U.S. schools warned not to deny students over immigration status

(Reuters) - The Obama administration on Thursday issued a stern warning to U.S. state and local school districts not to deny enrollment to undocumented immigrant children.



In a joint letter, the U.S. Education and Justice departments said they had become aware of student enrollment practices "that may chill or discourage" participation of students based on their or their parents' "actual or perceived immigration status."



"These practices contravene Federal law," the letter said.



The letter, which updates 2011 guidelines, did not single out districts for criticism. However, practices at some of the nation's districts have been targeted by immigration rights advocates in recent years.



For example, a 2011 Alabama law required the state's schools to get information on immigration status from students and parents. Courts blocked the statute, but meanwhile it reportedly caused some immigrant families to keep their children out of school.



Thursday's letter cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which found that citizen status is irrelevant to the student's right to an elementary and secondary education.



The letter also stressed that districts must not request information from parents and students with the intent or result of denying access to schools based on race, color or nationality, and spelled out what is and is not acceptable.



For example, a district may ask for proof of residency in a district by requesting utility bills. But a district may not bar a student from school because he or she lacks a birth certificate, or has a foreign birth certificate. Schools also cannot require students or parents to provide Social Security numbers, the letter said.



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U.S. schools warned not to deny students over immigration status

(Reuters) - The Obama administration on Thursday issued a stern warning to U.S. state and local school districts not to deny enrollment to undocumented immigrant children.

In a joint letter, the U.S. Education and Justice departments said they had become aware of student enrollment practices "that may chill or discourage" participation of students based on their or their parents' "actual or perceived immigration status."

"These practices contravene Federal law," the letter said.

The letter, which updates 2011 guidelines, did not single out districts for criticism. However, practices at some of the nation's districts have been targeted by immigration rights advocates in recent years.

For example, a 2011 Alabama law required the state's schools to get information on immigration status from students and parents. Courts blocked the statute, but meanwhile it reportedly caused some immigrant families to keep their children out of school.

Thursday's letter cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 1982 ruling in Plyler v. Doe, which found that citizen status is irrelevant to the student's right to an elementary and secondary education.

The letter also stressed that districts must not request information from parents and students with the intent or result of denying access to schools based on race, color or nationality, and spelled out what is and is not acceptable.

For example, a district may ask for proof of residency in a district by requesting utility bills. But a district may not bar a student from school because he or she lacks a birth certificate, or has a foreign birth certificate. Schools also cannot require students or parents to provide Social Security numbers, the letter said.

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Former Missouri governor 'Walkin' Joe' Teasdale dies

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Joseph Teasdale, a former Missouri governor who got the nickname "Walkin' Joe" because he campaigned on foot across the state, died on Thursday, according to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.



Teasdale, 78, a Democrat From Kansas City, was elected in 1976 and served one term. He was a former Jackson County prosecutor who defeated incumbent Christopher Bond for governor and then lost his bid for re-election to Bond in 1980.



"Gov. Teasdale was a good man whose life was guided by a deep and abiding faith and a commitment to public service," Nixon said in a statement.



Teasdale returned to Kansas City after his re-election defeat and practiced law. He died from complications of pneumonia, according to the Kansas City Star, citing family members.



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Former Missouri governor 'Walkin' Joe' Teasdale dies

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - Joseph Teasdale, a former Missouri governor who got the nickname "Walkin' Joe" because he campaigned on foot across the state, died on Thursday, according to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon.

Teasdale, 78, a Democrat From Kansas City, was elected in 1976 and served one term. He was a former Jackson County prosecutor who defeated incumbent Christopher Bond for governor and then lost his bid for re-election to Bond in 1980.

"Gov. Teasdale was a good man whose life was guided by a deep and abiding faith and a commitment to public service," Nixon said in a statement.

Teasdale returned to Kansas City after his re-election defeat and practiced law. He died from complications of pneumonia, according to the Kansas City Star, citing family members.

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German retro sports carmaker Weismann closes its doors for good

The GT MF5, Weismann's last offering.

It is a sad day for the motoring world, troubled German sports car maker Weismann is finally going out of business.



After declaring bankruptcy – or whatever bankruptcy's efficient German cousin is – in August 2013, the small automaker struggled along through the winter trying to salvage the company or find a buyer. Unfortunately, as Auto Express is now reporting, no one was willing to come forward and take responsibility for the Weismann's obligations, or, sadly, its 125 employees.



Weismann, has been in the automotive business for nearly 30 years. It began its life making hard tops for convertibles and eventually started making its own cars in partnership with BMW's M Division. For the last ten years or so, Weismann has turned out curvaceously retro two-seater sports cars, packed with the engines and running gear from BMW M3s and M5s.



Anyone who saw these cars on their appearance on Top Gear, or better yet, had a chance to see one in person, can attest at how beautiful and cool they were. Not to mention that its last model the GT MF5 had 547 horsepower … ach du lieber!



And that is the real tragedy of Weismann. Its collapse came not so much because of a failure in its product, but rather in its timing. Weismann invested heavily in a new factory and designs in 2009 … just as the economic crisis saw the market for performance cars, let alone performance cars from little-known German companies, vanish.



The world of bespoke, independent automakers is fraught with difficulty, and most such companies operate on a razors edge of profits. Weisman was no exception, and even this temporary loss in sales, it seems, was enough to kill it.



So, auf wiedersehen Weismann, and thanks for all the beautiful cars. 

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Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan at WEF pledges to free kidnapped girls

ABUJA/MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan promised on Thursday to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadowed his opening address to a conference designed to showcase investment opportunities in Africa's biggest economy.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the capital Abuja, Jonathan thanked foreign nations including the United States, Britain, France and China for their support in trying to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped from a secondary school on April 14 by Boko Haram.

He also praised delegates for coming despite the danger posed by the militants, then quickly moved on to a speech about creating jobs in African economies.

"As a nation we are facing attack from terrorism," Jonathan told delegates. "I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terrorism in Nigeria."

Despite such promises, Jonathan admitted on national television this week that he had no idea where the girls were.

The kidnappings and numerous other attacks by Boko Haram militants have overshadowed Nigeria's hosting of the forum, an annual gathering of the rich and powerful that replicates the one in Davos, Switzerland.

Security for the event was tight. Police and military trucks blocked off all roads leading to the Abuja Transcorp Hilton hotel, where the event was based. Soldiers patrolled the hotel's grounds and the perimeter with automatic weapons.

Parents of the kidnapped girls said troops had arrived in Chibok on a mission to find the girls.

"There are about three military helicopters hovering around our town and many soldiers have just arrived," said Maina Chibok, who has a 16-year-old daughter with the rebels.

"They are moving and advancing toward the bush. We hope and they succeed in rescuing our daughters."

France became the latest nation to offer help on Wednesday, saying it was boosting intelligence ties with Nigeria and sending security service agents there to tackle Boko Haram, the militant group which claimed the kidnapping.

In the latest big Islamist attack in Nigeria, 125 people were killed on Monday when gunmen rampaged through a town in the northeast near the Cameroon border.

A senator from Borno state, Ahmed Zannah, put the number killed at 300, although local politicians have sometimes been accused of exaggerating casualty figures for political reasons.

Either way, the scale and ferocity of the massacre in Gamburu again underscored how far Nigerian security forces are from protecting civilians in an increasingly violent region.

