Russian hackers have discovered a security hole in Skype’s password recovery tool that allows a third party to take control of your account. All the hackers require is your Skype username and the email address that Skype account is registered to. With those details, they’ll be able to access your account and change the password in a matter of minutes. The Next Web has tested out the five-step hack and reports that the process worked across several accounts, something which we’ve independently confirmed. The site says it contacted Skype several hours before going public with the story.
It’s worth noting that your account is only vulnerable if the would-be hacker knows your email address. If you’re worried that your address may be common…
Over the last couple of hours we’ve seen a steadily increasing flow of tips from users reporting their T-Mobile data service is completely out on 2G, 3G and 4G,, and now the company has confirmed the problem. According to the tweet from its official account the “network data issue” is only affecting service for some of its customers, which jibes with the reports we’ve received of some users still connecting without a problem. There’s no ETA for a resolution, but we’ll let you know when we hear more about what’s going on.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
T-Mobile ‘network data issue’ knocking some subscribers offline originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 02 Jul 2012 23:04:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Related Posts: 
According to a tweet by Xbox Live’s Larry Hryb, Microsoft is rolling out an update containing “behind the scenes improvements” to a few select Xbox 360 owners this week with a full release next week. The update, version 2.0.15572.0, will reportedly place the Avatar store in the social pane in addition to creating a “Manage Exercise Info” field in the player profile for upcoming fitness titles. According to Hryb, the update will also lay the groundwork for future enhancements, such as Microsoft’s Smart Glass technology, which was debuted at E3 last week.
Have shots of bright highlights from your retro X10 or X-S1 been subject to a white disc or blooming effect? A quick perusal of enthusiast photography website DPReview reveals you’re not alone, with Fujifilm now acknowledging the issue and promising two fixes. The first phase begins on March 21st, when the company will issue updated firmware for the X10 that recognizes problematic bloom-inducing scenarios, and will compensate by increasing ISO in EXR mode to diminish it. That’ll pacify owners until late May, when the company says a redesigned sensor for the duo of digital shooters will become available. It’s unclear if the company will reach out to owners of both cams about the retrofit, or if only those who inquire will be privy to the updated hardware. As to why the cameras even shipped this way, the company says its engineers concluded both were working within “prescribed tolerances.” Either way, owners should call their local authorized Fujifilm service center for more details.
[Thanks, Llov]
Fujifilm to fix ‘blooming issue’ on X10 and X-S1 cameras originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | 
DPReview | Email this | Comments
A week ago today, developer Arun Thampi detailed on his blog how the Path app for iOS accessed users’ contact information and uploaded that data to Path’s servers — all without any explicit permission granted on the user’s part. That sparked quite the firestorm, including investigations into which other apps behaved in a similar manner (quite a few, it turns out), and some responses from a number of other app makers — Twitter, for one, has acknowledged that it does store users’ contact data, but that it now plans to adjust its app to more clearly inform users of that behavior. Now, Apple itself has also responded, with spokesman Tom Neumayr telling AllThingsD that “apps that collect or transmit a user’s contact data without their prior permission are in violation of our guidelines,” but that it is “working to make this even better for our customers, and as we have done with location services, any app wishing to access contact data will require explicit user approval in a future software release.” Still no word on when we can expect that software release, though.
Incidentally, this news comes on the same day that Congressmen Henry Waxman and G.K. Butterfield sent a letter to Apple over the issue, asking that it respond to a number of privacy-related questions no later than February 29th.
iPhone address book issue prompts response from Apple, apps’ access to contact data will require user permission originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | AllThingsD | Email this | Comments
2 each sets Lego Mindstorms 2.0. Robotics Invention System V2.0 (3804)
$102.50 (2 Bids)End Date: Saturday May-25-2013 8:13:06 PDTBid now | Add to watch list
WIRELESS RC SPIDER ROBOT #18144 ACADEMY SCIENCE MODEL KIT w/IR REMOTE CONTROLLER
$47.00End Date: Sunday Jun-23-2013 14:41:20 PDTBuy It Now for only: $47.00Buy It Now | Add to watch list
NEW VEX Robotics Design System Transmitter and Receiver Kit - with torn box.
$39.99End Date: Sunday Jun-2-2013 5:38:52 PDTBuy It Now for only: $39.99Buy It Now | Add to watch list
Right on cue, Asus started rolling out Ice Cream Sandwich to Transformer Prime tablets last week. The update not only brought Android 4.0 to the tablet, but also a fix for the lackluster GPS performance. But apparently the GPS is borked for some. Users are still experiencing poor performance and worse yet, some are even stating that the GPS no longer works in ICS when it did prior to the update.
