What to Do After You Detect a Digital Security Threat

Hackers are smart. They are always changing their methods, making it difficult to stay on top of your cyber security.

The right SOC security program can make all the difference if you are hacked. Not only can it help protect your systems, it can also drastically reduce the amount of time it takes your team to discover the potential security threat, enabling you to take care of the problem before any serious damage is done.

The question is, what exactly do you do when you realize your system has detected a security threat? No matter how much time has passed between the security breach and your team’s discovery, there are a few things you should do to get started remediating the problem. 

Change Passwords

This is the first thing you need to do – change all your passwords. That includes passwords for the system that was hacked, but it also includes passwords for other systems and applications. Your employees should change their passwords as well.

Once a system is hacked, the hacker has access to the passwords used to enter the system. If you take care of the hole in your security, but don’t change your passwords, the hacker can continue logging into your system.

Make sure the passwords you choose are strong. Tips to make sure that’s the case include:

• Don’t choose a password that is similar to previous passwords.
• Make your passwords longer rather than shorter.
• Use numbers, symbols, and capital letters throughout the password.
• Use nonsense words and avoid identifying information.

A password manager can help too. That way, you and your employees aren’t tempted to reuse the same password for multiple systems in the name of not having to remember so many passwords.

Move Sensitive Data

Once you determine which systems were hacked, you have to dig deep into those systems to see what information was accessed. Then, that information should be moved to another system.

Even information that wasn’t accessed yet has the potential to be accessed in the future if a hacker figures out how to get back into that system again. That’s why it’s a good idea to move all sensitive data, even if the particular data in question hasn’t been accessed by a third party just yet.

Contact Your Web Host

Anyone can get hacked. It isn’t something to be ashamed of, so you should reach out and ask for help from anyone willing to give it.

Your web hosting service is one great source of information. Not only do they want to know when their customers have been hacked to make sure the service is secure on their end, they may also be able to provide you with tips for overcoming the situation quickly. They may even be able to provide you with resources and app recommendations for removing malware.

If you find that your web host isn’t very helpful, it’s a good sign that it’s time to choose a different web host.

Be Transparent

It’s normal to want to clean up behind the scenes and move on with business as usual, but that can get you in a lot of trouble in the long run. 

No matter what the hack included, or what kind of information was accessed, you should always tell your customers that you have been hacked. You should also tell them exactly how you’re remedying the situation. They will probably be angry, but they won’t be nearly as angry as they would have been if they found out their information was potentially compromised and you didn’t say anything.

Plan What You’ll Do If It Happens Again

Hopefully, you’ll learn some important information after being hacked that will help you prevent it from happening again in the future. However, as mentioned before, hackers are smart. Just because you update your systems doesn’t mean you’re safe.

That’s why it’s important to plan what you would do if you experience another attack. Make sure your employees are fully trained on the latest security information, how to use your systems, and what to do if they suspect a breach.

Then, run mock hacks with your IT department. By working out the kinks now, you can ensure a future security threat isn’t devastating to your business.

Finding out your security system has been compromised is the first step, but then you have to know what to do about it! With the tips on this list, you can move forward with confidence and enjoy safer, more secure digital systems.

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Xiaomi Teases Mi Watch Running On MIUI; Features Snapdragon Wear 3100

Xiaomi’s launch event for the Mi Watch is only several days out, yet the Shenzhen-based company has already released some teasers of the wearable. Ironically, and at first glance, its design looks very nearly identical to the Apple Watch, right down to its digital crown.

In one of the video teasers posted on Weibo, it appears that the Mi Watch will be running on a smartwatch-based variant of Xiaomi’s MIUI. That said, it is still unclear if this version of MIUI will be based on Wear OS, given that the watch will also be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Wear 3100 SoC.

Further, one of Xiaomi’s product manager hinted that the Mi Watch possibly being small form factor smartphone as well. Once again, the feature does seem to mimic Apple and its Watch Series 5, and there’s even video footage of the feature in action.

Beyond that, there’s not much else known about the Mi Watch. On top of its official launch on 5 November, there’s also the tentative Mi CC9 that the brand is expected to announce alongside the smartwatch. Guess we’ll just have to wait until then to find out more.

(Source: Weibo[1][2] via 9to5Google, XDA)

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Fast & Furious Writer Continues to Entice Fans by Talking About Justice For Han

Whether you’re a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise or not, you probably would’ve found The Fate of the Furious (the eighth entry) a little bit weird from a character standpoint. Not only did Deckard Shaw save Dominic Toretto’s baby, by the end of the film, it also seemed like Shaw had become an honorary member of the Toretto family. And if you watched Hobbs & Shaw earlier this year, Shaw was pretty much playing for the good guys’ team. All of it is a little jarring given that in the mid-credits scene of Fast & Furious 6, we see Deckard Shaw murder Han (Sung Kang), who is one Toretto’s best friends, in cold blood.

However, Fast & Furious regular writer, Chris Morgan promises that all of that is part of a bigger arc that they’ve got planned and that there will be Justice For Han. In an interview with ComicBook.com, Morgan said:

Well the only thing I’ll say about that is, Listen, I came in on Tokyo Drift. I’m a huge fan of that character, and Sung Kang. And you’re right, we’ve been… Over the course of the films, there’s a big arc, and a debt that’s owed. And I would just say for an audience, everybody involved in the films, loves all of our characters. We’re aware of all the character arcs, and what needs to get paid and where we’re going. And I would just say to an audience, just wait. Just hold on. Not a real comment beyond that, other than, we love the characters just like you do.

