Resorting to the out-of-band messaging that is Facebook, CCP Games has announced that “At 02:05 GMT June 2nd, CCP became aware of a significant and sustained distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS) against the Tranquility cluster (which houses EVE Online and DUST 514) and web servers.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Curebit, an e-commerce startup which has built its business around optimizing and tracking word-of-mouth referrals for customers like Bonobos, Restaurant.com, Jawbone, True & Co., and others, is now stepping into the world of offline brick-and-mortar commerce with a new solution it’s calling “Retail Referrals.” This new in-store program, being trialed in a half-dozen Bonobos “Guideshop” locations, encourages shoppers to “tell a friend” about their purchase after checkout in order to earn additional store credit if the friends buys using the provided discount code.
Some key questions that many people have about the new Xbox One weren’t answered in the keynote during today’s unveiling, but Microsoft confirmed afterward some answers to a few issues. First off, the Xbox One will not be backwards compatible with Xbox 360 games, but the new console will support used games and won’t require
Although SimCity has become relatively stable following its problematic launch, there are naturally still ongoing bugs that the folks at EA Maxis have been working to fix. Thankfully, that version 2.0 update that was teased just over a week ago now has an arrival date of April 22 at 4PM ET. Included in the update are 26 bug fixes, along with data map color filters, a color-correct HUD for the colorblind setting and the action of mayors traveling from their mansions to their jobs. Sadly, an offline mode is still no more than wishful thinking, but at least that OS X version should still be on track for a June 11th release. You’ll find all the details about your virtual city’s soon-to-arrive enhancements at the source link — expect some server downtime, by the way, when the update itself hits.
Filed under: Gaming
Source: EA Forums
Hip online eyewear startup Warby Parker has, over the last two years, been partnering with boutiques to open “stores-within-stores,” or small Warby Parker showrooms, where customers could try on their eyeglasses in 3-D. These showrooms popped up in L.A., Nashville, San Francisco and many others. Today Warby Parker officially announced its first, flagship retail store in SoHo in New York City.
Bruce66423 writes “The BBC reports that Mt.Gox, the main exchange dealing with Bitcoins, has been attacked, and other resources are off line. A scary reminder of how insecure ALL money is in the computer age…” Also at TechWeekEurope. A message at bitcoin storage service Instawallet’s site begins “The Instawallet service is suspended indefinitely until we are able to develop an alternative architecture. Our database was fraudulently accessed, due to the very nature of Instawallet it is impossible to reopen the service as-is.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Google’s first high-end laptop, the Chromebook Pixel, is an impressive machine.
FOX News
An anonymous reader writes with this tidbit from Net Security: “Players of The War Z, a first-person zombie survival game, have been notified of a breach of the developer’s forum and game databases and the theft of user data contained in them. ‘The data accessed included email addresses used to log-in to the forum, forum passwords which we encrypt, email addresses used to log-in to the game, encrypted game passwords as well as in-game character names and the IP addresses from which players log-in to the forum and to the game,’ the developer explained …There is no mention of what encryption algorithm they use to encrypt the passwords, nor whether they are ‘salted,’ so their advice to users about immediately changing the passwords they used for the forum and the account is more than fitting.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Gaping security holes are a pretty terrifying thing, especially when they involve something as sensitive as your Apple ID. Sadly it seems that immediately after making the paranoid happy by instituting two-step authentication a pretty massive flaw in Cupertino’s system was discovered and first reported by The Verge. Turns out you can reset any Apple ID password with nothing more than a person’s email address and date of birth — two pieces of information that are pretty easy to come across.
There’s a little more to the hack, but it’s simple enough that even your non-tech savvy aunt or uncle could do it. After entering the target email address in the password reset form you can then select to answer security questions to validate your identity. The first task will be to enter a date of birth. If you enter that correctly then paste a particular URL into the address bar (which we will not be publishing for obvious reasons), press enter, then — voilà — instant password reset! Or, at least that’s the story. While we were attempting to verify these claims Apple took down the password reset page for “maintenance.” Though we’ve received no official confirmation from Apple, it seems the company is moving swiftly to shut down this particularly troublesome workaround before word of it spreads too far.
Update: We’ve heard back from Apple on the matter, which stated, “Apple takes customer privacy very seriously. We are aware of this issue, and working on a fix.” No real surprises that a fix is in the works, but there you have it from the horse’s mouth.
Update 2: The forgotten password page is back as of late Friday evening — that was (relatively) quick.
Source: The Verge
An anonymous SimCity developer says the game does not do most of its calculations “in the cloud,” so an offline version should be possible. [Read more]
CNET News
Just because Rhapsody is an old hand at online music doesn’t mean it has to lag behind: the company just posted a new version of its app tailored to Windows Phone 8 listeners. Besides the native OS tie-ins, it adds offline downloads and access to the personalized My Music section. Windows Phone-focused listeners who’ve stuck to Rhapsody’s $ 10-plus service through thick and thin — or just aren’t wedded to options from Microsoft, Nokia and Spotify — can hit the source for the new jukebox.