WAR CRIMES WARNING

On Tuesday, residents of another village in the remote northeastern area where the schoolgirls were kidnapped, said another eight girls were seized by suspected members of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls abducted on April 14 from a secondary school in Chibok "on the market", prompting a warning from the United Nations that this would make the perpetrators liable for war crimes.

Boko Haram's five-year-old insurgency is aimed at reviving a medieval Islamic caliphate in modern Nigeria, whose 170 million people are split roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims, and it is becoming by far the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer.

Al Azhar mosque in Egypt, an influential seat of Sunni Muslim learning, condemned the abductions as being against "the tolerant and noble teachings of Islam" and said it "holds the kidnappers responsible for any abuse or harm that befalls these girls".

Last month's kidnapping occurred on the day a bomb blast, also claimed by Boko Haram, killed 75 people on the outskirts of Abuja, the first attack on the capital in two years. Another bomb nearby killed 19 people last week, prompting a few delegates to cancel their trips to the WEF.

The inability of security forces to protect the girls from being attacked or find them in more than three weeks has sparked national and international outrage and led to protests in Abuja and the commercial capital of Lagos.

Boko Haram has emerged in a region that is one of the world's poorest, with high infant mortality, low literacy and massive youth unemployment that creates easy recruits for radical Islam. Campaigners often call on the government do more to tackle the north's underdevelopment, which contrasts with a relatively prosperous, oil-rich and largely Christian south.

Acknowledging this, Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, said he would invest $2.3 billion in sugar and rice production in the north of the country, adding that creating employment was key to ending the insurgency there.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gave a speech in which he promised "no strings" support for an African plan to develop a continent-wide high speed rail network, and said China has set aside $2 billion for an African Development Fund.


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Good news, lunatics! McLaren might be working on a special track-edition of the P1

Like the McLaren P1 but don't think it's fast or focused enough for you? Then you, sir or madam, are a lunatic.



But good news! Lunatic or not, McLaren would like some more of your money, and is prepared to build a special track edition of the P1 to get it.



Apparently several of the 375 customers to have purchased the mind-blowing super hybrid are asking for something a bit, well, a bit more. In fact, enough of them have demanded more that McLaren is listening, and is designing what it calls the 'P1 Track'.



According to Autocar, this special edition will feature more extreme body work, a chassis and suspension locked out into the most extreme settings, and more power than the mere 903 horsepower of the standard car. Also, one minor detail: you won't be able to drive it on the road. In fact, if reports are correct, you won't even be able to take possession of the car.



Instead, as with the Ferrari FFX, McLaren will hold onto all the P1 Tracks. Drivers will get a chance to take them for a spin only at the sponsored track days. If this seems a little silly to you, then don't worry; McLaren doesn't care. In fact, McLaren will only be offering the P1 Track to people who have already purchased a P1.



If nothing else, though, the McLaren P1 Track should be

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Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan at WEF pledges to free kidnapped girls

ABUJA/MAIDUGURI (Reuters) - Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan promised on Thursday to find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted by Islamist rebels, as the hostage crisis overshadowed his opening address to a conference designed to showcase investment opportunities in Africa's biggest economy.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the capital Abuja, Jonathan thanked foreign nations including the United States, Britain, France and China for their support in trying to rescue the girls, who were kidnapped from a secondary school on April 14 by Boko Haram.

He also praised delegates for coming despite the danger posed by the militants, then quickly moved on to a speech about creating jobs in African economies.

"As a nation we are facing attack from terrorism," Jonathan told delegates. "I believe that the kidnap of these girls will be the beginning of the end of terrorism in Nigeria."

Despite such promises, Jonathan admitted on national television this week that he had no idea where the girls were.

The kidnappings and numerous other attacks by Boko Haram militants have overshadowed Nigeria's hosting of the forum, an annual gathering of the rich and powerful that replicates the one in Davos, Switzerland.

Security for the event was tight. Police and military trucks blocked off all roads leading to the Abuja Transcorp Hilton hotel, where the event was based. Soldiers patrolled the hotel's grounds and the perimeter with automatic weapons.

Parents of the kidnapped girls said troops had arrived in Chibok on a mission to find the girls.

"There are about three military helicopters hovering around our town and many soldiers have just arrived," said Maina Chibok, who has a 16-year-old daughter with the rebels.

"They are moving and advancing toward the bush. We hope and they succeed in rescuing our daughters."

France became the latest nation to offer help on Wednesday, saying it was boosting intelligence ties with Nigeria and sending security service agents there to tackle Boko Haram, the militant group which claimed the kidnapping.

In the latest big Islamist attack in Nigeria, 125 people were killed on Monday when gunmen rampaged through a town in the northeast near the Cameroon border.

A senator from Borno state, Ahmed Zannah, put the number killed at 300, although local politicians have sometimes been accused of exaggerating casualty figures for political reasons.

Either way, the scale and ferocity of the massacre in Gamburu again underscored how far Nigerian security forces are from protecting civilians in an increasingly violent region.

WAR CRIMES WARNING

On Tuesday, residents of another village in the remote northeastern area where the schoolgirls were kidnapped, said another eight girls were seized by suspected members of Boko Haram.

Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened to sell the girls abducted on April 14 from a secondary school in Chibok "on the market", prompting a warning from the United Nations that this would make the perpetrators liable for war crimes.

Boko Haram's five-year-old insurgency is aimed at reviving a medieval Islamic caliphate in modern Nigeria, whose 170 million people are split roughly evenly between Christians and Muslims, and it is becoming by far the biggest security threat to Africa's top oil producer.

Al Azhar mosque in Egypt, an influential seat of Sunni Muslim learning, condemned the abductions as being against "the tolerant and noble teachings of Islam" and said it "holds the kidnappers responsible for any abuse or harm that befalls these girls".

Last month's kidnapping occurred on the day a bomb blast, also claimed by Boko Haram, killed 75 people on the outskirts of Abuja, the first attack on the capital in two years. Another bomb nearby killed 19 people last week, prompting a few delegates to cancel their trips to the WEF.

The inability of security forces to protect the girls from being attacked or find them in more than three weeks has sparked national and international outrage and led to protests in Abuja and the commercial capital of Lagos.

Boko Haram has emerged in a region that is one of the world's poorest, with high infant mortality, low literacy and massive youth unemployment that creates easy recruits for radical Islam. Campaigners often call on the government do more to tackle the north's underdevelopment, which contrasts with a relatively prosperous, oil-rich and largely Christian south.

Acknowledging this, Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote, said he would invest $2.3 billion in sugar and rice production in the north of the country, adding that creating employment was key to ending the insurgency there.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang gave a speech in which he promised "no strings" support for an African plan to develop a continent-wide high speed rail network, and said China has set aside $2 billion for an African Development Fund.

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Good news, lunatics! McLaren might be working on a special track-edition of the P1

Like the McLaren P1 but don't think it's fast or focused enough for you? Then you, sir or madam, are a lunatic.

But good news! Lunatic or not, McLaren would like some more of your money, and is prepared to build a special track edition of the P1 to get it.

Apparently several of the 375 customers to have purchased the mind-blowing super hybrid are asking for something a bit, well, a bit more. In fact, enough of them have demanded more that McLaren is listening, and is designing what it calls the 'P1 Track'.