This isn’t the first time Chris Morgan has talked about Justice For Han. A few months ago, the writer told EW:

I love ‘justice for Han.’ Sung Kang is a great friend, and Han is a character that I adore. I would say that the super-arc for Deckard Shaw is going to be one of the most interesting, cool, rewarding character arcs in the franchise. Justice for Han is owed. It’s something we have discussed for a very long time and want to give the right due to. I think the audience will be satisfied and should know it’s coming.

There’s a line in Hobbs & Shaw that is right before the battle in Samoa where Shaw says to his sister, ‘There’s things I’ve done that I have to make amends for.’ That line was specifically written and put in there just to let everyone know that he is talking about Han — it is on his mind. It tortures him, and he’s going to get to it.

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The Witcher Series Lands 20 December On Netflix

At long last, Netflix has given an official launch date for its upcoming adaptation of The Witcher series via its new main trailer. The series will officially be available on the online streaming service from 20 December onwards and from what’s being teased, Henry Cavill’s Geralt of Rivia is shaping up to be a real badass.

As with all trailers, the latest one provides teasers and hints of what we can expect from the show. As previously mentioned, the plot of the series, according to Netflix, will be more closely based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s original Sword of Destiny novels, rather than CD Projekt Red’s depiction of Geralt and his cohorts.

Nevertheless, some snippets within the trailer have gotten us pretty excited. In particular, it’s the first time we see Geralt swinging his sword in the stylised fashion we’ve come to know and love of the character. On top of that, the trailer also gives us a brief look of Geralt blasting his foes back with a telekinetic spell (also known as Aard, for the more diehard fans among you).

There’s also a brief scene nearing the end of the trailer that depicts Geralt with whitish skin and blackened eyes. Indicating that he is under the influence of some decoctions or potions, and is therefore in an enhanced state.

The trailer also offers several looks at Yennefer, the sorceress and one of Geralt’s squeeze, as well as the young Nilfgaardian princess, Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon, or Ciri for short. There’s still very little known about Ciri’s role in the show, but on the bright side, at least we’ll find out more come 20 December.

(Source: Netflix via YouTube)

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Samsung To Launch Galaxy W20 5G Foldable Phone In November

Samsung showcased a new foldable phone concept during its developer conference recently. New reports indicate that there is one smartphone based on this concept that’s entering the market in November. It will also reportedly be called the Samsung Galaxy W20 5G.

The only clue to this came in the form of a post on Weibo. The image itself comes with the name “Samsung W20 5G” with the accompanying text roughly translating to “all-new form factor, exceeding expectations”. The last bit in the accompanying caption also roughly translates to “see you in November”.

The foldable phone concept showcased during the Samsung Developer Conference earlier this week was equally scarce on details. So it’s quite surprising that a phone based on it is already ready to enter the market.

The November launch window puts the Samsung Galaxy W20 5G in direct competition with the upcoming Motorola Razr. The latter is also scheduled to be launched on 13 November, with its look leaked late yesterday.

(Source: Weibo via GizChina)

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Video: Will Bitcoin Crash or Double in Price After the Halving? Miners Have Their Say

Will the price of bitcoin double or crash during the upcoming halving next year? And how will the mining industry adapt to their revenue stream being cut in half over night? See what professional miners from around the world have to say on the matter.

Also Read: US, EU and UK Companies Can Now Pay Workers in Bitcoin Cash via Bitwage

Miners Talk Bitcoin Halving 2020

The Bitcoin.com team has recently talked with ten prominent people from the crypto mining industry about the upcoming halving at the World Digital Mining Summit 2019 in Frankfurt. Some think that it might cause miners’ revenues to crash, others think prices will quickly rise to compensate for the diminished rewards, all agree it will be a pivotal event for the industry.

The full list of mining experts interviewed in the video includes: Marco Streng, CEO of Genesis Mining; Thomas Heller, F2Pool Global Business Director; Sean M. Walsh, CEO & Chairman of the Board, Hyperblock Inc; Dr. Mervyn G. Maistry, Board Member Cyberian Mine; Carson Blake, CEO of SBI Crypto; Alexander Levin, CEO of Asicseer.com; Eric P. Yingling, an independent miner; Nick Damico, CTO at BitPatagonia; Hugh Tian, Co-founder of Antpool; and Åsmund Myhre, CEO of Oslofjord Datacenter.

In terms of the professional mining industry it seems we should expect to see a major concentration of the business as the halving will take place. Those with larger hashing power and access to cheaper sources of energy will squeeze out from the market operations that need higher margins to survive and make a profit. “The halving is a brutal wipe-out event,” explained Marco Streng. “It knocks out immediately the miners who are not efficient enough and shows no mercy.”

We might also see fluctuations and changes in global hash power distribution during the few weeks that are expected to pass between the BCH halving and the BTC halving, as SHA-256 miners will switch to the most profitable chain to mine at the time.

With regards to the effect the halving will have on prices opinions are more split. We could see prices double as miners will need to keep their current revenue streams, or even take off not long after as has happened in the past. “If you look at six months before the halving and six month after the halving in both previous instances you see massive upward surge in the price of bitcoin,” commented Sean Walsh. “It is a bit scary being a miner and knowing that your revenue stream is gonna get cut in half over night but the exchange rate will more than compensate for the reduction in our bitcoin denominated revenue.”

