Android 'smishing' vulnerability discovered by NCSU researchers; Google has a fix incoming

The art of smishing (SMS-Phishing) has been practiced for some time, but a discovery by the wizards at NC State University has uncovered a new vulnerability that could bring the aforesaid act back into the spotlight. Xuxian Jiang's research team recently identified the hole and confirmed that it impacts Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich and Jelly Bean.

Engadget , Android 'smishing' vulnerability discovered by NCSU researchers; Google has a fix incoming, Android 'smishing' vulnerability discovered by NCSU researchers; Google has a fix incoming

This Website Tells You Whether Your iPhone is Locked

For those of us that have purchased cellular phones on Ebay or Craigslist, we understand the need to get the skinny on what we're buying. For instance, if a phone is carrier-locked, that means it's worth way less and a potential buyer could be buying a brick (or a unlocking headache.) Fortunately  all phones around the world come with an IMEI code, and if you plug that into the website IMEI.info, you'll get all the relevant technical details. For instance, this is my phone. Even nicer, if you've got an iPhone, it will tell you what carrier it's on and whether it's unlocked.

Ubergizmo , This Website Tells You Whether Your iPhone is Locked

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supertechnologies, This Website Tells You Whether Your iPhone is Locked

MIT prof and student discover algorithm for predicting trending Twitter topics

Predicting the future of Twitter's trending topics is, as of right now, an impossibility. But two folks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology may have cracked the code with an algorithm they're saying predicts - with 95 percent accuracy - the topics that will trend in the next hour and a half. The prediction has even been calculated as high as four to five hours ahead of time with the same level of accuracy. Not too bad.

Engadget , MIT prof and student discover algorithm for predicting trending Twitter topics, MIT prof and student discover algorithm for predicting trending Twitter topics

Top tips to make sure corporate blogs engage your audience

Great advice to help you create must-read corporate blogs and silly advice to help you to suck up to those in power. Corporate blogs: Who reads corporate blogs. Well no one will if they are irrelevant and boring. Here are top tips to make sure blogs engage your audience, plus we give reasons for creating a blog in the first place. Good and Bad PR: Big bottoms on buildings and stunt videos gets the thumbs up from Rich Leigh this week, but it’s a thumbs down for a games company trying to bury bad news.

Press Release Distribution , Top tips to make sure corporate blogs engage your audience, Top tips to make sure corporate blogs engage your audience

Shatoetry iPhone app lets you put... words... in... William Shatner's... mouth

William Shatner and technology go way back, but it's taken him until today to get his own smartphone app. Then again, he is a man known to take long pauses. Dubbed Shatoetry, the new app (iPhone-only, for the moment) lets you string together a variety of pre-recorded words - each with three different versions - and have the resulting "Shatism" read aloud by Shatner himself. You're then able to send the message to your friends through all the usual means, or even take advantage of a co-op mode that lets you collaborate on a phrase.

Engadget , Shatoetry iPhone app lets you put... words... in... William Shatner's... mouth, Shatoetry iPhone app lets you put... words... in... William Shatner's... mouth

2013 Mini Countryman gets updates

It's been two years since the debut of Mini's Countryman crossover. In that time, the general public has indeed warmed to the idea of a big Mini – we grew to rather like it during our long-term test – and for 2013, a few small, thoughtful updates are on tap for the brand's range-topper. The big change for the Countryman concerns the power window toggles, though Mini would also like you to notice the new Carbon Black ring around the center speedometer and new interior colors. Mini window controls have long resided in the center console, lost among the number of other buttons.

Autoblog , 2013 Mini Countryman gets updates, 2013 Mini Countryman gets updates

MSI Wind Top AE2712 All-in-One Windows 8 PC announced

MSI, the Taiwanese consumer electronics company, has just announced its flagship Windows 8 All-in-One PC, the Wind Top AE2712. The new AIO sports a 27-inch full HD display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution and it supports up to 10 multi-touch points which, according to MSI, is highly optimal for Windows 8. Contrary to traditional panels, MSI adds that the Wind Top AE2712′s frameless design will prevent dust from getting inside its nooks and edges. But probably one of the most interesting feature of this AIO is its military class components.

Ubergizmo , MSI Wind Top AE2712 All-in-One Windows 8 PC announced, MSI Wind Top AE2712 All-in-One Windows 8 PC announced