According to Autocar, this special edition will feature more extreme body work, a chassis and suspension locked out into the most extreme settings, and more power than the mere 903 horsepower of the standard car. Also, one minor detail: you won't be able to drive it on the road. In fact, if reports are correct, you won't even be able to take possession of the car.

Instead, as with the Ferrari FFX, McLaren will hold onto all the P1 Tracks. Drivers will get a chance to take them for a spin only at the sponsored track days. If this seems a little silly to you, then don't worry; McLaren doesn't care. In fact, McLaren will only be offering the P1 Track to people who have already purchased a P1.

If nothing else, though, the McLaren P1 Track should be
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German retro sports carmaker Weismann closes its doors for good

The GT MF5, Weismann's last offering.
It is a sad day for the motoring world, troubled German sports car maker Weismann is finally going out of business.

After declaring bankruptcy – or whatever bankruptcy's efficient German cousin is – in August 2013, the small automaker struggled along through the winter trying to salvage the company or find a buyer. Unfortunately, as Auto Express is now reporting, no one was willing to come forward and take responsibility for the Weismann's obligations, or, sadly, its 125 employees.

Weismann, has been in the automotive business for nearly 30 years. It began its life making hard tops for convertibles and eventually started making its own cars in partnership with BMW's M Division. For the last ten years or so, Weismann has turned out curvaceously retro two-seater sports cars, packed with the engines and running gear from BMW M3s and M5s.

Anyone who saw these cars on their appearance on Top Gear, or better yet, had a chance to see one in person, can attest at how beautiful and cool they were. Not to mention that its last model the GT MF5 had 547 horsepower … ach du lieber!

And that is the real tragedy of Weismann. Its collapse came not so much because of a failure in its product, but rather in its timing. Weismann invested heavily in a new factory and designs in 2009 … just as the economic crisis saw the market for performance cars, let alone performance cars from little-known German companies, vanish.

The world of bespoke, independent automakers is fraught with difficulty, and most such companies operate on a razors edge of profits. Weisman was no exception, and even this temporary loss in sales, it seems, was enough to kill it.

So, auf wiedersehen Weismann, and thanks for all the beautiful cars. 
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Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?

The subject of security for the Android platform is far from straightforward. There's some debate about whether you really need antivirus apps on your smartphone. Much depends on whether you sideload apps, but there's no denying that malware has grown into a much greater concern since we first wrote this article back in 2012. Luckily security apps have improved dramatically to keep pace with the new threats, so you have plenty of great protection to choose from.

The majority of Android security apps are actually packages that include a host of other tools from contact filtering to remote lock or wipe. We decided to take a look at the top five Android security apps and find out what they do. We are taking a look at these from a consumer point of view, so be warned that some of the "free" apps are only free for personal, non-commercial use. 

Updated on 5-08-2014 by Simon Hill: Added updated results, changed intro, updated app descriptions and final sections, and added ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus, Avira Antivirus Security, and AVL.

360 Mobile Security (Free) (Google Play, Amazon)

A major player in China, developer Qihu burst onto the scene and claimed the top spot in AV-Test's September 2013 report with a virtually flawless detection rate of 99.9 percent, the highest of any of the security apps tested. In the latest March 2014 report it achieved a detection rate of 100 percent. The focus with 360 Mobile Security is firmly on detecting and nullifying threats to your system. It has a very streamlined, elegant design. It's extremely lightweight, and it's completely free.

A standard real-time scan will safeguard your device from malware, spyware, and the threat of infection. It's also capable of detecting and fixing system vulnerabilities and cleaning up idle background apps to help your phone run more efficiently. There's a privacy advisor and a tool to clear your usage history.

This app eschews a laundry list of extras in favor of a light touch. The only additional features you'll find are call blocking options, some shortcut toggles, and safe browsing protection. There's no anti-theft component or backup option.

For a good blend of usability and strong protection, you should think about 360 Mobile Security. If you're more concerned about smooth performance than extra features, it is bound to appeal.

Avast! Mobile Security (Google Play)

As a genuinely free app for the Android platform, Avast! Mobile Security is offering an impressive range of tools. It has antivirus protection, it scans your apps to provide details on what they are doing, and it has a Web shield that scans URLs for malware.

There are various additional tools in the package and the best of the bunch is the anti-theft component. The app is actually based on an old app called Theft Aware which Avast acquired. The anti-theft feature is hidden and allows you to remote control your smartphone using SMS. So if you lose your phone, you can remotely lock it, locate it, or wipe it. You can make it play a siren sound, lock down the SIM card, and prevent USB debugging as well. It's a comprehensive solution for theft protection.

If you have a rooted device then there's also a firewall that allows you to control network traffic. You can block access to Wi-Fi or the network for specific apps which is handy for security and potentially saving on battery juice as well.

According to the latest AV-Test report of 31 popular Android security apps, Avast is a solid option with an overall detection rate of 99.9 percent. Although it is not top of the charts in terms of malware detection, the extra functionality (including the anti-theft tools and a firewall for rooted devices) still make it worth considering. It has a light footprint with no discernible drain on battery life and no impact on general performance. It also returned no false positives.

The fact this app is completely free, has a wide range of features, and offers protection for rooted devices, makes it a strong contender. If you're looking for a security solution for your Android smartphone, and your primary concern is malware and safe browsing, then this could be the right app for you.

Avast Marketing Director, Milos Korenko, has assured us that "There might be a paid version in the future but that won't have an impact on the free version. It will continue to be available and loaded with features."

ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus (Google Play, Amazon)

This is a new entry for our top five and it deserves its place with a 100 percen detection rate in the latest AV-Test report and an easy-to-use interface. The basic app is completely free and it provides real-time scanning of apps to detect malware and potentially dodgy apps trying to send texts or make premium rate calls.

The free version also includes a suite of anti-theft tools. You can remotely locate and lock your smartphone or tablet, and you can prevent anyone from uninstalling apps by using password protection.

If you want remote wipe or SIM guard capabilities then you have to spring for the premium version at $20 per year, but it also delivers anti-phishing protection, an app audit feature, device monitoring for unwarranted use of data, and advanced call blocking.

Avira Antivirus Security (Google Play)

With a 100 percent detection rate and no false positives, you can trust the free version of Avira to keep your Android smartphone or tablet safe. It has a light footprint in terms of performance and a sleek, minimalist design that fits in well with the Android platform.

Avira allows you to scan apps for potential trouble and it scans new apps or updates automatically. There's also the usual batch of anti-theft tools, to help you find your device remotely, lock it, wipe it, or trigger an alarm.

There's an additional tool that claims to be able to tell you whether your email account has been hacked and tell you what action to take if it has. A decent range of blacklisting options rounds off this app, so you can block problem callers or nuisance spam.

There is a premium version that adds anti-phishing, more regular updates, and better support, but the free version covers enough bases for most people.

AVL (Google Play)

Some of you are probably just looking for malware protection that's as barebones as possible. If you don't want anti-theft tools, or identity protection, or any of the other possibly superfluous features that come in many security apps then AVL will suit you.

This app scored a 100 percent detection rate with no false positives and AV-Test found performance was good with no undue impact on speed or battery life. AVL can scan a variety of file formats beyond APKs and it's designed to be fast and efficient.