Watch the whole video on the official Bitcoin.com Youtube channel for the full remarks from all the mining professionals, subscribe and make sure to leave a comment to join the discussion.

What and When Is the Next Halving?

Every time a new block is mined, those who facilitated it are rewarded with a set amount of coins. But once every 210,000 blocks this set reward amount is programmed to decrease by half, hence the name halving. This mechanism was created by Satoshi Nakamoto to ensure current supply is limited, making coins more scarce as there will never be more than 21 million in circulation. It can also create upward pressure on the price in contrast to most fiat currencies that only lose value over time due to inflation.

The first ever halving took place in 2012 when the block reward initially set to 50 coins fell to just 25. The second and last halving so far took place in 2016 when the block reward dropped from 25 to just 12.5 coins.

The upcoming bitcoin cash halving event is expected to be during April 2020. After this happens, BCH miners will lose half the current block reward (12.5 BCH) and receive just 6.25 BCH and fees per block mined. The BTC halving is expected not far after that in May 2020. A German bank recently predicted a tenfold increase in the BTC price when the upcoming block reward halving takes place.

If you want to enter the crypto market before next year’s halving occurs, you can safely and securely purchase bitcoin cash (BCH) and bitcoin core (BTC) with a credit or debit card at buy.Bitcoin.com. You can also trade digital assets for cash in person privately on our noncustodial, peer-to-peer marketplace, local.Bitcoin.com, or try our recently launched premier trading platform, exchange.Bitcoin.com.

What do you think will happen to cryptocurrency prices after the 2020 halving? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Verify and track bitcoin cash transactions on our BCH Block Explorer, the best of its kind anywhere in the world. Also, keep up with your holdings, BCH and other coins, on our market charts at Bitcoin.com Markets, another original and free service from Bitcoin.com.

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Zombieland: Double Tap Review – A Bloody Good, If Not Great, Time

Well, it’s been a whole 10 years since we’ve seen the original Zombieland crew of Jesse Eisenberg’s Columbus, Woody Harrelson’s Tallahassee, Emma Stone’s Wichita and Abigail Breslin’s Little Rock. 2009’s Zombieland was a fun post-apocalyptic road trip film with plenty of mileage left in it. Barring 2004’s Shaun of the Dead, there weren’t many zombie comedy films out there. Well, many great ones at least. Therefore, it was a fresh comedic take on the subject matter with plenty of visual flair, snappy dialogue and laudable performances that made it a critical and commercial darling for the horror-comedy genre.

Fast forward a decade worth of failed franchise reboots and sequels later and we’re left with some tough questions on hand. Does Zombieland: Double Tap go the way of 2016’s Ghostbusters? Does it have anything new to offer, or is it simply a tired old rehash of the same stuff we saw from the first film? Well, it’s time to nut up or shut up as we take a look at Double Tap! 

Let me first put your minds at ease by saying that everything you love about the first Zombieland is back. Eisenberg’s socially awkward charm as Columbus, Harrelson’s red-blooded American bravado and Emma Stone’s delicious snark are fairly well preserved. In the past, Abigail Breslin’s Little Rock was given the short end of the stick with her having little to no real character development in the first film.

This time, Double Tap tries to address this lack by centring the film around Rock’s quest for independence and identity. Therefore the setup of the film pretty much has the remaining trio chase after Little Rock as she hikes up with a painfully generic Gen-Zer by the name of Berkeley. They chase after her, antics ensue, they kill zombies and cue the cliche “we’re a family” schtick. If it sounds like I’m ragging on the film, I’m really not.

Double Tap is well aware of its schmaltzy sentiments and does its level best to keep them brief if not use them to set up for more laughs. Most of the time, it’s utilized for some genuinely funny moments. The slight issue I have with this is that these supposedly touching moments never quite land in the category of heartfelt authenticity nor do they fully give in to satire. It feels like the writers felt like they needed to include these emotional beats into the film to land the film some gravity or punch. Which to be honest wasn’t the first film’s strength and isn’t so hot here either. Where the film does shine is when it’s at uttermost silliest and goriest. The good stuff. 

Newcomer Zoey Deutch as the generic dumb blonde, Madison is the highlight of the film. Far from being a soulless bimbo, Deutch’s Asperger-like lines and enduring naivete is an endless source of joy in the film. I was concerned at first that they would play her out to be an annoying chatterbox or moronic clutz but most of the source of her humour comes from her ridiculous onlook of the world. It gets even better when she becomes the focal point in which Tallahassee’s blunt jabs and Wichita’s cutting lines shine through. I was looking forward to every moment the crew spent inside that shitty minivan, expecting some great dialogue. That being said, some of the humour in Double Tap can feel a bit mid-2000’s if you catch my drift.

The film does spend a lot of spend taking jabs at Gen-Z culture, depicting them as naive, opportunistic if not plain stupid. Some of it works like with Madison and other times it feels dated if not slightly mean-spirited. Don’t get me wrong, who doesn’t love the occasional intergenerational condescension but it does devolve into redundancy after a while. It’s like that cool uncle you used to hang out with in the past prattling on about how soft this new generation is and how everything’s on a tablet these days.

