HTC Vive Pro Eye VR Headset With Native Eye-Tracking Goes on Sale at $1,599

The biggest highlight of the HTC Vive Pro Eye headset is the fact that it comes with precision eye control technology, deeper data analysis, dynamic training environments, and more.

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Researchers develop cyberattack that mimics keyboard keystrokes, evades detection

A group of security researchers has developed a new cyberattack called Malboard that mimics the victims’ keystroke characteristics and uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to inject malicious software onto a system. The team from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in Israel, which also developed the attacks’ detection mechanisms, said that Malboard even evades several detection products that are intended to continuously verify the user's identity based on personalised keystroke characteristics.

The keyboards used in the research were from Microsoft, Lenovo and Dell, the team notes in their paper named “Malboard: A Novel User Keystroke Impersonation Attack and Trusted Detection Framework Based on Side-Channel Analysis,” published in the journal Computer and Security. According to researchers, the keystrokes generated maliciously by a compromised USB keyboard do not typically match human typing and can easily be detected. Malboard uses AI to autonomously generate commands in the users’ style to attack a system and evade detection.

“In the study, 30 people performed three different keystroke tests against three existing detection mechanisms including KeyTrac, TypingDNA and DuckHunt. Our attack evaded detection in 83 percent to 100 percent of the cases,” Dr Nir Nissim, Head of the David and Janet Polak Family Malware Lab at Cyber at BGU, said in the paper. “Malboard was effective in two scenarios: by a remote attacker using wireless communication to communicate, and by an inside attacker or employee who physically operates and uses Malboard,” added Nissim, who is also a member of the BGU Department of Industrial Engineering and Management.

“Our proposed detection modules are trusted and secured, based on information that can be measured from side-channel resources, in addition to data transmission. These include (1) the keyboard's power consumption; (2) the keystrokes' sound; and (3) the user's behavior associated with his or her ability to respond to typographical errors,” Nitzan Farhi, a BGU student who developed both the attack and detection mechanisms, noted.

The team proposes using the detection framework for every keyboard when it is initially purchased and daily at the outset. The researchers plan to expand their work on other popular USB devices, including computer mouse user movements, clicks and duration of use. They are also planning to enhance the typo insertion detection module and combine it with other existing keystroke dynamic mechanisms for user authentication because, reportedly, this behaviour is difficult to replicate.

Source

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Realme C2 goes on sale today at 12 PM: Price, specs, sale offers and all you need to know

Realme C2 is the company’s new entry-level handset that was launched back in April alongside the Realme 3 Pro (review). The device is aimed at first-time smartphone users and those who are transitioning from feature phones to smartphones. It comes equipped with dual rear cameras and sports a diamond pattern on the back panel. It starts at Rs 5,999 and is aimed against the likes of Redmi 6A that is priced around the same. The phone will be available for purchase today at 12 PM via Flipkart and Realme.com. 

Realme C2 Specifications:

The Realme C2 runs on the Octa-core Helio P22 chipset and comes in two variants, one with 2GB RAM and 16GB of storage and another with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage. It features a 6.1-inch HD+ screen that has a 19.5:9 aspect ratio with a dewdrop notch design. The handset runs on Android 9 Pie with ColorOS 6.0 on top and is backed by a large 4000mAh battery. 

Coming to the camera, the Realme C2 features a dual-rear camera setup. It comes equipped with a 13MP + 2MP sensor configuration. Realme says that the rear camera can shoot slo-mo videos in 80fps/480p quality. On the front, the phone gets a 5MP selfie camera with AI Face Unlock. 

Realme C2 price and launch offers:

The 2GB RAM + 16GB variant of the Realme C2 is priced at Rs 5,999 and its 3GB RAM + 32GB storage model costs Rs 7,999. It will be up for sale today at 12 PM today via Flipkart and Realme's online shop in Diamond Blue and Diamond Black colours. 

Those who buy the phone from the company’s website can avail 10 percent cashback when they pay for the phone via MobiKwik. Jio users can avail benefits of up to Rs 5,300 on the purchase of the Realme C2. Launch offers for the phone on Flipkart includes a five percent discount of up to Rs 200 for Axis Bank Buzz credit card holders and a no-cost EMI. There’s also a five percent instant discount on EMI with ICICI Bank cards

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/31gXmdW

OnePlus 7 Pro OxygenOS 957 update released, brings a bunch of camera optimisations

OnePlus 7 Pro is the company’s latest flagship handset that comes equipped with a triple camera setup. The smartphone maker claimed that the device’s camera is capable of clicking considerably better images than its predecessor, thanks to the 48MP main sensor. However, its early users had a different opinion. Many OnePlus 7 Pro users were complaining of poor imaging performance of the device on a dedicated forum post and OnePlus had promised that it will fix most of the camera issues with future updates. The OxygenOS 9.5.7 patch is now rolling out for the handset that brings many camera improvements, alongside some system updates and bug fixes. 

