GTA 5 Soundtrack Audio Files Leaked Online Following PlayStation Store Pre-Download Hack

Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto 5 is certainly one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the current generation of game consoles, and with time running out before the next round of consoles are released it’s unlikely we’ll see many more big releases hitting the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It’s not long until the latest GTA game arrives on the scene, and because of that Sony has been allowing PS3 owners to pre-download the title to their consoles, ready for playing on day one. It’s something Steam has done for years, and the aim is to try and avoid the download servers going into meltdown on release day, and it usually works.

That sounds all very well and good, but things aren’t always as simple as that as the folks behind the game have found out after hackers managed to get a hold of a whole 42 hours of audio content from the game. Not content with that, they’ve leaked it all online for everyone else to consume, or listen to, depends on how you plan on looking at the situation. Sony has since pulled the game from the PlayStation Store until it goes live for real, so let’s just hope that everything doesn’t go into meltdown on launch day.

The 42 hours of audio content includes the game’s opening theme music as well as the title’s in-game radio stations. Thanks to the leak, we now know that Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Elton John, Queen and Stevie Wonder amongst others are all included in the music lineup. That’s a pretty eclectic collection, and it’s just the start.

Sony is obviously feeling a little sorry for itself following the leak and said that they apologize “Rockstar and GTA fans across the world who were exposed to the spoiler content.”, and Rockstar seems less than impressed also, saying that the company is “deeply disappointed by leaks and spoilers being spread in advance of the game’s launch.”

Grand Theft Auto 5 launches on the PS3 and Xbox 360 on September 17th, and is sure to be a strong seller across both consoles, as all previous titles have sold particularly well.

Rockstar will be hoping for no more surprises in the couple of weeks before the title is officially in gamers’ hands.

Until then, we’ll keep an eye out for you guys in case something interesting pops up for us to share with you guys.

How To Protect Your iPhone From A Potential DoS Attack

A while back, it was revealed that a vulnerability within OS X / iOS left users potentially susceptible to a DoS-like attack. Although Apple is usually fairly swift in clearing up any issues that could defame the relatively secure nature of its major ecosystems, renowned jailbreak developer Filippo Biga has come through with a tweak-based solution for those on jailbroken iOS devices.

Since, without a jailbreak, there’s no way to reach those system files deep within iOS’s make-up, you will need to be jailbroken in order to install GlyphPatch, the tweak patching the security hole.

The DoS attack could be triggered by a hacker through various mediums, including SMS, iMessage, or network SSID, so protecting yourself by downloading this free tweak is highly recommended.

It doesn’t appear, from the release notes, to be a foolproof solution, rather another line of defense against the problem.

The vulnerability causes apps to implode when attempting to render a malicious sequence of code, and with iMessage having come under scrutiny in the past for its lack of spam prevention features, it is, at least, good to know that steps are being taken to rectify the situation with iOS 7.

So, while some tweaks are simply there for enjoyment or to enhance the general usability of iOS, this one is more along the lines of housekeeping. Downloading and installing GlyphPatch is highly recommended, and comes absolutely free of charge from the BigBoss repository – default in your Cydia source list provided you haven’t opted to manually delete it.

You won’t notice it is even there, since it takes up only a few KBs of storage and has no configurable settings, but at least you’ll have a little added peace of mind knowing you’re less susceptible to attack as a result.

No matter how secure your device may feel, make sure you go ahead and download this tweak. The DoS attacks are not particularly widespread at this point in time, but if device security is near the top of your agenda, GlyphPatch will only take a couple of minutes to install, therefore it’s highly recommended that you do so.

PlayStation 4 Supports Voice Recognition Through PlayStation Camera, Confirms Sony

Voice recognition tech has been around for a number of years, but only did it really make its mark on the digital industry back in 2011, when Apple dropped Siri for the iPhone 4S. Since then, it has become a mainstay, and Sony has just confirmed that its upcoming PlayStation 4console will indeed feature voice recognition.

Although announced all the way back in February, Sony has been drip-feeding information regarding the next-gen console, and having just learned of a rather cool downloading feature, which allows smartphone users to wake up their machine remotely in order to download a game, this voice recognition implementation is certain to please the ardent geeks.