It’s not all jokes about modernity though. The film does lean into metatextual comedy with Tallahassee and Columbus running into doppelgangers of themselves halfway through the film which does lead to some pretty chuckle-worthy bits between the four of them. I totally could imagine Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middlemitch taking over Eisenberg’s place in an alternate world. It ultimately culminates with an awesome one-shot raucous inside of an Elvis-themed motel.

Speaking of action, Double Tap ratchets up the fun, kinetic shootouts and messy melees of the original film but this time with far more smarts. For example, there’s a scene in which Columbus is lifted up into a high place so he can point out possible points of attack as Tallahassee and Wichita shoot. Most of the time, the reasons why people die in zombie films are due to being blindsided by incoming munchers, or they fail to properly pick off the threats in front of them.

So to see tactics being employed by our heroes is a nice little diegetic touch that makes their history with the world feel tangible and believable. The film does overindulge at times with its zombie murdering fetish when it comes to its “Zombie Kill of the Week” bits which disrupts the pacing and flow of the action at play. 

Sadly, the film does falter in the final act in which the OG crew along with the help of some hippies have to fend off an incoming horde of zombies from attacking a tower. The carnival battle in the first film had a real sense of danger and grittiness to it with each member using whatever tools at their disposal to take down the undead. Here, however,  the grand finale ends with the defenders essentially playing tower defence with traps and kill-boxes. Remember the tactics I mentioned earlier?

It works when there’s a level of participation and fear added to it but when the threat is almost removed from the party’s at risk, it falls flat. Arguably, there are a few instances of close calls with the OG crew nearly biting the dust but there’s always a neat deus ex machina that comes sweeping out of nowhere. Look, I’m not mad. It is what it is. It just feels cheap at times is what I’m saying. 

Fans of the original Zombieland will have plenty to enjoy in Double Tap. Newcomers to the series will undoubtedly walk away, knowing they’ve seen a fairly well made, funny horror comedy film. Those coming into the film, expecting to see some true innovation this time around may walk away disappointed. While the film’s attempt at emotional resonance falls short and the plot’s nothing to shout about, Double Tap delivers on mostly solid action scenes, witty dialogue and great performances from the original cast and new additions as well.

So to answer the questions at the start: No, Double Tap does not profane the legacy of its predecessor with pointless reinvention. Director Ruben Fleischer is faithful to a fault. Does it offer anything new? Well, it does give us some neat new characters and clever new comedic bits. Beyond that, nothing else. While not quite Shaun of the Dead levels of great, Zombieland: Double Tap is not a bad way to kill an hour and a half of a day. 

Zombieland: Double Tap is currently playing in Malaysian cinemas. 

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Do You Know the Newspeak of the Looming ‘NIRP’ Economic Meltdown?

Negative and zero interest rate policy (NIRP and ZIRP) are becoming a new global norm. Endless printing of paper money is said to make economies stronger, while everyday individuals are seeing their savings worth less and less. These policies were traditionally viewed as last ditch, temporary measures to save economies, but are now increasingly being praised with smooth talk from central banks and policymakers as the answer to the world’s problems, paving the way for the next global downturn–possibly even a major economic meltdown.

Also Read: More Filthy Fiat: Two Dozen Central Banks Ramp up the Printing Presses

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Words Make It Less Painful

In George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984, the political language called Newspeak existed “not only to provide a medium of expression for the world-view and mental habits proper to the devotees of Ingsoc [the novel’s dystopian political system], but to make all other modes of thought impossible.” Politicians today employ the same techniques.

Euphemism is designed to make unpalatable realities sound inoffensive or even pleasant. Economic terms like “quantitative easing” and “NIRP” don’t sound particularly threatening or bad. The underlying realities successfully obfuscated, however, and central bankers are able to proceed with impunity in economic activity extremely damaging to the finances of the hardworking individuals they govern.

NIRP and ZIRP

NIRP and ZIRP are acronyms for “negative interest rate policy” and “zero interest rate policy” respectively. The acronyms themselves take some of the punch away from the not-so-wonderful meanings, but the expanded terminologies are also misleading. A negative interest rate is commonly known in the real world as a “fee.” If interest is a payment one receives for lending money to another person, business, or financial institution, negative interest would be a charge for doing so.

With politicians and global financial advisory groups saying things like “Over in Europe and Japan they have NEGATIVE RATES. They get paid to borrow money” (Donald Trump), or “Without cash, depositors would have to pay the negative interest rate to keep their money with the bank, making consumption and investment more attractive” (the IMF), the reality of what is being advocated is hidden.

How Does NIRP Work?

Negative interest rates are set by a country’s central bank. They spur spending and discourage saving. Banks cannot afford to leave excess reserves being eaten away in the central bank at these rates, and are thus incentivized to provide more affordable loans. Some retail banks absorb this cost to keep their depositors from moving savings into cash; other banks charge their customers. The low rates and increased loans mean that more people borrow and spend, and the now stimulated economy is thus viewed as “strong” (more newspeak), juiced up on the speed-like drug of increased easy lending. The printing of more money can then justified under this pretext. At some point, however, the chickens of these policies come home to roost, as sound assets and resources are limited, no matter how much paper money a government prints.

ZIRP is the only slightly more conservative cousin of stimulus-addicted NIRP, and is a zero interest rate policy set by a country’s central bank. Unlike NIRP, zero is the limit as to how low nominal rates can be set, and so other measures such as quantitative easing are often implemented.