Filed under: Cellphones, Portable Audio/Video, Mobile
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Windows Phone Store
One nifty feature of HTML5 is that apps can store data locally on your computer and have it available even when you are offline. Google today introduced a new API for Chrome, the Sync FileSystem API, that offers an app-private sandboxed file storage system, similar to what’s already in the HTML5 specs. The interesting new feature here is that this data is also automatically synchronized across clients via a cloud back-up service linked to Google Drive.
TechCrunch
The Anonymous hacking collective Tuesday said it plans to disrupt the live web stream of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address tonight.
Computerworld News
Sky has added offline playback to its mobile apps, with Sky Go Extra offering the ability to pre-download TV and movies to their phone, tablet, or notebook in return for a monthly fee. The new feature, adding to the existing Sky Go apps – which require a persistent data connection for streaming content – is
Dish Network has announced the arrival of its second generation HD Whole-home DVR, the Hopper with Sling. With the DVR, subscribers have access to some new features, as well as improvements on existing features, making for an all-around better experience. In addition, the Hopper with Sling will be accompanied by the Transfers app, allowing subscribers
OpenStreetMaps map app maker, Skobbler is hoping to corner the map market on Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet, a space without a preinstalled Google Maps app. Skobbler’s ForeverMap2 for Kindle Fire is expected to go live later today, giving Kindle Fire users another alternative to existing map apps on the store — such as MapQuest, Nokia’s Here and Microsoft’s Bing maps.
TechCrunch
Comcast has brought video on-demand streaming to subscriber’s mobile devices since early last year, but now an update has added the option to download (some) content for offline viewing. Arriving simultaneously on iOS and Android, the Xfinity TV Player apps support downloads from premium channels Showtime (which was also one of the first up for streaming when that launched), Starz, Encore and MoviePlex. We downloaded the app on both platforms and found it to work in similar fashion, assuming you’re already logged in (and have any of those channels in your package) the option to download is right next to the usual stream button with options available for two different levels of picture quality. The high quality option wasn’t quite HD quality to our eyes, but certainly passable for viewing on a flight or subway. We did run into a hiccup on Android however, with an “unknown error” stopping us from downloading files to our Galaxy S II running ICS. If there were more content available it would be a decent no-additional-hardware-needed matchup for solutions like TiVo’s Stream or DirecTV’s Nomad, while we wait for that you can get a taste of the apps for each platform at the source links.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile
Source: iTunes, Google Play
An alleged data breach has resulted in Adobe taking down a user forum while it investigates reports of a hack. [Read more]
CNET News
Evernote has already revamped a few of its offerings this month, and it’s now brought some changes to its Android app as well. That includes new offline notebooks for premium subscribers that’ll let you download multiple notebooks in one shot, a pared down note editor toolbar, retooled Action Bars for Android tablets and a new resizable Grid Widget for your homescreen. Not surprisingly, Evernote also says that the update includes a slew of other fixes and tweaks that promise to make the app “faster and more reliable,” and it’s promising that there’s still “lots more to come.” You can find the updated app in the Google Play store at the link below.
Evernote for Android gets new offline notebooks, widgets and more originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
SlashGear | 
Evernote, Google Play | Email this | Comments
Engadget
tetrahedrassface writes “Rasbmc developer Sam Nazarko is reporting that Xbian had violated the GPL and stolen his installer code without providing attribution and not releasing their source. His breakdown of events is interesting, and currently the Xbian project has been taken offline with several tweets saying Xbian development is terminated.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
If you’re an Android-toting SiriusXM fan, you’ve probably spent the last month wondering when your smartphone would get the newfound flexibility to tune in beyond live radio. As of Sirius XM’s version 2.2 update, Android is back on equal footing. The upgrade supplies On Demand streaming, both for catch-up and the occasional classic, as well as downloadable copies to keep the music and talk flowing offline. As before, the access is considered a free perk of a SiriusXM subscription; if you enjoy Howard Stern’s cynicism enough to want it at odd hours of the day, your angsty fix awaits at the source.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile
SiriusXM for Android update brings On Demand and offline listening originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink Android Police | Google Play | Email this | Comments
Engadget
Stitcher is all about giving the people what they want and, only days after introducing its popular lists, it’s back with an offline mode for its iOS apps. Despite boasting one of the smallest data footprints in the streaming game (0.2MB per minute), you can now download over 10,000 radio shows for unconnected listening. Beware — the app will automatically update the shows on your custom stations, so if you plan on using it to save that precious data for other things, make sure to set it to only pull over WiFi. Along with that major enhancement, there’s a new comments system and other improvements in Facebook sharing, searching and AirPlay compatibility. The PR says the update is live, but iTunes disagrees, so you’ll have to wait a little longer before going off-grid.
Continue reading Stitcher updates its iOS app with offline mode for data-free radio
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Internet, Software, Mobile
Stitcher updates its iOS app with offline mode for data-free radio originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Sep 2012 08:31:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Online file storage site FileSonic is no longer online, months after it restricted users’ service in the wake of the MegaUpload raid.