Other options

The fact that 18 of the 31 apps tested by AV-Test in March 2014 scored 100 percent detection rates shows how much security software on the platform is improving. If you don't fancy any of our picks then McAfee Antivirus & Security, TrustGo Antivirus & Mobile Security,  and Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus all offer free versions that are worth a look. They all scored a 100 percent detection rate as well and could easily have made the list.

From the big name security software brands, Kaspersky and Symantec will attract many people because they are familiar names, but compared to some of the free options there's really nothing there to justify the price tags. Same goes for the excellent NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus and Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus. All scored 100 percent, but they are only free trials and will bug you about paying out an annual subscription.

And the winner is….

You can read about whether you actually need antivirus protection and run through some common sense ways to safeguard your Android device in the next two parts of this security series. However, if you do want to go ahead and get an Android security app, 360 Mobile Security is your best bet right now. It offers the functionality you'd expect from a premium app for free. If you're not sure about 360 Mobile Security then we'd recommend ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus.

If you've tried any of these apps out or you have another Android security app you feel is worthy of a mention then post a comment and let us know about it.

————

Updated on 11-20-2013 by Simon Hill: Added updated results, tweaked text, added 360 Mobile Security from Qihu, updated other apps section and recommendations.

Article originally published on 8-1-2012.

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Chrome Canary’s anti-phishing beta feature fails its flight test, security company says

If you spend a considerable amount of time on the Web, then you likely already know that phishing is a fact of life. Google knows this too, so in an effort to help people sidestep such dangers, it has been working on a feature called Origin Chip. 



However, Web security firm PhishMe says that while Origin Chip is designed to strip out a URL down to its bare essentials to make it easier to determine whether you're the target of a phishing attempt, it sometimes does the opposite.



"We've discovered that if a URL is long enough, Canary will not display any domain or URL at all, instead showing an empty text box with the ghost text Search Google or type URL," Aaron Higbee and Shyaam Sundhar of PhishMe said. "This creates a golden opportunity for attackers to carry out data-entry phishing attacks."



Instead of displaying, for instance, Amazon.com or Netflix.com, a flaw in Origin Chip could shroud the entire URL altogether, which makes it impossible for you to determine whether you're on a legitimate site or not just by looking at the URL in your browser's address bar. Google has incorporated the feature into Chrome Canary, a version of the tech giant's web browser that's geared towards developers. 



Higbee and Sundhar suggest that "a potential solution would be to keep the entire URL intact, but put a visual focus on the root domain." Perhaps color-coding the root domain with hues like green for "safe" and red for "unsafe" could go a long way towards decreasing the likelihood that an average user falls victim to a phishing attempt.



With that in mind, it'll be interesting to see how Google will tackle this problem in future releases of Chrome.



What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

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LG’s Chromebase Google all-in-one desktop gets a release date and price

Google's Chrome OS started life in inexpensive Chromebook laptops. Then, it moved onto inexpensive, tiny desktops, or Chromeboxes. Now, the OS is ready to take on the iMac-dominated all-in-one space as well.



We first saw LG's Chromebase AIO back in January at CES 2014. Now, the system's arrival is imminent; it should be landing at outlets like Amazon, Newgg, and Tiger Direct on May 26, according to LG. If you'd like to see it for yourself before buying, it should also show up at your local Fry's Electronics and Micro Center as well. It'll carry an MSRP of $349.99.



Just what does a $350 Chrome OS-packing all-in-one desktop get you? There's a 21.5-inch 1080p display, an Intel Celeron 2955U Haswell processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of solid-state local storage. Google will throw in 100GB of cloud storage for two years also.



Connectivity options consists of 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, one USB 3.0 port, and a trio of USB 2.0 ports. An Ethernet jack is included in case you prefer a faster, more stable Internet and network connection. There's also an HDMI-in port, which means that you can use the Chromebase's monitor as a mini HDTV.



The Chromebase will be available in both black and white hues, and we dig the retro-futuristic style. However, that's tainted by the wired peripherals that appear in the press photos. A wireless keyboard and mouse may be too much to ask for, considering the price. Even so, we'd still love to see a model that only needs one cable for power, or two if you aren't using Wi-Fi.

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153 awesome Android apps (Parenting and Kids apps added!)

Welcome to our brand new listing of our favorite Android apps. If you've ever been here before, you'll notice that a lot has changed. The old article was disorganized, outdated, and full of problems. We've remodeled the whole place, from ceiling to floor, and given it a new modern formatting, too! The goal here is simple: No matter what kind of app you're looking for, we're hoping we have something listed that could help you out. All of the links lead directly back to the Google Play Store, so you can download them immediately and the blocks of categories below can guide you to exactly what type of app you want to find. We're an app  library built to serve you, Androiders. Click on one of the eight categories or 45 subcategories and you'll zip right to one of these 135 great apps.

We'll update this article every month with some new categories and picks.
We hope you enjoy! If you want to suggest an app (not one you are paid to promote, please), treat us to a nice cream cone … pliment (yeah, I dunno), or troll us mercilessly, use the comments below. Please don't troll. That was a joke. Seriously. Don't. I mean it.

(Own a Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab, or another tablet? Be sure to read our newly revamped guide to the Best Android Tablet Apps.)
Updated by Jeff on 5-08-2014: We've added a Parenting and Kids apps section to the list, so if you're clamoring for some way to keep your child busy, we now have your back.
If you're like us, one of life's greatest activities is sitting on your ass reading, watching, listening, or playing something. These apps will help you do just that.
Movies and TV
Zeebox
(Google Play)
Billed as "TV's sidekick," this app helps you to keep up with the shows you love. Find all the buzz about each show, and have real-time discussions with other fans while you watch. It's great!
Flixster
(Google Play / Amazon)
A must for those who love go see movies, Flixster offers a clean interface and accurate movie listings at nearby theaters, based on your current location, along with reviews from Rotten Tomatoes.
Netflix
(Google Play / Amazon)
Netflix is the best streaming service. There's a huge selection of movies and TV shows for subscribers and the performance is silky smooth. This is as entertained as you can get for $8 a month.
Books
Kindle
(Google Play / Amazon)
If you don't have a Kindle, Amazon will still sell you books and with more than 900,000 titles in its store, there's plenty to browse through. From best sellers to the classics, it's all here.
Aldiko
(Google Play / Amazon)
You haven't heard of this but try it. Super accessible and customizable, it's a great ebook store. A simple design takes you straight to your bookshelf and there's a wealth of free content on offer.
Goodreads
(Google Play / Amazon)
This is all about book recommendations. If you're looking for an honest opinion on a book you may read, or you want to share your thoughts on a title, then this app is the place to do it.
Comics
Comics
(Google Play / Amazon)
Comixology's free app is a window onto a staggering library of more than 40,000 titles, including all the big names from Marvel and DC. It's the biggest comic book reader out there right now.
Komik Reader
(Google Play)
Simple with a clean interface, Komik is a good way to store and access your comic collection on your smartphone, but you cannot buy comics with it – you'll need another app for that.
ComicRack ($8)
(Google Play)
A comic management app that syncs your collection across your Windows PC and Android devices, with pinch-to-zoom, bookmarking, and customization options, what more do you need?
News
Flipboard
(Google Play / Amazon)
Flipboard is the biggest news aggregator. It offers magazine-style news collection with links from Facebook, Twitter, and top sites, filtered by your major interests (from football to technology).
LinkedIn Pulse
(Google Play / Amazon)
Newly acquired by LinkedIn, this great reader enables you to pull in online sources, and then creates clean, magazine-like pages that feature thumbnail photos, and headlines from each source.
News360
(Google Play / Amazon)
Here's a smart news reader that learns about the kinds of stories you want to see, and grows more accurate as you use it, continually pulling in better news that matters to you more.
Radio and Podcasts
TuneIn Radio ($1)
(Google Play / Amazon)
With more than 70,000 radio stations and over 2 million on-demand programs, whether you want to listen to the big game, tune in to a political debate, or dance to some music, you're covered.
Pandora
(Google Play / Amazon)
Our favorite streaming radio app for every platform delivers customizable music complete with a rating system that lets you fine tune every station to your liking. And it's curated by humans.
Pocket Casts ($4)
(Google Play)
This has everything we want in a podcast player. It has a huge library and the clean interface makes it easy to manage your subscriptions. It also lets you sync between devices and works with iOS.
Music
Spotify
(Google Play)
Spotify is the best full-featured streaming service. With this app you can stream any music from any type of device, make your own playlists, follow artists, and sync tracks for offline listening.
SoundCloud
(Google Play / Amazon)
If you're looking for an all-you-can-eat buffet of sound with no ads and no subscription fees, you've found it. Discover new music and stream it from the cloud. But this is no Spotify replacement.
Poweramp ($4)
(Google Play)
Versatile and powerful, this app is great for audiophiles. It supports an incredibly long list of file formats from MP3 to FLAC to AIFF, and a whole lot more. Use it if you keep a local music collection.
Games
Broken Sword ($4)
(Google Play / Amazon)
It's time for a charming, point-and-click, detective yarn that will transport you to Paris and beyond as you try to unravel a dark conspiracy that stretches back to the days of the Knights Templar.
Ingress
(Google Play)
The parallel world created by Google's Niantic Labs for this MMO sci-fi game the potential of augmented reality gaming. It has mysteries to solve, real-world exploration, and social collaboration.
Nimble Quest
(Google Play / Amazon)