Rumors running back from Spring pointed to this kind of feature making the final cut of the PS4, but only now has the Japanese company given the official word. Apparently, it will work through the PlayStation Camera, although unlike the Xbox One, which comes with the Kinect sensor out of the box, you’ll have to pony up for this peripheral if you decide on the PlayStation 4; this is unless, of course, you decide to opt for one of the special bundles offering the PlayStation Camera as part of the deal.

Sony has revealed that it will divulge more information as to the extent of the voice recognition "shortly," so while now know the technology is to be there, we don’t, as yet, know exactly how Sony plans to use it.

Sony’s decision not to bundle the PlayStation Camera is an interesting one, particularly given that Microsoft’s Xbox One will bring Kinect to every single owner of the console. However, the omission does mean that the sequel to the PlayStation 3 can retail at a significantly lower price to its keenest rival, and with the initial high cost of the PS3 cited by many as the main reason for the Xbox 360′s eventual triumph in the console wars, perhaps Sony would rather try to get an edge this time around, rather than opt for the difficult task of pitting the PlayStation Camera directly against the rampantly successful Kinect.

Still, by the sounds of things, both consoles will have their fair share of trump cards, and if voice recognition enables considerable feature control with very little effort on the part of the user, one suspects it could become very popular.

Thoughts?

(via: Polygon)

Galaxy Note 12.2 Press Render Leaks Ahead Of Announcement

Samsung has never been afraid to push the boundaries in the mobile industry, particularly when it comes to display size, and with the Galaxy Note 3 set to pack a panel in excess of 5.5 inches, a leaked render of the alleged Galaxy Note 12.2 – which was originally thought of as a12-inch tablet PC – has just been spotted in the wild. With numerous vendors said to be preparing larger tablets as we get to what can be very much described as the "hardware end" of the tech calendar, we expect the Korean company to be in amongst the announcements, and although the Galaxy Note 12.2 is still very much at the rumor stage, the shots present a very elegant, naturally large device.

The Note 3, along with the Galaxy Gear smartwatch, will no doubt be two of Samsung’s biggest exports as we close in on this year’s IFA trade show in Berlin. Having said that, we’re not accustomed to seeing one or two products manifest from Samsung at a time, and with Windows 8.1 also on the horizon, we expect a plethora of new hardware from the industry’s power releaser.

Last year, the trend was very much in bringing smaller, circa 7-inch slates to the consumer market, and while plenty of prospective tablet owners still seek this compact form factor, the popularity of so-called "phablet" smartphones suggest there will also be a market for the super-sized slab.

The Galaxy Note 12.2 will apparently carry the model number SM-P900, although aside from that and the new render, precious little else is currently known of the device. With the "Note" moniker, we can presume it will probably rock an S Pen, and with such a large display, some reports have suggested a resolution of 2560×1600, which would certainly be sharp.

IFA, which will be the centerpiece of the early fall announcements, commences this week, and will hopefully put to bed at least some of the many rumors currently doing the rounds. Although it may seem rather far-fetched given the lack of information we have at this moment, it may well be that Samsung plans to unveil the Galaxy Note 12.2 at some point this week.

Whatever the case, we’ll keep you informed on all of IFA’s major stories and announcements, more specifically Samsung Unpacked 2013, so stay tuned!

(Source: AndroidCommunity)

First Video Of Powered-On iPhone 5C Hits The Web

Apple is set to announce the low-cost iPhone 5C alongside the new flagship on September 10th, and with very little time between now and then, we’re seeing a lot more by way of seemingly legitimate leaks. Yesterday, we caught a glimpse of the manual to be bundled in the iPhone 5C packaging, and now, more images, as well as a video, offer even more insight into the handset as well as the casing it will be shipped in when it makes retail.

The device, as we already know, will arrive in a plethora of colors, something the Cupertino company has only previously afforded with the iPod range. A new leak offers a couple of snaps of the device in blue, yellow and white, and close-up, we’d say the handset looks very much like an iPhone 5 with a bright protective case.