Quantitative Easing

When zero interest rate policy fails to stimulate an economy adequately, QE, or quantitative easing, may be employed in conjunction. QE is the creation of more money by a central bank, temporarily easing the stress on a given economy. In QE, central banks create more reserves to buy debt and securities from their governments and sometimes even private entities. As finance website thebalance.com notes:

No funds change hands but the central bank issues a credit to the banks’ reserves as it buys the securities. QE has the same effect as increasing the money supply.

With the domestic money supply increased, economic activity is expected to be stimulated. Like the NIRP and ZIRP policies detailed above, however, it’s akin to taking an aspirin for a serious disease, or buying more credit cards to pay off the pile of old, already maxed-out plastic in one’s wallet.

St. Louis Federal Reserve

An increased money supply means higher inflation and the resultant loss of purchasing power. In case QE fails to provide a shot in the arm to a given economy, a phenomenon known as stagflation can also occur where inflation continues in the absence of economic growth. It may seem surprising to consider many world leaders, central banks and financial planners are now praising and implementing policies designed to make money weaker in the name of progress, but that’s the reality.

“Over in Europe and Japan they have NEGATIVE RATES. They get paid to borrow money. Don’t we have to follow our competitors?” @Varneyco Yes we do. The Fed doesn’t have a clue! We have unlimited potential, only held back by the Federal Reserve. But we are winning anyway!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2019

The NIRP Zeitgeist

In its Global Banking Annual Review 2019, management consulting firm McKinsey & Company claimed that “60 percent of banks destroy value” as they are not economically viable. From 2009 to 2018, most banks studied showed a return on equity (ROE) less than their cost of equity (COE). In other words, they are not making ends meet and in the case of another crisis like the global downturn sparked in the late 2000s, may not survive.

Global trends toward negative rates and easing are nevertheless touted by policy makers as necessary. According to research by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, “Central banks that have yet to introduce negative rates may take some comfort from this evidence as there appears to be room below zero for additional economic stimulus.” The media is complicit in being the megaphone for these concepts of endless easing and low rates as well, with even respected financial publications praising such moves. None of the pretty language, of course, changes the stark reality underneath.

Rearranging Deck Chairs on the Titanic

To see where all this is potentially heading, one only needs to look back at the long list of countries where inflation has already spiraled out of control, and the current talk from global monetary policymakers and central banks. While many countries have suffered independently before, the timing now suggests a broader, more global financial meltdown could be on the horizon.

Leadership at the European Central Bank continue to praise and advocate for the extension of NIRP and ZIRP policy. Japan, Sweden, Switzerland and Denmark don’t look like they’ll be escaping their deepening, respective NIRP sloughs anytime soon. The U.S., Australia and New Zealand’s rates are all rapidly approaching zero, and New Zealand’s central bank is even considering taxing cash to force people to spend and discourage saving.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) maintained in February 2019:

Severe recessions have historically required 3–6 percentage points cut in policy rates. If another crisis happens, few countries would have that kind of room for monetary policy to respond.

As rates are already so low globally, another recession could spell real disaster. One of the IMF’s proposed solutions was to even eliminate cash, another emergent global theme.

At the end of the day, central bankers appear to be playing a board game. When the colorful strips of play money run out, the banker just writes some numbers on blank pieces paper and the game goes on. In Monopoly, this is all for the sake of fun and leisure. In reality, it’s a game being played with people’s very livelihoods, by saccharine-tongued politicians and central bank governors who have nothing to lose by gambling your money away.

What are your thoughts on NIRP and QE in the context of the global economy? Let us know in the comments section below.

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I’m doing Extra Life this year for the first time ever!

Every year, thousands of gamers take part in Extra Life, a charitable initiative geared towards raising money for local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America.

Specifically, people often squad up on a designated ‘Game Day’ to play games for 24 hours straight as part of their fundraising efforts. Many even choose to stream their prolonged gaming session. This year, Extra Life’s Game Day takes place on Saturday, November 2nd.

So why am I mentioning all of this? Well, as longtime readers of MobileSyrup might know, I’m very big into gaming. You’ll often see my name on some of the bigger gaming news stories and reviews that go up on the site.

So when one of my friends suggested we do Extra Life for the first time ever, I jumped at the opportunity. The idea of merging a passion of mine with the chance to raise some money for a great cause is incredibly exciting.

Since we’re based in the Greater Toronto Area, our local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital is Toronto’s SickKids Hospital. Our team name is Canuckboyz and is made up of MobileSyrup contributor Andrew Mohan, our mutual Ryerson University friend Richard Moreno and me.

The great thing about Extra Life is that 100 percent of the proceeds go directly to the hospital. In other words, whatever we end up raising will completely benefit SickKids.

For that reason, it would mean the world to my friends and me if you could support our stream in any way. Whether you can donate or even share our stream with others, that would be a wonderful help.

It’s worth noting that because of the clock change, we’ll actually be playing for 25 hours, from 8am ET on Saturday to 8am ET on Sunday. I don’t want to reveal everything we’ll be playing during that time, but some of the games in our schedule include:

• • Bloodborne
  • Man of Medan
  • MediEvil
  • Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)

I’m especially excited for Bloodborne since Andrew has never played a Dark Souls-type game like that before. If you’re like us and want to watch him suffer through that challenging experience, then you’ll definitely want to tune in.