It's a brilliant blend of old mobile favorite Snake with a retro-RPG. Your little band of adventurers lines up like a Conga line as you zip around levels killing baddies and gathering loot.
Pro Sports
TheScore
(Google Play / Amazon)
Whatever gets you excited, from Nascar to the NFL, this app will have you dancing in victory or crying in your beer. It brings you all the latest touchdowns, goals, and positions as they happen.
NFL Mobile
(Google Play)
Get all the latest news, stats, and scores from the NFL, including video highlights. Use this app to manage your fantasy football team, and Verizon customers can watch live game streams.
ESPN SportsCenter
(Google Play / Amazon)
You can get a quick look at the all the latest scores, league standings, and news for your favorite sports in this app. Customize it to follow the teams and players that matter to most to you.
College Sports
Basketball Scoreboard
(Google Play)
Everything you need to know about college basketball is wrapped up in this easy to use app. Find all the latest scores, fixtures, tables, and the big news stories from colleges across the country.
ESPN College Football
(Google Play)
All kinds of news, stats, and scores, along with latest buzz from Twitter about the world of college football can be found here. There are even alerts with video clips of great plays during games.
College StatSheet
(Google Play)
Now you can compare every player in college basketball leagues with detailed analysis and statistics. You'll also find news, rosters, and match reports, but stats are the real heart of this app.
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Asus outs new Chromebooks armed with big touchpads, Bay Trail CPUs

The Chromebook field is certainly getting crowded fast. Just the other day, Lenovo launched their first consumer laptops running Google's cloud-based OS. Asus is also joining the Chromebook party with two new Google-centric laptops of their own.



The 11.6-inch C200 (pictured above) and the 13.3-inch C300 will both be powered by Intel's Bay Trail (Celeron N2830) processor and feature 1,366×768-resolution displays. The C200 is said to have a glossy display, while the C300′s screen should be matte. Both Chromebooks will sport 2GB of RAM along with 16GB solid state storage, though Google supplements the latter with 100GB of free Google Drive storage for two years.



Both will have one USB 3.0 port, and one slower 2.0 port as well. Asus says that both Chromebooks should get "up to 10 hours" of battery life, which means you probably won't have to carry your charger with you everywhere you go.



The standout feature here seems to be larger touchpads. There's no word on their exact sizes, but Asus says that both models will have multi-finger touchpads that are comparable to what you'll typically find on 14-inch notebooks. Both will also come with 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 support, as well as SD card readers. An HDMI-out will be present too, which will allow you to connect the C200 and C300 to second screens.



The C200 weighs in at 2.5 pounds, while the larger C300 tips the scales at 3.1 pounds. Though precise release dates are unavailable, both the Asus C200 and C300 Chromebooks should be available by the end of June.



Asus says that they'll start at $249.99, but we have to assume that this price tag only applies to the C200. We reached out to Asus for confirmation, and we'll update this story if we get any new information on that front.



What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.

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Asus outs new Chromebooks armed with big touchpads, Bay Trail CPUs

The Chromebook field is certainly getting crowded fast. Just the other day, Lenovo launched their first consumer laptops running Google's cloud-based OS. Asus is also joining the Chromebook party with two new Google-centric laptops of their own.

The 11.6-inch C200 (pictured above) and the 13.3-inch C300 will both be powered by Intel's Bay Trail (Celeron N2830) processor and feature 1,366×768-resolution displays. The C200 is said to have a glossy display, while the C300′s screen should be matte. Both Chromebooks will sport 2GB of RAM along with 16GB solid state storage, though Google supplements the latter with 100GB of free Google Drive storage for two years.

Both will have one USB 3.0 port, and one slower 2.0 port as well. Asus says that both Chromebooks should get "up to 10 hours" of battery life, which means you probably won't have to carry your charger with you everywhere you go.

The standout feature here seems to be larger touchpads. There's no word on their exact sizes, but Asus says that both models will have multi-finger touchpads that are comparable to what you'll typically find on 14-inch notebooks. Both will also come with 802.11ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0 support, as well as SD card readers. An HDMI-out will be present too, which will allow you to connect the C200 and C300 to second screens.

The C200 weighs in at 2.5 pounds, while the larger C300 tips the scales at 3.1 pounds. Though precise release dates are unavailable, both the Asus C200 and C300 Chromebooks should be available by the end of June.

Asus says that they'll start at $249.99, but we have to assume that this price tag only applies to the C200. We reached out to Asus for confirmation, and we'll update this story if we get any new information on that front.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.
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LG’s Chromebase Google all-in-one desktop gets a release date and price

Google's Chrome OS started life in inexpensive Chromebook laptops. Then, it moved onto inexpensive, tiny desktops, or Chromeboxes. Now, the OS is ready to take on the iMac-dominated all-in-one space as well.

We first saw LG's Chromebase AIO back in January at CES 2014. Now, the system's arrival is imminent; it should be landing at outlets like Amazon, Newgg, and Tiger Direct on May 26, according to LG. If you'd like to see it for yourself before buying, it should also show up at your local Fry's Electronics and Micro Center as well. It'll carry an MSRP of $349.99.

Just what does a $350 Chrome OS-packing all-in-one desktop get you? There's a 21.5-inch 1080p display, an Intel Celeron 2955U Haswell processor, 2GB of RAM, and 16GB of solid-state local storage. Google will throw in 100GB of cloud storage for two years also.