But while the photos do allow us to scrutinize the device properly, a video from Chinese site C Technology shows a fully-working, iOS 7-ready device in use. It looks legitimate enough, but then again, does offer or two signs of fakery. Like any well-prepared fake leak, the vlogger uses a low-res camera, so any indication of a put-on would be harder to spot, and the fact that we don’t get a full, 360-degree look at the device must once again rouse some suspicion.

The device is set to be announced next week, and after such a long process of leaks and speculation, it will be great to finally be able to put the rumors to rest and look ahead to the actual release. The iPhone 5C is, along with the iPhone 5S, expected to me made available from September 20th in select markets, and with the flagship expected to be getting a fairly healthy upgrade from the possibly outgoing iPhone 5, consumers will have a bit of a task on their hands in coming to a decision.

Now we know, or at least, we think we know most of the iPhone 5C’s important information, it will be very intriguing to see what kind of price tag Apple attaches to its colorful creation. The iPad mini, while considerably cheaper than the full-size offering, was still a bit too pricey for the budgets of the mid-market shoppers, but with the iPhone 5C very much a target for markets in the likes of China and India, the price point will be pivotal to the device’s success or failure.

(Source: C Technology [Google Translate] | iApps.im [Google Translate])

Windows 8 Gathering Steam As Consumers Begin To Drop XP, Now Has More Market Share Than OS X

Net Applications has just released its monthly NetMarketShare statistics, and with Windows 8.1 on the horizon, it throws up some rather interesting findings regarding adoption rates of currently available versions of the Redmond company’s platform. Notably, Windows 8 usage seems to have seen a significant upturn, with a leap from 5.42 percent to 7.65 percent worldwide during the month of August alone. Meanwhile, Windows XP, which still enjoys a healthy market share despite its age, dipped from 37.19 percent to 33.66 percent.

This is quite a significant change, and may be partly due to the fact that users are finally coming to terms with the changing face of Windows. However, it may also be largely attributable to the fact that NetMarketShare has altered the way it collects its numbers, which involves “deducting hidden pages from our usage share statistics.” Simply put, hidden pages are rendered, but because they’re never seen by the user, NetMarketShare feels that they shouldn’t be accounted for in usage share data.

By the same token, Google’s Chrome browser also saw a drop in usage, dropping from 17.76 percent to 16 percent, while its rivals, including Microsoft’s own Internet Explorer, all gained.

The methodology changes may have something to do with these apparent changes in trend, but only a look at future stats from NetMarketShare will actually confirm whether these numbers represent a minor anomaly, or actually indicate a change in trend.

If one considers that XP users are going to struggle with compatibility as time goes on – the latest version of IE, for example – you can see why users are now considering opting for the likes of Firefox, or simply dropping Windows XP altogether and going for Windows 8. This doesn’t, however, explain Chrome’s drop, and considering how quickly the browser has evolved over the past few years, are we seeing signs that the search giant’s popular Web client is faltering?

Now here comes a fun tidbit in case you didn’t notice in the graph above: the total market share of Windows 8 is now more than every version of Mac OS X ever released. This is another revelation that proves Windows 8 is doing surprisingly well, despite some lackluster reviews and views from the general user.

We’ll only know for sure once the next set of numbers are in, so we’ll keep a close eye on how things are shaping up as far as market share goes. Windows 8.1 will certainly skew the figures once more, and with a more favorable outlay when compared with the too-much, too-soon perception of Windows 8, we could see the true beginning of Windows XP’s demise – particularly in the consumer market.

Windows 8.1 release date has been officially confirmed by the Redmond giant for October 17th, with general availability to every current Windows 8 user on October 18th as a free download.

The iPhone 5S And iPhone 5C – What We Think We Know About Apple’s New Hardware

So here we are, less than two weeks away from what everyone roundly accepts to be theiPhone 5S and iPhone 5C announcement. Apple may not have officially invited anyone to a September 10th event yet, but that’s the date that all the smart money is on, and the date that the internet as a whole seems to have designated ‘new iPhone day.’

