Latest news

RapidGator.net, one of the largest cyberlockers out there, has been shut down.

After January's demise of MegaUpload, RapidGator was the fastest growing of the cyberlockers that vied for the market share left behind.

In four months, the site gained over 5 million users. In Alexa ratings (of traffic), the site exploded from the 100,000th most popular site on the Web to 287th as of last week.

As of today, however, users cannot reach the site, thanks to a dispute with their Web host: "Our hoster have suspended our account. We are working on possible solution."

It is unclear what the issues are, and whether the cyberlocker is looking for a new host. Back in February, the site was blocked by PayPal and they said they were shutting down but instead decided to stay open.

The federal government, with help from the Hollywood studios, has updated the iconic DVD/Blu-ray anti-piracy warnings seen on all new releases.

Instead of just one logo, the new warnings now have three, including one from IPR and one from Homeland Security (seen below).

The original logo has been around since 2004 on all new home releases, and includes text noting that pirates can face jail time and a large fine if they ever decide to rip a movie, make a backup, or share the files illegally.

In the new version, there is a Homeland Security Investigations "special agent" badge reflecting the power the group has had since 2008 in Web matters and there is a second page for the National Intellectual Property Center.

Both new warnings here (via Wired):

The popular streaming music service Rdio has begun rolling out its new redesign to everyone.

Rdio showed off the redesign at SXSW in March, but kept it under wraps for most users until this week.

What's new?

A new look and feel - More than just a boring spreadsheet of songs, new Rdio puts music and people front and center.

All in one place - Spend less time navigating. Music, playlists and your network are in one view.

Add entire albums to playlists - One of Rdio's most-requested features is now a reality.

Browse even faster - Find music at lightning speed because pages remember your place. Browse a continuous stream of albums, explore one and easily return to the place you left off.

Listen with your network - From the People Sidebar, see what your network is listening to in real-time and listen along with one-click.

Let your network inspire your listening - Wondering if you'll like an album in the charts or why it appeared in your Heavy Rotation? Under every album, hover over photos to see exactly who listened to it.

Sharing made simple - Drag and drop music into playlists or collection and share with others on Rdio without missing a beat. Music can also be shared on Facebook, Twitter or via email.

The iPhone Dev Team has updated the popular jailbreaking tool.

As announced last month, the group has released an updated version of the tool, one that adds a major new feature. Users can now downgrade any current iOS device to an earlier version of the Apple mobile OS.

After opening redsn0w 0.9.11b1, interested users will find a new "restore" option after clicking through "Extras -> Even More."


(Pic via Mobi)

In order to restore the previous OSs, you will have to have backed up your personalized SHSH blobs using either the TinyUmbrella utility or Cydia's own TSS@Home function.

Last week, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou revealed in a speech that the company was making preparations to start manufacturing a television from Apple. Development or manufacturing of the device had not stared just yet, but was about to get underway.

Today, the company has rebuffed the original report, saying the CEO did not make any such comments.

Foxconn says Terry Gou "made it very clear that he would neither confirm nor speculate about Foxconn's involvement in the product," and that the company does not talk about current product lines.

"At no time did [Gou] confirm that Foxconn was in development or manufacturing stages for any product for any of its customers," continues Foxconn. "He did say that Foxconn is always prepared to meet the manufacturing needs of customers should they determine that they wish to work with Foxconn in the production of any of their products."

The oft-rumored "iTV" is expected to be a high-end television featuring Siri, FaceTime voice calling, and potentially a la carte cable channels.

According to multiple sources, Amazon will launch a new version of the Kindle e-reader that includes front-lighting similar to the new Nook Simple with GlowLight.

If accurate, the new e-reader will be ready to hit stores by July. The new device will still run on a monochrome E Ink display.

Additionally, the company will also bring a new version of the Kindle Fire to the table in time for the holiday season. The new tablet will be bigger, at 8.9 inches.

Rival Barnes & Noble was first to the market with their glow Nook, but Amazon is never too far behind.

The new device is expected to cost just $10 more than current Kindle prices, which start at $79 with ads.

Back at the MWC event in February, Asus unveiled its "device-within-a-device," the PadFone.

Today, the company has put together a promotional video for the device, which shows off the impressive unit.

The PadFone runs on Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, is powered by a Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor at 1.5GHz, has a 4.3" Super AMOLED qHD display, an 8MP rear shooter (featuring a 5-element f/2.2 lens) and a stylus that also works as a headset.

On the tablet side, there was not too much info except that it will have a 10.1-inch screen. Between the dock, phone and tablet (check the video) there will be over 14,000mAh of battery power leading to extremely long battery life of up to 102 hours. The device looks very, very intriguing, to say the least.

There was no word on price or availability.

Promo video:

According to sources, Microsoft's upcoming gaming console will be named "Xbox 8."

The console, which is going by the codename "Durango," was previously rumored to be called Xbox Next, Xbox 720 and Xbox Infinity.

Xbox 8 makes sense given the company's other lines of business. Windows 8 is set for release in October, and the Windows Phone platform is expected to be upgraded to version 8 (dubbed Apollo) at the same time.

The sources cited by thisisxbox say developers have already received alpha versions of the console (in non-console form) that include an Oban chipset made by IBM.

