking bar. Can download over Wi-Fi. Free.
CONSMissing photo management and organization capabilities.
BOTTOM LINE
iOS 7 marks a major turn for Apple's mobile operating system, both visually and in all it has to offer. Users will embrace the long list of new features with open arms, and the design is a breath of fresh air. There's still room for improvement, to be sure, but iOS has truly blossomed in this release.

BY JILL DUFFY

Launching iOS 7 (free) for the first time feels like stepping into some far-away land. It reminds me of the moment Dorothy first finds herself in Oz. She feels uncomfortable in this foreign world. Yet it's mysterious and fantastical. There's a moment of hesitation, of maybe wanting to go back home where everything will be safe and predictable, before she finds her footing. The draw is too great to turn back. Apple's iOS 7 shimmers and glides. The so-called flat design looks cold initially, but soon seems cutting edge. Dive into the settings, and you'll uncover wonderful improvements in security. A new "share sheet" comes off as much more intuitive than the buttons we've come to know so well. Everything's different, but this is a time for closing your eyes, making the leap, and embracing change.

VIEW ALL 7 PHOTOS IN GALLERY

Yes, several of the changes mimic Android. Why deny iPhone and iPad owners of features that set the bar? I don't mind seeing best practices implemented wherever they make sense, and in iOS 7, they do. This is one mobile operating system that has blossomed into adulthood, and everyone with a compatible device should be excited to install it and explore it.

iOS 7: The Basics iOS 7 is available to install on compatible Apple devices, which covers iPhone 4 and later, iPad 2 and later, and fifth-generation iPod touch. For a model-by-model list, see thecomplete list of devices that will run iOS 7. iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s will come with iOS 7 already installed on them.

Not all iPhones will get every single new feature, because some older phones aren't capable of them. For example, iPhone 4 does not include Siri, and thus won't see any of the improvements made to Siri. The most exciting changes, however, are universally applicable across all devices, and I honestly don't think iPhone 4, iPhone 4s, and iPhone 5 owners are missing out on anything massive.

Apple released the final code for iOS 7 on September 18, and it's free to download to any compatible device. There are a few ways to download it, and you'll want to backup your device before you do! We have a complete set of instructions in the article "How to Download iOS 7." If you're ready to roll now, just go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the new OS.

Design iOS 7 looks stunningly different. The stark differences between iOS 6 and iOS 7 are most apparent when you look at before and after images back-to-back. You'll notice a lack of 3D. Icons sit in a flat layer that seems to hover just above the screen's background—and changing the wallpaper to suit the new design is a must in my book. (Experiment: Set that old water droplet wallpaper behind the new app icons, and watch the horror of the two worlds colliding.)

The design of iOS 6, and really all versions of iOS prior to version 7, had icons that looked like buttons. As some design experts have pointed out, there's even an imaginary outside source of light that shines down on the app icons. It evokes the feeling of physicality, played up more by skeuomorphism. Buttons look like they are what they represent, rather than just images on a screen. In iOS 7 that external source of light casting shadows and so forth is gone. The new look evokes computers and a true digital experience that has little to do with real-world physicality.

The Calendar app icon is the perhaps the best example. Its background is solid white with no shading or shadows. Other icons, such as those for Settings, App Store, and iTunes Store, have some color change from top to bottom, but it's subtle and not meant to look like light is coming from outside. Rather, the color gradation seems to be coming from the apps themselves, almost like they are softly glowing.

Interaction and ControlsI love the new control center in iOS 7. iOS 6 didn't have much of a control center to speak of, but if you double-tapped the home button while the phone was locked, you could access a few buttons for your music or media: play/pause, skip forward or backward, and AirPlay. In iOS 7, a fully formed control center is just an up-swipe away at any time, whether the phone is locked or not. Here you'll find quick access to the media buttons, as well as a screen brightness slider; Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, flight mode, "do not disturb," and rotation lock on/off switches; a shortcut to the timer, world clock, alarm, and stopwatch; and a shortcut to the camera.

I'm not convinced that leaving the Bluetooth button accessible while the device is locked is a good thing, but the overall utility of having a true control center in the first place is definitely a huge step forward.

App folders look totally different when you open them and arrange icons in them. Tap one, and it spreads across the screen, much larger than before, to reveal multiple pages of apps within any folder. No more 12-app limit. I wanted to see if there was a limit, but when I got to 45 apps in one folder, I quit trying. These new folders are expansive.

One of the most Android-esque features is iOS 7's revamped multitasking bar, which now shows a preview of all your open apps, rather than just the icons for them. Swipe the multitasking bar left and right, and flows gracefully, rather than showing the next set of apps that fits on the screen and then coming to a halt as it did in iOS 6.

A new notification center in iOS 7 shows your daily summary: appointments and reminders for the current day, as well as a summary of what's happening tomorrow. That's only the first tab, though. The next two, called All and Missed, show custom notifications from whatever apps you want to include.

No joke, iPhone 5S Touch ID faces hack bounty

Apple's new fingerprint sensor Touch ID becomes the focus of a hack bounty, but with a twist. Rewards include cash, but also a patent application, some Scotch, and a book of erotica.

by Seth Rosenblatt

September 19, 2013 1:43 PM PDT

The iPhone 5S won't hit the streets until tomorrow, but there's already more than $16,000 in cash offered to the first person to hack its Touch ID fingerprint sensor.

IsTouchIDhackedyet.com is the brainchild of Nick DePetrillo, an independent security researcher whose last major public research was 2010's Carmen San Diego Project.