Connectivity options consists of 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, one USB 3.0 port, and a trio of USB 2.0 ports. An Ethernet jack is included in case you prefer a faster, more stable Internet and network connection. There's also an HDMI-in port, which means that you can use the Chromebase's monitor as a mini HDTV.

The Chromebase will be available in both black and white hues, and we dig the retro-futuristic style. However, that's tainted by the wired peripherals that appear in the press photos. A wireless keyboard and mouse may be too much to ask for, considering the price. Even so, we'd still love to see a model that only needs one cable for power, or two if you aren't using Wi-Fi.
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Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?

The subject of security for the Android platform is far from straightforward. There's some debate about whether you really need antivirus apps on your smartphone. Much depends on whether you sideload apps, but there's no denying that malware has grown into a much greater concern since we first wrote this article back in 2012. Luckily security apps have improved dramatically to keep pace with the new threats, so you have plenty of great protection to choose from.

The majority of Android security apps are actually packages that include a host of other tools from contact filtering to remote lock or wipe. We decided to take a look at the top five Android security apps and find out what they do. We are taking a look at these from a consumer point of view, so be warned that some of the "free" apps are only free for personal, non-commercial use. 

Updated on 5-08-2014 by Simon Hill: Added updated results, changed intro, updated app descriptions and final sections, and added ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus, Avira Antivirus Security, and AVL.

360 Mobile Security (Free) (Google Play, Amazon)

A major player in China, developer Qihu burst onto the scene and claimed the top spot in AV-Test's September 2013 report with a virtually flawless detection rate of 99.9 percent, the highest of any of the security apps tested. In the latest March 2014 report it achieved a detection rate of 100 percent. The focus with 360 Mobile Security is firmly on detecting and nullifying threats to your system. It has a very streamlined, elegant design. It's extremely lightweight, and it's completely free.

A standard real-time scan will safeguard your device from malware, spyware, and the threat of infection. It's also capable of detecting and fixing system vulnerabilities and cleaning up idle background apps to help your phone run more efficiently. There's a privacy advisor and a tool to clear your usage history.

This app eschews a laundry list of extras in favor of a light touch. The only additional features you'll find are call blocking options, some shortcut toggles, and safe browsing protection. There's no anti-theft component or backup option.

For a good blend of usability and strong protection, you should think about 360 Mobile Security. If you're more concerned about smooth performance than extra features, it is bound to appeal.

Avast! Mobile Security (Google Play)

As a genuinely free app for the Android platform, Avast! Mobile Security is offering an impressive range of tools. It has antivirus protection, it scans your apps to provide details on what they are doing, and it has a Web shield that scans URLs for malware.

There are various additional tools in the package and the best of the bunch is the anti-theft component. The app is actually based on an old app called Theft Aware which Avast acquired. The anti-theft feature is hidden and allows you to remote control your smartphone using SMS. So if you lose your phone, you can remotely lock it, locate it, or wipe it. You can make it play a siren sound, lock down the SIM card, and prevent USB debugging as well. It's a comprehensive solution for theft protection.

If you have a rooted device then there's also a firewall that allows you to control network traffic. You can block access to Wi-Fi or the network for specific apps which is handy for security and potentially saving on battery juice as well.

According to the latest AV-Test report of 31 popular Android security apps, Avast is a solid option with an overall detection rate of 99.9 percent. Although it is not top of the charts in terms of malware detection, the extra functionality (including the anti-theft tools and a firewall for rooted devices) still make it worth considering. It has a light footprint with no discernible drain on battery life and no impact on general performance. It also returned no false positives.

The fact this app is completely free, has a wide range of features, and offers protection for rooted devices, makes it a strong contender. If you're looking for a security solution for your Android smartphone, and your primary concern is malware and safe browsing, then this could be the right app for you.

Avast Marketing Director, Milos Korenko, has assured us that "There might be a paid version in the future but that won't have an impact on the free version. It will continue to be available and loaded with features."

ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus (Google Play, Amazon)

This is a new entry for our top five and it deserves its place with a 100 percen detection rate in the latest AV-Test report and an easy-to-use interface. The basic app is completely free and it provides real-time scanning of apps to detect malware and potentially dodgy apps trying to send texts or make premium rate calls.

The free version also includes a suite of anti-theft tools. You can remotely locate and lock your smartphone or tablet, and you can prevent anyone from uninstalling apps by using password protection.

If you want remote wipe or SIM guard capabilities then you have to spring for the premium version at $20 per year, but it also delivers anti-phishing protection, an app audit feature, device monitoring for unwarranted use of data, and advanced call blocking.

Avira Antivirus Security (Google Play)

With a 100 percent detection rate and no false positives, you can trust the free version of Avira to keep your Android smartphone or tablet safe. It has a light footprint in terms of performance and a sleek, minimalist design that fits in well with the Android platform.

Avira allows you to scan apps for potential trouble and it scans new apps or updates automatically. There's also the usual batch of anti-theft tools, to help you find your device remotely, lock it, wipe it, or trigger an alarm.

There's an additional tool that claims to be able to tell you whether your email account has been hacked and tell you what action to take if it has. A decent range of blacklisting options rounds off this app, so you can block problem callers or nuisance spam.

There is a premium version that adds anti-phishing, more regular updates, and better support, but the free version covers enough bases for most people.

AVL (Google Play)

Some of you are probably just looking for malware protection that's as barebones as possible. If you don't want anti-theft tools, or identity protection, or any of the other possibly superfluous features that come in many security apps then AVL will suit you.

This app scored a 100 percent detection rate with no false positives and AV-Test found performance was good with no undue impact on speed or battery life. AVL can scan a variety of file formats beyond APKs and it's designed to be fast and efficient.

Other options

The fact that 18 of the 31 apps tested by AV-Test in March 2014 scored 100 percent detection rates shows how much security software on the platform is improving. If you don't fancy any of our picks then McAfee Antivirus & Security, TrustGo Antivirus & Mobile Security,  and Trend Micro Mobile Security & Antivirus all offer free versions that are worth a look. They all scored a 100 percent detection rate as well and could easily have made the list.

From the big name security software brands, Kaspersky and Symantec will attract many people because they are familiar names, but compared to some of the free options there's really nothing there to justify the price tags. Same goes for the excellent NQ Mobile Security & Antivirus and Bitdefender Mobile Security & Antivirus. All scored 100 percent, but they are only free trials and will bug you about paying out an annual subscription.

And the winner is….

You can read about whether you actually need antivirus protection and run through some common sense ways to safeguard your Android device in the next two parts of this security series. However, if you do want to go ahead and get an Android security app, 360 Mobile Security is your best bet right now. It offers the functionality you'd expect from a premium app for free. If you're not sure about 360 Mobile Security then we'd recommend ESET Mobile Security & Antivirus.

If you've tried any of these apps out or you have another Android security app you feel is worthy of a mention then post a comment and let us know about it.

————

Updated on 11-20-2013 by Simon Hill: Added updated results, tweaked text, added 360 Mobile Security from Qihu, updated other apps section and recommendations.

Article originally published on 8-1-2012.
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153 awesome Android apps (Parenting and Kids apps added!)