[Read more]
CNET News
When peer-to-peer learning startup Skillshare launched early last year, it very quickly became a marketplace for knowledge, allowing anyone to create classes based on his or her individual expertise. The idea was to create a platform through which people could come together and learn new skills. But it was limited in that users could only participate in classes that took place in their local area.
Now Skillshare is allowing teachers to create classes through which users can participate either online or offline, making lessons available globally. While its existing model has proven incredibly successful, with more than 5,000 teachers signed up on the platform, founder and CEO Michael Karnjanaprakorn believes that the hybrid model of learning will make the platform available to a much wider range of students. Since classes are no longer tied to a specific city or geography, practically anyone will be able to participate in a hybrid class.
TechCrunch
DavidGilbert99 writes “The Iranian minister for telecommunication has said that the government will be taking key ministries and state agencies offline in the next month to protect sensitive information from cyber-attacks. However this move is just the initial step in an 18 month plan to take the country off the world wide web, and replace it with a state-controlled intranet. From the article: ‘The US began offensive cyber-attacks against Iran during the presidency of George W. Bush when the Olympics Games project was founded. Out of this was borne the Stuxnet cyber-weapon, which was designed to specifically target the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility in Iran.’”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Google Chrome OS version 20 is now officially available, bringing along one of its biggest new features–its cloud storage integration with Google Drive. The updates also feature offline support for Google Docs and tweaks to Pepper Flash in addition to a few other stability and security improvement updates. There’s also a firmware update for Chromebook
Google’s finally introducing more offline capabilities in Chrome OS, starting with Google Docs. It works as promised in Samsung’s latest Chromebook, but Chrome needs a lot more offline apps to succeed.
[Read more]
CNET News
One of the big disadvantages to using cloud-based office apps is that you have to be connected to the Internet to use them. Well, Google took care of that issue today.
Computerworld News
itwbennett writes “Thanks to a new feature approved this week by the Fedora Engineering Steering Committee, you won’t hear Fedora 18 users bragging about systems that have been running continuously for months on end. ‘Fedora’s new Offline System Update feature will change the current system to something that is more Windows- and OS X-like: while many updates can still be made on the fly, certain package updates will require the system to be restarted so the patches can be applied in a special mode, according to the Fedora wiki page on the feature,’ writes blogger Brian Proffitt.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
In the same week as the debut of Mozilla’s new Web-based app store the Mozilla Marketplace, Google is pushing for developers to deliver content to the Chrome Web Store that can be accessed even when users don’t have an Internet connection. There is already a new highlighted section of the store for such apps. However,
News.me, the newsreader app hatched in The New York Times’ R&D lab and incubated at betaworks, today added a nifty feature to its new iPhone app, which gives readers instant access to their news offline — whenever they leave the house. The new feature, called Paper Boy, allows users to set their home location using their iPhone’s GPS, and thereafter, every time they leave their digs with phone in tow, News.me automatically downloads their social news in the background so that it’s ready to read offline as they go about their day.
TechCrunch
Twitter has taken its Tweetdeck app offline after an apparent bug has possibly given some Tweetdeck users access to others’ accounts.
A Tweetdeck user in Sydney, Australia, Geoff Evanson, says he discovered today he was somehow able to access hundreds of other accounts through Tweetdeck. Twitter quickly responded to the situation by shutting off access to Tweetdeck entirely, claiming the need to “look into an issue.”
TechCrunch
Deezer music streaming service rolls out offline mode, still not available in the US originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Listening to music isn’t the best reason to take the plunge with the PS Vita. However, a new feature’s a new feature, and Sony’s very happy to tell you that its own subscription-based Music Unlimited service has arrived on UK devices, courtesy of its own dedicated app. Now you’ve had your fill of the games, Twitter and Facebook apps, it must be time to integrate with Sony’s verticals and hand over more cash. The Android app has also been updated to include offline playback to songs added to your playlists — like another certain streaming music service. You can grab the latest version at the source below.
Music Unlimited app arrives on PlayStation Vita, Android version gets offline play originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:07:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink PushSquare, Sony Entertainment Network | PlayStation Access (Twitter), Music Unlimited (Google Play) | Email this | Comments
Engadget
An influx of visitors to Senate Web sites during the copyright protest knocked them temporarily offline. But the Capitol switchboard stayed up.
CNET News
Well, RIM, things really aren’t looking good for you over in EMEA, are they now. We’ve received several reports of a second BlackBerry outage for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, and our friends over at T-Mobile UK and Vodafone Egypt have confirmed again on Twitter, just several hours after RIM tweeted that service had been restored. So, what’s going on over there? We’re reaching out to RIM for a statement, and like those of you affected, we can only hope that things get back up and running very quickly. Are you outraged? Experiencing perfect service (and in EMEA)? Jump past the break to tell us what’s up in the comments.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
BlackBerry services offline for some in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Again. originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Oct 2011 09:45:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Engadget Spanish (translated), Vodafone Egypt (Twitter), T-Mobile UK (Twitter), T-Mobile Support | Email this | Comments
Engadget
Imation today unveiled a new line of storage appliances aimed at small and mid-sized enterprises that store data in a “near-line” state or can offload it to removable hard drives for archive.
Computerworld News
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