Our team page for donations can be found here. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to tune into our stream on our Twitch channel.

Thank you for your support!

Image credit: SickKids Foundation

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Here’s what’s leaving Netflix Canada and Crave in November

As is the case every month, several shows and movies are leaving Netflix and Crave this November.

It’s worth noting that the streaming services may only be removing certain shows and movies for a specific amount of time.

Series like Avatar: The Last Airbender and Gossip Girl have all left Netflix and then returned to the subscription-based service months or years later.

This month, Netflix isn’t getting rid of very much.

Below are all the shows and movies leaving Netflix and Crave in November.

Here’s what’s leaving Netflix in November

• Fifty Shades of Grey (11/01/2019)
• The Shawshank Redemption (11/01/2019)
• Coco (11/29/2019)

Here’s what’s leaving Crave in November

• Geordie Shore: season 1-5 (11/01/2019)
• The Star (11/02/2019)
• The Offseason: Kevin Durant (11/03/2019)
• Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked The World (11/03/2019)
• Bong Apetit: season 2 (11/04/2019)
• Underfire: The Untold Story of PPC Tony Vaccaro (11/04/2019)
• Con Man (11/13/2019)
• June’s: An HIV+ Eatery (11/14/2019)
• Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B (11/14/2019)
• David Blaine: Beyond Magic (11/14/2019)
• If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd (11/17/2019)
• Father Figures (11/19/2019)
• Accident Man (11/20/2019)
• Masterchef Canada: All-Star Family Edition (11/22/2019)
• Hollow in the Land (11/24/2019)
• Pearl Harbor: The Accused (11/27/2019)
• Orny Adams: More than Loud (11/27/2019)
• The Truth is in the Stars (11/30/2019)
• Kid vs Kat: season 2 (11/30/2019)
• Golden Exits (11/30/2019)
• The Greatest Showman (11/30/2019)
• Manifesto (11/30/2019)
• The Psycho She Met Online (11/30/2019)
• The Shape of Water (11/30/2019)
• The Square (11/30/2019)
• Unlocking the Cage (11/30/2019)
• 10 1/2 (11/30/2019)
• The Ant Bully (11/30/2019)
• Batman Begins (11/30/2019)
• The Hanging Garden (11/30/2019)
• The Hangover (11/30/2019)

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Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S: World-first problems

Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S: If the Surface Neo is anything to go by, laptops could be about to get strange. By comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Book S looks a lot more conventional – but they do have one big thing in common.

The Surface Neo looks like it could be a world-first device in a couple of ways. The most obvious one is its folding design – but it could’ve also been one of the first laptops to bring a new processor to market.

Related: Best laptops

Both the Surface Neo and Galaxy Book S sport Intel’s new Lakefield processor – a new hybrid CPU. However, we know the Galaxy Book S will be available before the Surface Neo – releasing a Lakefield machine first.

The new hybrid processor looks set to take on competitors like the Snapdragon 8cx – which is also available as an option for the Galaxy Book S – as CPUs move towards striking a new balance between power and battery life in smaller form-factors.

If you’re excited to pick up a device with the new Intel Lakefield processor then these machines will be among the top choices – let’s take a more in-depth look.

Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S – Specs

Beyond both devices housing a new Intel Lakefield processor (with the option of a Snapdragon 8cx for the Galaxy Book S), we don’t know a whole lot about the internals of these products.

The Intel Lakefield processor uses a combination of the performance-focused 10nm Sunny Cove CPU along with several smaller 10nm Tremont Atom cores, which are more power-efficient.

The Galaxy Book S will offer Intel LTE support on the Lakefield version of the device – but there is no confirmation if this is also the case on the Surface Neo.

Some specs of the Snapdragon version of the Galaxy Book S have been revealed and many are expected to carry over. This model has a 13.3-inch FHD display and claims it will have long-lasting battery life.

Related: Best student laptops

With a longer wait until the release date, details about the Surface Neo are even more scarce. We know the new foldable from Microsoft will run the company’s new Windows 10X – aimed at better accommodating folding and 2-in-1 form-factors.

Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S – Design

Let’s crack on with the obvious talking point in this category – the unique design of the Surface Neo. 

Rather than a folding screen like Samsung’s mobile device, the Galaxy Fold, Microsoft is opting for two touchscreens connected via a hinge. The new form-factor will be implemented with both the Windows-based Surface Neo and the Android-based Surface Duo.

The Surface Neo will weigh in at just 655g and just 5.6mm thin. The entire device is surrounded by Gorilla Glass – this allows for a Surface Pen to be attached to the back magnetically and receive charge.

There will also be a keyboard that can attach to the device and be flipped around to sit on top of one of the dual-screens for a more laptop-like experience. The Surface Neo will recognise this and display a contextual menu – similar to the Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro – in the remaining screen space.

Related: Best Android phones

The Galaxy Book S is a lot more conventional-looking device but it does look to push that form-factor to its limits.

Samsung’s new laptop looks strikingly thin – increasing in thickness slightly on either side to offer one port that appears to be USB-C with a headphone jack also on one side.

The design of the lid is quite interesting and offers a feature becoming more common on laptops. The lid extends into a slight curve where it meets the other half of the laptop – meaning that the keyboard raises up from the surface for a better typing experience when the device is fully open.