Welcome to our brand new listing of our favorite Android apps. If you've ever been here before, you'll notice that a lot has changed. The old article was disorganized, outdated, and full of problems. We've remodeled the whole place, from ceiling to floor, and given it a new modern formatting, too! The goal here is simple: No matter what kind of app you're looking for, we're hoping we have something listed that could help you out. All of the links lead directly back to the Google Play Store, so you can download them immediately and the blocks of categories below can guide you to exactly what type of app you want to find. We're an app  library built to serve you, Androiders. Click on one of the eight categories or 45 subcategories and you'll zip right to one of these 135 great apps.

We'll update this article every month with some new categories and picks.

We hope you enjoy! If you want to suggest an app (not one you are paid to promote, please), treat us to a nice cream cone … pliment (yeah, I dunno), or troll us mercilessly, use the comments below. Please don't troll. That was a joke. Seriously. Don't. I mean it.

(Own a Nexus 7, Galaxy Tab, or another tablet? Be sure to read our newly revamped guide to the Best Android Tablet Apps.)

Updated by Jeff on 5-08-2014: We've added a Parenting and Kids apps section to the list, so if you're clamoring for some way to keep your child busy, we now have your back.

If you're like us, one of life's greatest activities is sitting on your ass reading, watching, listening, or playing something. These apps will help you do just that.

Movies and TV

Zeebox

(Google Play)

Billed as "TV's sidekick," this app helps you to keep up with the shows you love. Find all the buzz about each show, and have real-time discussions with other fans while you watch. It's great!

Flixster

(Google Play / Amazon)

A must for those who love go see movies, Flixster offers a clean interface and accurate movie listings at nearby theaters, based on your current location, along with reviews from Rotten Tomatoes.

Netflix

(Google Play / Amazon)

Netflix is the best streaming service. There's a huge selection of movies and TV shows for subscribers and the performance is silky smooth. This is as entertained as you can get for $8 a month.

Books

Kindle

(Google Play / Amazon)

If you don't have a Kindle, Amazon will still sell you books and with more than 900,000 titles in its store, there's plenty to browse through. From best sellers to the classics, it's all here.

Aldiko

(Google Play / Amazon)

You haven't heard of this but try it. Super accessible and customizable, it's a great ebook store. A simple design takes you straight to your bookshelf and there's a wealth of free content on offer.

Goodreads

(Google Play / Amazon)

This is all about book recommendations. If you're looking for an honest opinion on a book you may read, or you want to share your thoughts on a title, then this app is the place to do it.

Comics

Comics

(Google Play / Amazon)

Comixology's free app is a window onto a staggering library of more than 40,000 titles, including all the big names from Marvel and DC. It's the biggest comic book reader out there right now.

Komik Reader

(Google Play)

Simple with a clean interface, Komik is a good way to store and access your comic collection on your smartphone, but you cannot buy comics with it – you'll need another app for that.

ComicRack ($8)

(Google Play)

A comic management app that syncs your collection across your Windows PC and Android devices, with pinch-to-zoom, bookmarking, and customization options, what more do you need?

News

Flipboard

(Google Play / Amazon)

Flipboard is the biggest news aggregator. It offers magazine-style news collection with links from Facebook, Twitter, and top sites, filtered by your major interests (from football to technology).

LinkedIn Pulse

(Google Play / Amazon)

Newly acquired by LinkedIn, this great reader enables you to pull in online sources, and then creates clean, magazine-like pages that feature thumbnail photos, and headlines from each source.

News360

(Google Play / Amazon)

Here's a smart news reader that learns about the kinds of stories you want to see, and grows more accurate as you use it, continually pulling in better news that matters to you more.

Radio and Podcasts

TuneIn Radio ($1)

(Google Play / Amazon)

With more than 70,000 radio stations and over 2 million on-demand programs, whether you want to listen to the big game, tune in to a political debate, or dance to some music, you're covered.

Pandora

(Google Play / Amazon)

Our favorite streaming radio app for every platform delivers customizable music complete with a rating system that lets you fine tune every station to your liking. And it's curated by humans.

Pocket Casts ($4)

(Google Play)

This has everything we want in a podcast player. It has a huge library and the clean interface makes it easy to manage your subscriptions. It also lets you sync between devices and works with iOS.

Music

Spotify

(Google Play)

Spotify is the best full-featured streaming service. With this app you can stream any music from any type of device, make your own playlists, follow artists, and sync tracks for offline listening.

SoundCloud

(Google Play / Amazon)

If you're looking for an all-you-can-eat buffet of sound with no ads and no subscription fees, you've found it. Discover new music and stream it from the cloud. But this is no Spotify replacement.

Poweramp ($4)

(Google Play)

Versatile and powerful, this app is great for audiophiles. It supports an incredibly long list of file formats from MP3 to FLAC to AIFF, and a whole lot more. Use it if you keep a local music collection.

Games

Broken Sword ($4)

(Google Play / Amazon)

It's time for a charming, point-and-click, detective yarn that will transport you to Paris and beyond as you try to unravel a dark conspiracy that stretches back to the days of the Knights Templar.

Ingress

(Google Play)

The parallel world created by Google's Niantic Labs for this MMO sci-fi game the potential of augmented reality gaming. It has mysteries to solve, real-world exploration, and social collaboration.

Nimble Quest

(Google Play / Amazon)

It's a brilliant blend of old mobile favorite Snake with a retro-RPG. Your little band of adventurers lines up like a Conga line as you zip around levels killing baddies and gathering loot.

Pro Sports

TheScore

(Google Play / Amazon)

Whatever gets you excited, from Nascar to the NFL, this app will have you dancing in victory or crying in your beer. It brings you all the latest touchdowns, goals, and positions as they happen.

NFL Mobile

(Google Play)

Get all the latest news, stats, and scores from the NFL, including video highlights. Use this app to manage your fantasy football team, and Verizon customers can watch live game streams.

ESPN SportsCenter

(Google Play / Amazon)

You can get a quick look at the all the latest scores, league standings, and news for your favorite sports in this app. Customize it to follow the teams and players that matter to most to you.

College Sports

Basketball Scoreboard

(Google Play)

Everything you need to know about college basketball is wrapped up in this easy to use app. Find all the latest scores, fixtures, tables, and the big news stories from colleges across the country.

ESPN College Football

(Google Play)

All kinds of news, stats, and scores, along with latest buzz from Twitter about the world of college football can be found here. There are even alerts with video clips of great plays during games.

College StatSheet

(Google Play)

Now you can compare every player in college basketball leagues with detailed analysis and statistics. You'll also find news, rosters, and match reports, but stats are the real heart of this app.
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Chrome Canary’s anti-phishing beta feature fails its flight test, security company says

If you spend a considerable amount of time on the Web, then you likely already know that phishing is a fact of life. Google knows this too, so in an effort to help people sidestep such dangers, it has been working on a feature called Origin Chip. 

However, Web security firm PhishMe says that while Origin Chip is designed to strip out a URL down to its bare essentials to make it easier to determine whether you're the target of a phishing attempt, it sometimes does the opposite.

"We've discovered that if a URL is long enough, Canary will not display any domain or URL at all, instead showing an empty text box with the ghost text Search Google or type URL," Aaron Higbee and Shyaam Sundhar of PhishMe said. "This creates a golden opportunity for attackers to carry out data-entry phishing attacks."

