39% internet users in US believe they were affected by Heartbleed

The Pew Research Center report found 39% of US internet users took steps to protect their data such as changing passwords or cancelling accounts.

WASHINGTON: Many Americans scrambled to protect their personal information online after learning of the Heartbleed internet flaw, and some believe their data was stolen, a survey showed Wednesday.

The Pew Research Center report found 39% of US internet users took steps to protect their data such as changing passwords or cancelling accounts.Six percent of the online users said they believed they lost data as a result of Heartbleed, Pew found.

Split bills, tip with new PayPal's MyCheck

New technology for PayPal users called MyCheck will give more options like 'split bills' and 'tip the server.'

WASHINGTON: New technology for PayPal users called MyCheck will give more options like 'split bills' and 'tip the server' with their phone when dining out.

According to CNET, Paypal has collaborated with MyCheck, and now it allows users to pay for select restaurants, split bills and tip their server right from PayPal mobile app.

MyCheck offers a consumer-facing app of its own, available for Android and iOS, the report added.

PayPal's app already offered some features like "pay at table", order-ahead and other such services by working with various companies.

Soon, charge mobile phones with your body heat

LONDON: Scientists have devised new technology which generates electricity from body heat, allowing you to charge electronic devices on the go. 

Professor Byung Jin Cho from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in South Korea is leading the team working on a thermoelectric (TE) generator. 

The small and flexible generator, made from glass and fabric, can be used to power up heart monitors, smartglasses and other wearable tech. 

"Mobile phones consume high electrical energy compared to electrical sensors. Right now we are trying to make a sample that provides electricity for medical sensors," Cho said. 

"After that, smartphones will be the next application of the TE generator," Cho added. 

Nokia appoints Rajeev Suri as new CEO: All you need to know about India-born Nokia veteran

Nokia today announced 46-year-old India-born Rajeev Suri will be its new CEO. Suri had been the leading candidate for the position, ever since it was known that there will be a re-organisation within Nokia post the Microsoft takeover. “I am honored to have been asked to take this role, and excited about the possibilities that lie in our future. Nokia, with its deep experience in connecting people and its three strong businesses, is well-positioned to tap new opportunities during this time of technological change. I look forward to working with the entire Nokia team as we embark on this exciting journey,” Suri in a statement released by the company.

Now, manage emails better with 'Sanebox'

There are various services that let you send emails to others which get deleted once they read them.

WASHINGTON: A new mail management system is launched that analyzes user's emails, and sorts them according to one's past behavior.

According to The Good Techie, Sanebox separates important and unimportant emails according to user's behavior and automatically filters out unimportant email into a folder and summarizes it in a daily digest.

The result of which is that one's inbox is left with important and high priority emails.

This lamp can record and live-tweet your conversations

The lamp dubbed Conversnitch surreptitiously listens in on nearby conversations and posts snippets of transcribed audio on-line.

NEW YORK: Next time you lean against a lamp post while having a private conversation, think twice! 

Two US artists have developed a creepy new lamp that secretly records people's conversations and live tweets them. 

The lamp dubbed Conversnitch surreptitiously listens in on nearby conversations and posts snippets of transcribed audio on-line. 

New-York based artists Kyle McDonald and Brian House hope to raise questions about the nature of public and private spaces in an era when anything can be broadcast by ubiquitous, internet-connected listening devices, 'Wired.com' reported. 

US govt: Stop using Internet Explorer till bug is fixed

A US government cybersecurity watchdog has warned computer users Monday against using a version of the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser with a security hole that could allow hackers in.

The government's Computer Emergency Response Team (US-CERT) said in a statement that it was aware of "active exploitation" of the security flaw in versions six through 11 of the flagship Explorer browser.

The agency, a unit of the Department of Homeland Security, urged computer users to take protective actions and "consider employing an alternative web browser until an official update is available."

The security flaw is of particular concern for computers running Windows XP, an older version of the operating system for which Microsoft has said it will no longer issue security updates. 

7 things to know while buying a laptop

Laptop designs and technology have changed considerably over the years and picking up a laptop that suits your needs and budget can be a challenging task. Follow these tips while buying a laptop…

Touchscreen

If you love gadgets that you can operate via touch, then a touchscreen laptop is right for you. For instance, the tile- and gesture-based Windows 8 interface is far easier to use with a touchscreen.

Touchscreen laptops also have a number of benefits. It is easier to scroll through web pages, start apps, browse images and view lengthy documents. In touchscreen laptops, you can also revert to traditional keyboard mode.As of now, touchscreens are available in Windows only. A touchscreen laptop with Windows 8 can be purchased for less than Rs 30,000.

Nokia expects Microsoft deal to close by Friday

Nokia said on Monday it expects the sale of its handset business to Microsoft to be finalised on April 25, as it had received all the required regulatory approvals. 