For the first time ever though, this particular iPhone announcement goes beyond simply launching a new flagship iPhone – this time, we’re going to get two handsets. Assuming all the rumors are accurate, of course.

The iPhone 5S is set to be Apple’s new top of the line smartphone, but arguably the most interesting news will be the iPhone 5C. The company’s first purpose-built budget iPhone, the iPhone 5C aims to take a chunk out of the market that is currently filled with a million and one different Android phones. Can Apple disrupt it?

iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C side by side. image credit: Tinhte [Google Translate]

Let’s have a recap of what will be announced, iPhone related, on the 10th of September. Assuming it’s not all in our heads, of course.

Apple’s iPhone 5S

Faster processor:

Replacing the current iPhone 5, the 5S is what we’ve come to expect from an ‘S’ designated release at this point. Expect new internals that amount to a speed bump with A7 chip that should see iOS 7 zip along nicely. Transitions should be more fluid, and as someone who’s been using iOS 7 on his main device since beta 1, that’s no bad thing.

Home button with fingerprint sensor:

More interestingly, rumors of a fingerprint sensor being built right into the Home button may have had some foundation after all. Being able to unlock a device without having to enter a PIN code but also having some security at the same time is something that will appeal to many, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that. The talk on the street is that the sensor is also going to play an important role in some sort of mobile payment system that Apple may or may not also be working on. We’re less convinced about that, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Camera:

Fans of iPhone photography will also note that the iPhone 5S is set to launch with a dual-LED flash arrangement similar to that found on other high end smartphones, too. The phone is also expected to sport 12-megapixel sensor with better low-light performance.

Design + new color options:

When it comes to looks, the 5S will largely resemble the iPhone 5 you may have in your pocket right now. The main exception is the possibility of a new champagne/gold color that has shown up in plenty of photos. Love it or hate it, the idea of Apple offering a third color option is one that has our interest piqued.

The champagne/gold iPhone 5S. image credit: SonnyDickson

Additionally, if more rumors are to be believed, a new addition to the mix will be ‘graphite’ color option for iPhone 5S.

Storage:

Fans of apps, games and media will also be pleased to hear that the iPhone 5S is expected to offer storage options all the way up to 128GB, also.

Availability:

Based on prior years’ release date, the iPhone 5S is expected to launch in U.S. and some other countries on Friday, September 20th.

Price:

Same as the current iPhone 5.

Apple’s iPhone 5C

To us, the iPhone 5C is possibly the most interesting of the two iPhones expected to be announced by Tim Cook and co. on September 10th. The fabled ‘budget iPhone,’ the 5C – c for ‘color, presumably’ – will replace the currently shipping iPhone 5. Usually, when Apple announces a new iPhone the older version becomes the new budget alternative, but not this year.

Internals:

Coming in a plastic shell, the iPhone 5C’s innards are going to be a mix of iPhone 5 and 4S, with more taken from 5 than 4S, so expect performance to be on a par with that device. That’s no bad thing, because the iPhone 5 handles everything you can throw at it and with minimal fuss. For a budget device, the iPhone 5C with a 8-megapixel camera is set to be quite the powerhouse.

Outer design:

It’s that plastic shell that will get everyone’s attention, though. Available in a range of colors, the iPhone 5C will resemble an iPod in that it will come in a bright, shiny chassis that is sure to stand out from the crowd. If you’re walking around with a bright blue iPhone 5C, people will notice!

Image of claimed budget iPhone 5C packaging.

Color options:

White, yellow, blue/cyan, red and green.

iPhone 5C – color options. image credit: SonnyDickson (Twitter)

Availability:

Same as iPhone 5S.

Price:

Rumors so far are putting the price of iPhone 5C to be between $300 to $400 for the unlocked version.

Whether you’re looking to splash the cash on a new monster iPhone or would rather be a little more frugal and upgrade to an iPhone 5C from, say, an iPhone 4S, Apple should have you covered. The iPhone 5S might not have all the bells and whistles of a brand new, redesigned iPhone, but the 5C should certainly be enough to get people into Apple Stores regardless.