Instead of displaying, for instance, Amazon.com or Netflix.com, a flaw in Origin Chip could shroud the entire URL altogether, which makes it impossible for you to determine whether you're on a legitimate site or not just by looking at the URL in your browser's address bar. Google has incorporated the feature into Chrome Canary, a version of the tech giant's web browser that's geared towards developers. 

Higbee and Sundhar suggest that "a potential solution would be to keep the entire URL intact, but put a visual focus on the root domain." Perhaps color-coding the root domain with hues like green for "safe" and red for "unsafe" could go a long way towards decreasing the likelihood that an average user falls victim to a phishing attempt.

With that in mind, it'll be interesting to see how Google will tackle this problem in future releases of Chrome.

What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.
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Netflix will start streaming Breaking Bad in 4K this June

Earlier this week, Netflix confirmed that it will begin offering AMC's milestone meth drama Breaking Bad in 4K resolution with 5.1 surround sound sometime in June, according to Pocket-Lint. The rumor was finally confirmed back in December when it was revealed that Netflix already had a plan in place to start piping crystal-clear, Ultra HD video into living rooms in January. The news comes about one month after Netflix began offering 4K streams of the second season of its own prized original series House of Cards, as well as a handful of nature documentaries from filmmaker/photographer Louie Schwartzberg.



Sony, the license-holder of the series that racked up 10 Emmys, has expressed interest in remastering the show in sparkling 4K as far back as January 2013, when the Japanese corporation announced that it had plans to up-convert a number of titles from its library, including Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Glory. The reveal came not long after Sony's unveiling of multiple 4K-ready TVs at 2013′s International CES. A year later, Sony approached 2014′s CES in a similar fashion, pulling back the curtains on three recently developed Ultra HD television lines and a new multi-tiered approach to bolstering 4K viewing choices.



Releasing 4K versions of one of Netflix's most popular offerings is just one of Sony's strategies for broadening the 4K landscape (and hopefully evangelizing a few 4K converts along the way). Netflix's new 4K viewing option is offered at no extra cost, but you'll need a 2014 4K TV that's equipped with the latest Netflix app, and able to decode the HEVC (h.265) stream that Netflix uses to deliver the content. 



The move may inspire fans to return to the breakout series that captivated the country and jammed up Twitter feeds with its dramatic final episodes.

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Wizkid – Roll It (Remix) ft. Akon & Banky W

Roll it as the long awaited Akon assisted remix of "Roll It" by Wizkid featuring Banky W has finally dropped.



The song takes the same pattern as the original which was housed on the E.M.E collaboration album"Empire Mates State Of Mind" but with an awesome befitting vocal contribution from international music star Akon. The full song arrives months after the snippet was released in November of 2013.



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Thanks to Google Glass, we can watch an IndyCar pit crew at work

When it comes to grace and quickness, a corps de ballet has nothing on a well trained pit crew. These days the best IndyCar and Forumla One crews can completely service a car in less than five seconds. In other words, they can change the tires, and refuel a racer in a shorter time than it took me to write this paragraph. So what the hell does that actually look like?



Thanks to Google Glass, we now have a better idea about that. In this video Graham Rahal equipped himself and his pit crew with Glass, as he piloted his National Guard Honda IndyCar around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sadly, even on racers and pit mechanics Glass looks a bit doofy, the results though are anything but. You could do the same thing with GoPros, but there is a subtle difference, because Glass actually shows you things precisely from the wearer's viewpoint.



Watching things from the mechanic's perspective is especially mesmerizing; they replace the tires faster than I can change my socks. And the refueling? As someone who lives in a state where I can't legally pump my own gas, can I say that I wish this guy worked at my local Chevron.  



As impressive as these guys are, technology has also helped along this process. Quick-change tires and a high-pressure fuel system make a big difference. To see what I am talking about, check out this video comparing a pit stop in the '50s to a modern Formula One stop.

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Wizkid and Akon Reject Dark-Skinned Models For Video Shoot

This is according to Ghanaian fashion website, FashionGhana.com and American website, Bossip;

Ahead of the upcoming concert that will see the likes of Akon, WizKid, Sarkodie and more in Ghana, controversy sparks! In a recent video shoot for an up and coming Akon and WizKid video, some Ghanaian models and girl were called upon to participate by the directors a few days ahead of the shoot.

Presumably prior to Akon and Wiz Kids arrival in Ghana.A model reported on the day of the shoot some girls were turned away as the agent (or the man responsible for calling them) informed them that "they now want half cast girls". A term used to describe girls with mixed heritage, usually ones with white blood in them.

"THEY", most likely referring to WizKid, Akon and/or his music video producer, turning away a fleet of arrivals originally requested to attend by the model scout. In fact, the agent requested if the girls could help him seek light skinned girls because 'THEY' were so adamant on this request even on late notice.

Nigeria, where WizKid is from, and Senegal where Akon is from, are countries both flooded with girls bleaching their skin simply because of such discrimination and being made to feel ugly if dark. Not just in media and modelling, but general favours in life.

Whilst there are good people in both countries trying to reverse the self esteem damage of such activities such as Adama Paris who banned skinned bleach models from the Senegalese national fashion week, Akon and Wiz Kid's team are trying to further such acts internationally.
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VIDEO: P-Square – Taste The Money (Testimony)

P-Square drops yet another breathtaking visuals for their newest smash hit single "Taste the Money" (Testimony).



The twin boys are really enjoying the pleasures of hard work. Shot in South Africa and directed by Jude Engees Okoye.



Download Link: http://bit.ly/1j1EtTk

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VIDEO: P-Square – Taste The Money (Testimony)

P-Square drops yet another breathtaking visuals for their newest smash hit single "Taste the Money" (Testimony).

The twin boys are really enjoying the pleasures of hard work. Shot in South Africa and directed by Jude Engees Okoye.

Download Link: http://bit.ly/1j1EtTk
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

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Wizkid and Akon Reject Dark-Skinned Models For Video Shoot

This is according to Ghanaian fashion website, FashionGhana.com and American website, Bossip;

Ahead of the upcoming concert that will see the likes of Akon, WizKid, Sarkodie and more in Ghana, controversy sparks! In a recent video shoot for an up and coming Akon and WizKid video, some Ghanaian models and girl were called upon to participate by the directors a few days ahead of the shoot.

Presumably prior to Akon and Wiz Kids arrival in Ghana.A model reported on the day of the shoot some girls were turned away as the agent (or the man responsible for calling them) informed them that "they now want half cast girls". A term used to describe girls with mixed heritage, usually ones with white blood in them.

"THEY", most likely referring to WizKid, Akon and/or his music video producer, turning away a fleet of arrivals originally requested to attend by the model scout. In fact, the agent requested if the girls could help him seek light skinned girls because 'THEY' were so adamant on this request even on late notice.

Nigeria, where WizKid is from, and Senegal where Akon is from, are countries both flooded with girls bleaching their skin simply because of such discrimination and being made to feel ugly if dark. Not just in media and modelling, but general favours in life.

Whilst there are good people in both countries trying to reverse the self esteem damage of such activities such as Adama Paris who banned skinned bleach models from the Senegalese national fashion week, Akon and Wiz Kid's team are trying to further such acts internationally.
From BEN Latest News: www.benlatestnews.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/benlatestnews

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