OnePlus usually clubs camera improvements together to simply state ‘Camera Optimisations’. However, it has decided to detail exactly what optimisations are being done to the OnePlus 7 Pro’s camera with the latest update. As per the changelog, the overall contrast and colour performance should improve, along with white balance consistency. Users might also notice some improvements in the accuracy and stability of the autofocus feature. A Greenish tone being noticed in some low light scenes and noise in HDR scenes has been fixed as well. Contrast and colour saturation of ultra wide camera and its low-light imaging capability should also be optimised now. There’s also clarity and noise reduction for telephoto images, along with some improvements to Nightscape mode like its clarity, colour, and optimisation to brightness when taking photos in extreme low light scenes. 

The new OxygenOS 9.5.7 update also makes some system level optimisations to the OnePlus 7 Pro. The Double Tap to Wake feature has been optimised, along with the device’s screen touch sensitivity. Some issues with the Ambient Display are also fixed, along with audio quality for when voice calls are made via third-party apps. The new patch is being rolled out in a phased manner, which means only some OnePlus 7 Pro users would receive it today. One can navigate to their phone’s System settings and check for a System Update manually. 

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2K6i6Qq

Facebooks cryptocurrency to debut globally on June 18: Report

Facebook, a name known best for one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, is set to enter the world of cryptocurrency on June 18, says a report by TechCrunch. On that day, the Mark Zuckerberg-led company will release a white paper explaining the basics of Facebook’s proprietary cryptocurrency. The new money form is expected to be “a basket of currencies rather than a single one like the US dollar to prevent price fluctuations.”

According to the TechCrunch news report, Facebook could postpone the date of the launch if there are any last-minute snags with its partners or the government. Some reports even say that the formal launch is expected to happen only next year. Until now, the cryptocurrency project has been referred to as Libra internally, but there’s a chance Facebook will change the name before debut. It’s expected to work across the globe as a “borderless currency”.

Facebook’s new cryptocurrency is expected to be a stablecoin, which means it’s a token designed to have a stable price so that there are no discrepancies and complications caused by price fluctuations during payment or negotiation. We can expect online merchants to support Facebook’s new cryptocurrency in the near future. We can even expect to see physical devices from Facebook at existing ATMs that convert traditional assets to cryptocurrency.

Once it is introduced, we can expect to see the new cryptocurrency trickle down to Facebook’s messaging products as payment methods, such as Messenger and WhatsApp. Facebook’s massive blockchain project is overseen by a former PayPal president, amongst others. Employees part of the project are said to be working in a separate off-limits section of Facebook’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California in an effort to ensure secrecy and avoid unnecessary leaks.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/2EV9pnM

Googles game streaming service Stadia is launching in November for 10 per month, but not in India: FAQs answered

At the helm of E3 2019, Google has announced pricing and availability details of its game streaming service - Stadia. Google unveiled Stadia in March and if you want a deep dive into the offerings of the service, you can check it out here. Today we tackle information like pricing, availability, games, internet speed required and more. 

When will Stadia launch?

Google has said that Stadia will launch in November in Belgium, Finland, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, and the USA. Sadly, India is not a part of the list and there is no information when the service will come to the country.

How much will Stadia cost? 

Before we get into pricing, know that there will be two versions of the cloud gaming service you can opt for - Stadia Base and Stadia Pro. Stadia Base is free while Stadia Pro is $9.99 per month. But remember, Stadia Base will be available in 2020 only. To get access to Stadia Pro gamers will have to invest in the $129 Founders Edition bundle. The bundle is up for pre-order in the launch countries for Stadia. It includes a limited-edition Night Blue Stadia controller, a Chromecast Ultra, three-month subscription to Stadia Pro, and a buddy pass that you can gift a friend or family member (three months) and access to Destiny 2: The Collection. 

What’s the difference between Stadia base and Stadia Pro? Is the $9.99 pack a subscription service for games?

To begin with, Stadia Base will limit the games to 1080p, 60fps and stereo sound. Stadia Pro will give gamers access to 4K HDR gaming at 60fps with 5.1 surround sound. 