The update reportedly enabled the tablet to obtain satellite information via Wi-Fi, which, in theory, should allow the GPS radio to lock-on quicker. But remember, as Asus previously stated, the Transformer “is not a professional GPS device.” So, you know, that means users shouldn’t expect certain functions to work as advertised.
The common theory prior to the update stated that the Prime’s metal back plate was interfering with the GPS radio. That could still be the case but it seems less likely now that satellite information is provided by a data connection.
Issues often arise after a product launch. Asus is not unique in this situation. However, the company is seemingly sweeping problems under the rug rather than directly addressing them. The company already removed all mentions of a GPS radio from the Prime’s product page (Amazon hasn’t though). Simply issuing a statement that the Prime is not a “professional GPS device” does not cover it. It speaks to the company’s inexperienced in the consumer electronic realm.
As many users point out on XDA, the Prime is still a fine tablet minus the GPS ability. Some users state the GPS works fine. But it’s completely broken for others. Consumers have a responsibility to hold manufacturers and companies responsible for their errors and mistakes. Only ignorant fanboys grin and bear it. The rest try to get issues resolved.
Sporting an external battery pack on your iPod Touch or iPhone? If it happens to be from Mophie or Best Buy’s Rocketfish brand, we’d advise you to take note and avoid getting burned. Rocketfish’s RF-KL12 battery case for the iPhone 3G / 3GS has been reported in a small number of burn and “minor” fire incidents, while Mophie’s announced that a select number of Juice Pack Air models for the 4th generation iPod Touch (seen above) are at risk for overheating, and potentially even melting. Suffice it to say, if you’re currently in possession of said battery extenders you should stop using it immediately. Best Buy asks that owners of the Rocketfish case get in touch to facilitate a return, which will be met with a $ 70 gift card in the US ($ 105 in Canada) as compensation. As for Mophie? If your Juice Pack Air is among the affected serial numbers, you’ll be able to initiate a swap for a fresh unit via a return form on its website. Hit those source links below for all the details — this is one case where you definitely won’t want to feel the burn.
PSA: Mophie and Best Buy issue seperate iDevice battery pack recalls due to overheating concerns originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink 
ipodnn | Best Buy, Mophie | Email this | Comments
It’s the problem that won’t go away for LightSquared, and one that has prompted a number of different “fixes” and “solutions.” The latest, as announced by the LTE wholesaler last month, is an actual hardware fix that overcomes the interference issue affecting high-precision GPS units — the only problem being that all existing and future units will need to be upgraded with said fix. Now the company’s back with yet more details, announcing that it’s partnered with PCTEL to develop an antenna that lets users of high-precision GPS units easily retrofit their devices to make them “LightSquared-compatible.” There’s still no word on the cost for it, but LightSquared has also announced that Partron America has created a filtering component that costs $ 6. The company’s press release is after the break.
Continue reading LightSquared partners with PCTEL on antenna ‘fix’ for GPS interference issue
LightSquared partners with PCTEL on antenna ‘fix’ for GPS interference issue originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 17:33:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | | Email this | Comments
Related Posts:
They’re here! We gave Apple’s latest some face time in Distro’s first special edition and now it’s time for Google’s little green robot(s) to get the cover treatment. If Cupertino’s strength is in its concentration on a single device, then Android’s is in its diversity, and this week we’re bringing you our thoughts on not one, not two, not three, but four new smartphones sporting Mountain View’s OS. We’ll bring you all the dirty details on two hotly anticipated and recently released phones, the Samsung Galaxy Nexus and Motorola’s Droid RAZR, dive deep into Beats in our review of HTC’s Sensation XE, and find out if the Amaze 4G can live up to its name. We’ve also got a review of the first Ultrabook to make it to market, Acer’s Aspire S3, and a glimpse at how Tech News Today host, Tom Merritt became the Geek he is today. The Android Invasion is upon us, but don’t run for your life. Pick up that iPad or hit the PDF download link below and get your Distro on. (And for those of you diehard Android fans, we are indeed still working on a Honeycomb version — hang tight!)
Distro Issue 8 PDF Distro on the iTunes App Store Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Engadget Distro Issue 8: the Android Invasion is upon us! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 21 Oct 2011 09:55:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | iTunes | Email this | Comments