Additionally, the 'Infinity' name will remain around, says the site, becoming an enhanced form of the current Xbox Live. Infinity will connect all Windows 8 digital downloads and apps across the platforms.

Finally the system will include a "service that will bring all current-gen digital stock into a next-gen era on the new console ? it is the backwards compatible functions," says the site.

Flaw can give root to any app, as long as the password is right.

The Pastebin post referred to the ZTE Score M on MetroPCS in the United States. It runs the Android 2.3.4 (Gingerbread) operating system.

There is a setuid-root application at /system/bin/sync_agent that serves no function besides providing a root shell backdoor on the device.

Just give the magic, hard-coded password to get a root shell:

$ sync_agent ztex1609523
# id
uid=0(root) gid=0(root)

Nice backdoor, ZTE.

According to AndroidAuthority, the ZTE Skate, sold by Orange in the UK, is also affected. ZTE has reportedly confirmed the problem and is said to be working on a fix for it.

XDA Recognized Developer shabbypenguin and XDA Elite Recognized Developer jcase, suggest that ZTE engineers likely left this enabled accidentally on the affected handsets before they shipped.

Nokia has announced the launch of its ebook service "Nokia Reading" in certain European nations.

The service is available in Germany, France, Italy, Russia, Spain and the UK, with a wider rollout expected later in the year.

Available in the Marketplace now, the app is available to Lumia 610, 710, 800 and 900 owners and can be found under the "Nokia Collection."

As with other similar services, the Reading app will make ebooks available in multiple languages. Type is resizable, and Nokia devices each ClearBlack Display "that helps reduce reflections on the screen, and Microsoft?s ClearType technology which renders fonts cleanly, without jagged curves."

Into the future, updates will add audio books and a virtual news magazine.

Thanks to Activision's recent quarterly earnings report, we have some concrete figures on the company's Call of Duty Elite "experiment."

10 million gamers have registered for the service, and a full 2 million are premium subscribers.

That figure in of itself is a 33 percent jump since January, larger growth than expected.

Activision charges $50 for membership, meaning Activision has brought in $100 million in revenue from the service.

"The audience response to Call of Duty Elite's premium service has been beyond our expectations, and we want to thank Call of Duty players around the world for their unprecedented enthusiasm. The number of gamers who have registered for Call of Duty Elite further illustrates how this service is poised to redefine social gaming and set a new bar for interactive entertainment," said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, last month.

HP executives have quietly confirmed the company will be bringing Windows 8 tablets to market.

Additionally, the devices will each include HP's own new cloud service to let users store data online and synchronize files between multiple devices.

After the failure (and post-death success) of the webOS-based HP Touchpad, new CEO Meg Whitman said last year the company would return to the tablet game, with most expecting Windows 8 to be the operating system of choice.

Recent leaked documents showed a 10-inch HP tablet running Windows 8, in early prototype form.

There was no word on pricing or release dates for the tablets, although the OS itself is expected to reach consumers in October.

Noted video game analyst Michael Pachter briefly interviewed Sony America CEO Jack Tretton this weekend.

When asked about his thoughts on blocking used games, the CEO says in his personal opinion he is "opposed to blocking used games."

Furthermore, the exec believes used games are "great for consumers" and a move to block them would incredibly "anti-consumer."

Unfortunately, Tretton had to make it clear he was speaking as an individual and not on behalf of Sony. He added he was unclear on Sony's thoughts on the matter.

Since talk of the next-generation consoles have heated up in the last two months, one rumor still persists, that of Microsoft and Sony looking to add technology that will block the playback of games on more than one console, effectively killing the used games market. Neither company has confirmed or denied such a move.

The Thai government has signed a deal this week that will make them buyers of a large amount of Android tablets.

For $32.5 million, the government will purchase 400,000 Android 4.0 tablets from Shenzhen Scope. The agency will then deploy the tablets for educational purposes, similar to a deal India signed last year.

Additionally, if the original order works out, the government has an option to purchase another 530,000 tablets, at the same price of about $80 per unit.

The tablets themselves are none too shabby, having a 7-inch screen, 8GB storage, 1GB RAM and Ice Cream Sandwich. The devices are the Scopad SP0712.

Shenzhen Scope believes they can attract similar deals from other governments, as well: "Thailand is the first country in which we have provided large numbers of tablets for students. Now we are talking with other governments to provide this kind of tablet device for [other] students, including Pakistan, Brazil and South Africa."

Finnish mobile gaming giant Rovio has announced the name of their upcoming game.

The successor to the unequaled mobile blockbuster 'Angry Birds' will be named "Amazing Alex" and will be based on the game Casey's Contraptions. The company just acquired the game three days ago.

Rovio says the game will have educational aspects, and will involve "a curious young boy who loves to build things."

Casey's Contraptions was released for the iPad last year and saw moderate success. To proceed through the game, gamers must guide Casey to create Rube Goldberg devices from different objects.

Says Rovio: "The gameplay is a perfect fit in our arsenal with its approachable, fun, and highly addictive take on the physics puzzler genre. We are currently reworking the title to enhance it, and getting ready to reintroduce it in a true "expect the unexpected" Rovio style launch to an even larger audience."

Angry Birds recently reached 1 billion downloads, and the game helped Rovio see a profit of $100 million in the first quarter 2012, alone.