Let's break down the difference. Stadia Pro gives you 4K gaming with 5.1 surround sound and you can buy a game whenever you want. You will get regular free games like one does with their PlayStation Plus or Xbox Gold subscription. The first game you will get is Destiny 2 and there is no information on the number of games one can get every month. In addition to the game, Pro users will also get exclusive discounts on games, just like we have seen on Microsoft’s and PlayStations service. Stadia Pro is NOT a Netflix like streaming service where one payment gives you access to a library of games. Microsoft and Sony both have this Netflix like catalogue service called Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Now respectively. 

With Stadia Basic, one will get gaming at 1080p, 60fps with stereo sound and the ability to buy a game whenever they want. No special discounts, and no monthly games. 

What’s the internet speed I need to run Stadia?

Google, during its presentation, said that a 10Mbps connection is enough to run the game at 720p 60fps. For 1080p gaming at 60fps with 5.1 sound, it recommends a speed of 20Mbps. For 4K gaming at 60fps with 5.1 sound, Google recommends a speed of 35Mbps. There is no information on bandwidth consumption during gaming. 

What games will be available on Google Stadia at launch?

31 games will be available at launch. These include Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2, Doom Eternal, Doom (2016), Rage 2, The Elder Scrolls Online, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Destiny 2, Get Packed, Grid, Metro Exodus, Thumper, Farming Simulator 19, Baldur’s Gate III, Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, Football Manager, Samurai Shodown, Final Fantasy XV, Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, NBA 2K, Borderlands 3, Gylt, Mortal Kombat 11, Darksiders Genesis, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, Trials Rising, and The Crew.

Will I need a Stadia controller to play the games?

No. You will be able to use any popular controller with the service such as a keyboard and mouse, console controller and more. 

How much does a standard Stadia controller cost?

The Stadia controller is priced at $69. It will be available in Just Black, Clearly White, and Wasabi.

What devices will Stadia run on?

Stadia can run on your TV, but you will need a Chromecast Ultra to do so. There is no information on a Stadia app for smart TVs yet. For any other device, like a laptop, desktop or tablet, all you need is the Chrome browser and an internet connection. On smartphones, however, Google has said Stadia will be available on the Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a and 3a XL to start with. It will launch on other devices as well.

from Latest Technology News http://bit.ly/31gGp3h

Vodafone-Idea announce new Red Together postpaid plans for family sharing starting at Rs 399

Reliance Jio’s competitive pricing of 4G plans has forced the rival telecom giants to not only reduce their plan pricing, but also to introduce special offers to their customers. On similar lines, Vodafone Idea has now launched a new portfolio of postpaid plans for Indian consumers. The portfolio, which targets the entire household, includes a plan that lets primary members add up to four members and get up to 80GB of mobile data.

“The new portfolio under Vodafone Red Together will enable customers to bring the entire family onto postpaid under one plan at just Rs 999 per month. The new 999 plan comes with five connections thereby bringing down the rental per connection to just Rs 200,” Vodafone-Idea said in a press note. The company is also offering various benefits and free gifts on all the newly-launched postpaid plans.

The benefits of these plans include, 200GB of data, including 30GB for every individual member. This also includes up to 50GB roll-over facility, and 80GB for the head of the family with 200GB roll-over. Customers can also avail one year of Amazon Prime subscription as well as free Vodafone PLAY to enjoy content from ZEE5, Sony LIV, Shemaroo, Hoi Choi, Sun NXT and Alt Balaji. The primary member of the plan can also avail Free Mobile Shield smartphone protection against physical and liquid damage.

“We are constantly looking at ways to deliver value to our consumers through relevant propositions. Customers can now enjoy world class entertainment, device protection and much more along with unlimited calls, roaming and data on Vodafone Red. With the launch of the new Plans, being on Postpaid is not just convenient and simple but super economical for the entire family,” said Avneesh Khosla, Operations Director – Marketing, Vodafone Idea Limited.

Vodafone Red Together postpaid plan portfolio details:

The plans start from a minimum rental of Rs 399 in which only one customer can avail 40GB data. The next plan is for Rs 499 in which only one customer gets 75GB of data. The third plan is of Rs 598 in which a customer can add one family member. The primary member will get 50GB of data and the additional member will get 30GB of data. Next up is Rs 749 plan in which a total of three members of a family can be covered. The primary member will get 60GB of data and rest of the members will be awarded 30GB of data each.

The Rs 899 plan lets the primary user add three other members (total four members). The primary member will get 70GB of data and others members will get 30GB data each. The last plan is for Rs 999 in which a total of five members can be accommodated with primary member getting 80GB of data and other four getting 30GB of data each. In all the plans, Vodafone Idea is offering unlimited local/STD/national roaming calling facility.

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