The closure of the 5.4 billion euro ($7.5 billion) deal, which was agreed in September, had been delayed due to pending approvals, but earlier this month the companies won a crucial nod from Chinese regulators.

Top Windows Phone 8.1 Features You Need To Know About

Four years ago, Microsoft was struggling to battle iOS and Android with its ageing Windows platform. The situation hasn’t changed much today, the software giant is still lagging behind Apple and Google in the mobile space. However, at least now, Microsoft has got a modern OS at its disposal, and it's getting better with time. Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president & manager for Windows Phone, unveiled the latest iteration of Microsoft’s mobile platform at BUILD conference. Dubbed Windows Phone 8.1, the update brings a lot of new features to the table.

"Unlock interesting data from your Gmail account with Gmail Meter"

I’ve been using Gmail for as long as I can remember, and unfortunately I have more unread emails than I care to admit. The service is my lifeblood, but one thing that’s missing is the ability to gain insight into how active I am in sending and receiving email. Is there a certain

"Path for Android users finally get Lenses feature to filter images"

Path for Android has been updated to support the ‘Lenses’ feature, which mimics the filtration techniques of apps like Instagram. The Lenses feature allows you to see a live preview of the filter effect as you shoot an image and it’s been on the iOS version of Path for about a year.

"YouTube updates its Audio Editing interface, adds featured tracks and mixing options"

When you want to share a video with a lot of people, YouTube is the top destination for most people. The service continues to draw top-notch talent to the platform as well, and continues to add more features for content creators.

"Google Street View arrives in Israel a few days earlier than expected"

Just a few days ago we told you that Google was set to unleash its Street View service in the country of Israel on April 22nd, something it had been working on for quite some time. As we noted, there were quite a few problems with getting the project going:

"Google Drive detailed: 5 GB for free, launching next week for Mac, Windows, Android and iOS"

Sometimes we get lucky, and today is one of those days. I got a draft release from a partner of Google’s upcoming Google Drive service and it gives away a wealth of information about how Google plans to take on the incumbent Dropbox. The short story? 5 GB of storage, and it launches next week, likely on Tuesday athttp://drive.google.com

"Facebook Rolls Out Bigger Profile Images, Days After Google+"

Over the course of the last week, Facebook has started to roll out a small improvement to Facebook profiles, increasing the size of a user’s profile picture on their Timeline, a move that comes just days after Google updated Google+ profilesto sport a larger photo.

Previously, a photo measured 130 x 125 pixels, overlaying a user’s Timeline Cover image. The image is a smaller version of a user’s profile image, which can be displayed in full when a visitor clicks it.

However, as Emanuele Bartolomucci and a number of Twitter users have noticed, Facebook’s profile images now measure 166 x 160 pixels.

You can see the difference below:

Before

"Apple hides Michelangelo’s hand of Adam reaching for knowledge in touch patent filing"

Michelangelo’s ‘The Creation of Adam‘ is probably one of the most recognizable pieces of art ever created. A representation of the Biblical scene representing the creation of the first man Adam by God, it exists as a section of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling in Rome.

One of the most iconic bits of the work is the hand of Adam, reaching out to God. It’s often seen as a representation of Adam reaching out for knowledge of his creator, or knowledge of himself.

Well, it looks like someone in Apple’s patent art department wanted to hide a bit of an easter egg inside of a 2009 filing for a touch-screen iMac. The hand of Adam, lifted right from Michelangelo, was discovered by Redditor Insightfrankfurt (he actually found it three months ago, but Reddit wasn’t ready). You can see the obvious and uncanny resemblance in the graphic below:

"Amazing video: Technology brings Tupac back to life at Coachella"

If you were amazed by the fact that the late Tupac Shakur was going to perform at the Coachella festival in hologram form, then you’ll be even more amazed when you actually see it on video.

Mind. Blown. And I wasn’t even there.

According to the folks over on Hacker News, the technology being used here calledMusion Eyeliner. which is a modern version of an old illusion trick called Pepper’s Ghost. Wikipedia explains:

Offending content: Case against Google India dropped

In a relief to Google India, its name was yesterday dropped from the suit for trial of various social networking websites for allegedly hosting offending content.

Reuters

The move came after it was pointed out to a Delhi court that Google was only a software developing firm.Google India had pleaded that it was only a subsidiary of Internet giant and should be removed from the suit, to which the judge agreed.

Apple denies e-book collusion allegations: WSJ

Apple has rejected the US Justice Department’s allegations that it colluded with publishers over electronic book pricing, calling the charges “simply not true”, the Wall Street Journalreported.

“The launch of the iBookstore in 2010 fostered innovation and competition, breaking Amazon’s monopolistic grip on the publishing industry,” Apple spokeswoman Natalie Kerris told the Journal.