Related: Best desktop PC

Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S – Price and release date

The Galaxy Book S is expected to launch sometime in 2020 in the UK. The Snapdragon version of the laptop is already available in the US for a price of $999.

There is no pricing information for the Surface Neo just yet – but we’d expect it to cost a pretty penny. The new folding device will be launching in the “Holiday season” of 2020.

The post Surface Neo vs Galaxy Book S: World-first problems appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

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All you need to know about the iPhone 11 − Apple's new flagship

iPhone 11 price, specs and features: All the facts about Apple’s newest handset

Apple’s latest flagship is the iPhone 11 and after being unveiled in September it is now available to buy globally.

In this handy article we have rounded up a load of information on the new phone, including specs, deals and what kind of features you can find.

If you want a more in-depth look about we feel about the iPhone 11 then you need to head to our full iPhone 11 review. Here we delve deep into the phone’s performance, test out the completely new dual rear camera and put the battery through its paces. We’ve also updated our guide to the best iPhone to reflect the new devices. And you can read our definitive verdict too.

Want to know more about the iPhone 11 Pro? You can check out our iPhone 11 Pro review and our iPhone 11 Pro Max review.

The iPhone 11: key facts

• You can buy the iPhone 11 now, both sim-free and through networks
• It is very much an update to the iPhone XR, rather than the iPhone XS
• It has an Apple A13 Bionic chipset running the show
• You’ll find two cameras on the back: a 12-megapixel main wide and a secondary 12-megapixel ultra wide
• Storage starts at 64GB and there are 128GB and 256GB options
• It runs iOS 13 and has access to Apple Arcade
• Battery life is excellent

The iPhone 11 was unveiled alongside the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max on September 10 and, despite its name, it’s actually the spiritual successor to Apple’s previous generation iPhone XR.

They share very similar specs and a fairly similar design, with the only big immediately noticeable difference is that the iPhone 11 is available in different colour options.

Related: iPhone 11 colours

Confused about why the iPhone 11 isn’t the company’s main flagship? You’re not alone. Many potential buyers have been wondering what the difference between the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max and iPhone XR are.

For a detailed comparison of the iPhone 11 with Apple’s other models, check out one of the below comparison articles:

• iPhone 11 vs iPhone XR
• iPhone 11 vs iPhone 11 Pro
• iPhone 11 Pro vs iPhone 11 Pro Max

If you’re interested in the iPhone 11, and only the iPhone11, keep scrolling!

iPhone 11 price − How much does the new iPhone cost?

Apple is selling the iPhone 11 for $699 (∼£560) in the US, but a much steeper £729 in the UK.

• iPhone 11: £729 (64GB); £779 (128GB); £879 (256GB)
• iPhone 11: $699 (64GB); $749 (128GB); $849 (256GB)

In previous years the price in dollars was matched exactly by the price in Sterling, which put UK customers at a slight disadvantage due to the exchange rate. But this year the price is significantly more expensive. The bad news for Brits is likely due to Apple taking precautions for a possible fall in the value of the pound due to Brexit.

If you’re interested in buying the iPhone 11 and want to cash in your older model, here’s where you can sell your iPhone.

iPhone release day is still A Thing

iPhone 11 design and display – what do we think?

The iPhone 11 looks very familiar, but the biggest change to the design is a controversial one.

• It has a massive camera bump on its back, to house the new double-camera array. That bump looks considerably chunkier than the ones you’ll find on the back of Android flagships like the Huawei P30 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S10, and it’s bound to divide Apple fans.
• However, the step up in camera performance (explained in more depth in the section below) should be worth it.
• Apple has also clung onto the divisive screen notch, which was popularised by the iPhone X two years ago, for at least one more year. Many Android manufacturers have now ditched it for more subtle solutions like the teardrop notch, cutout camera, and pop-up camera, and the iPhone notch is starting to look a bit dated in comparison.

Related: iPhone 12: what we’d like to see

While the iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max boast OLED displays, the iPhone 11 has to make to do with LCD. Apple is still sticking with the “Liquid Retina” moniker for the iPhone 11 display instead of adopting the new “Super Retina XDR“, and it remains 6.1-inches large with a resolution that’s only slightly above 720p.

What’s the iPhone 11 camera like?

The iPhone 11 has a dual-lens camera array. The extra lens is an upgrade on the iPhone XR’s single camera, but the Pro and Pro Max devices have a total of three lenses.

The new secondary sensor is a 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle snapper, which can capture much wider shots thanks to the 120-degree lens. During the demo, Apple showed that you could easily switch between the two with the tap of a soft-key, and you can shoot video in wide-angle too.

Another new camera feature is slow-motion selfies, or ‘slofies‘, as Apple is calling them. This uses the updated 12-megapixel True Depth camera on the front to snap selfies that move. It sounds slightly gimmicky, but it has the potential to be another seriously popular feature like Animoji.

Another new camera feature is a dedicated Night Mode for shooting shots in low-light situations.

The design of the iPhone 11’s camera module has proven to be controversial, but we’re happy that Apple has introduced a secondary sensor to the cheaper model.

• Want to know just how good the camera is? Read our iPhone 11 camera review

iPhone 11 specs and performance

The iPhone 11 packs an A13 Bionic CPU, which keeps the same 7nm architecture as before. Apple claimed during its demos that this was the fastest chip on the market both in terms of performance and graphics.

iOS 13 comes on the iPhone 11 and this brings highly-requested features like a system-wide dark mode, improved mapping service and more.

What you get in the box

iPhone 11 – 5G, battery life and USB-C

If you were waiting to pick up the iPhone 11 in the hope it would ditch Lightning, we’ve got some bad news. Even though some early rumours had suggested Apple would drop its proprietary port for the common USB-C standard, that hasn’t happened.

The iPhone 11 is capable of Qi wireless charging, but it is still packaged with the puny 5W charger that iPhones have used for a decade now. The premium Pro and Pro Max models finally come with an 18W charger as standard, but iPhone 11 customers will have to shell out on a brand new charger straight away to get decent charging speeds.

5G connectivity isn’t supported by any models in the new range, which is a bit of a shame considering how impressive we’ve been by 5G in the UK so far.

While mobile connectivity might not be the fastest around, the iPhone 11 has super-fast Wi-Fi. The latest Wi-Fi 802.11 ax standard, more commonly known as Wi-Fi 6, brings with it up to a 4x performance boost in crowded areas and up to 40% higher data speeds.

Read on for a more in-depth look at the iPhone 11, or check out some of our other iPhone 11-related content through the links below:

• The Apple Watch 5 is way more interesting than the iPhone 11 for one key reason
• iPhone 11 Colours: Midnight green headlines Pro range, but that’s not all
• Does the iPhone 11 have a 90Hz screen?
• Why the iPhone 11 Pro’s Deep Fusion tech could make it a Pixel 4 rival

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You can now get your hands (and ears) on Apple's new AirPods Pro earbuds

Fancy a pair of AirPods Pro earbuds? Apple’s latest wireless buds are now available in stores all around the world. They boast active noise cancellation, as well as a few other features.

The announcement of the AirPods Pro rather took us by surprise. We’d been expecting AirPods 3 to be the next addition to Apple’s wireless earbud line, but the iPhone-maker sprung the AirPods Pro on us − with very little fanfare. we might add.

Related: AirPods Pro vs AirPods 2019

Wireless earbuds are a hugely popular product category right now, and ANC and an updated design have arrived as part of an attempt to set the AirPods apart from the growing competition.

“AirPods Pro join the AirPods family and feature Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode, sweat and water resistance, and superior, immersive sound, in an all-new lightweight, in-ear design,” Apple said in a press release.

The AirPods Pro have undergone some huge design changes. The narrow stem is still present, but the earbuds are bigger and there are flexible silicone ear-tips too. Hopefully that’ll make for a better fit and better noise isolation.

The transparency mode, with its adaptive noise cancellation, is the addition we’ve all been waiting for. With transparency mode turned on you’ll be able to hear some noise around you, for example an approaching bicycle, or the beep of a pedestrian crossing, but with it turned off the noise cancellation really ramps up.

This should be an excellent addition, but we haven’t put it through its paces yet. We’ll let you know more in our full review.

Related: Best wireless earbuds

Should you replace your Airpods with AirPods Pro? It’s a tricky question, as Trusted Reviews‘ resident audio expert, Kob Monney, attests: “Early signs point towards the AirPods Pro being a favourable improvement over the current AirPods. Bringing ANC to the party is a welcome addition, and Transparency Mode means you can control what you listen to. The jury is still out on audio quality, but we’ll have a better sense of that once review samples start flowing in.”

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Man jailed for selling pirate streaming devices that were "falsely advertised as legal", Premier League announces

Image Credit: DesignStudio

A man has been jailed after being caught selling Android TV boxes that were designed to make it easy for users to stream Premier League matches illegally.

Jia Xiaofeng, the director of Singapore-based electronics retailer Synnex Trading, was sentenced to 12 weeks behind bars this week, after being reported by Neil Gane, the general manager of the Coalition Against Piracy.

Related: Best VPN

Xiaofeng has also been slapped with a SGD $5400 (~£3060) fine, though Synnex Trading has to cough up an additional SGD $160,800 (~£91,250).

“The boxes were found to have been loaded with apps providing unauthorised access to films, TV shows, video-on-demand and live sports including Premier League football,” the Premier League announced. “These ISDs were falsely advertised to the public as legal and containing legitimately sourced content.”

The Premier League, FACT and other piracy-fighting organisations have consistently claimed that many users of illegal streaming devices − often known as ‘Kodi boxes’ − aren’t aware that they’re illegal.

That claim has always triggered plenty of eye-rolling, but a survey published this week suggests that it isn’t to be scoffed at after all. Just 49% of respondents said they know that Kodi-style devices provide content illegally (via TorrentFreak).

The Premier League opened a new office in Singapore earlier this year, which is dedicated to clamping down on piracy. This incident is one of its highest profile breakthroughs so far.

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“This case shows there are serious consequences for sellers of illegal streaming devices and that the Premier League will prosecute those responsible for the piracy of our content. This sentencing shows that this is not a grey area, and that selling these devices is against the law,” said Kevin Plumb, the Premier League’s director of legal services.

“We have fantastic passionate fans in Singapore and we are protecting those who watch Premier League content in the right way. Those who don’t, leave themselves open to a number of risks including becoming victims of fraud or identity theft.

“We have a team based in our Singapore office committed to protecting our intellectual property rights and fighting piracy and we will continue to investigate and pursue all suppliers of illegal streaming services in the region.”

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