premium

Symantec: Malware masquerading as Android apps

Legitimate Android apps are being compromised by phony versions that masquerade as the real thing but deliver a payload of malware, according to a Symantec blog published yesterday.

Found on unregulated third-party Android markets, malicious versions of legitimate apps like Steamy Window are difficult to distinguish except for their tendency to request permissions that are more excessive than usual, says Symantec. But once installed, these apps carry a new piece of Android malware dubbed Android.Pjapps.

Even running the app doesn't raise a red flag to the user as the fakes closely look and act like the legitimate versions. … Read more

Must-have car tech features

Today's cars so are full to the brim with high-tech gizmos and gadgets that it's easy to see how some users can get overwhelmed with the sheer complexity of it all. We receive e-mails and comments regularly asking what features should one look for in a new car and why.

With that in mind, we've assembled a list of the must-have car tech features for your perusal. From dashboard technologies to safety features to power train and handling considerations, there's something for everyone in this list. And while you may not check every single box with … Read more

Netgear upgrades its premium wireless router

LAS VEGAS--If you like Netgear's premium WNDR3700 router, you'll likely love what the company announced today. It's the upgraded version of the company's flagship router, now called N600 Wireless Dual-Band Gigabit Router--Premium Edition, model number WNDR3800.

This is Netgear's high-end, noncompromising consumer wireless router that has two USB ports to host printers and external storage devices. The router offers what the WNDR3700 had, plus a handful of new features, including:

Readability Remote: a feature that allows users to access their data on a USB external storage device attached to the router from any Mac, PC, … Read more

One year later, the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 rises as a Windows 7 laptop/Android hybrid

A year ago, Lenovo's bold concept device, the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid, astonished us not only for its neat transforming design and its detachable tablet, but for anticipating the year in tablets to come. Indeed, we're still wondering how laptops and tablets can play well together.

Back then, the U1 had a tablet running a Linux-based Skylight OS developed by Lenovo, while the base laptop it attached to had undefined specs. Now, the U1's specs are clear: Windows 7 Home Premium and a 1.2 GHz Intel CULV Core i5-540UM CPU, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, and a 320GB … Read more

Film theaters fight premium video-on-demand

Theater owners don't want digital distributors breaking into their windows.

The big film studios may begin to pipe movies to consumers' homes via premium video-on-demand services (PVOD) at the same time the films are up on the big screen, thereby crashing the theatrical window. A "window" is the term used to describe the period of time a film distributor--such as a theater, cable company, or traditional TV broadcaster--has access to a particular movie.

The large theater chains are signaling right back that they won't sit still for it, according to a story in today's Los Angeles Times. … Read more

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24-hr. only: $14.95 one-time fee for Speedbit Video Accelerator Premium(reg.$39.90/year)

I don't subscribe to cable TV, nor do I regularly watch TV shows. Instead, I stream most of my digital content via online services, but I find it quite frustrating when it starts buffering and freezing at the most critical times during the show. You all know what I mean if you've tried to watch streaming videos online. It can take forever. With that said, today, I bring you a special offer from Speedbit on its Video Accelerator Premium product, which promises to improve your online video viewing experience by significantly reducing buffering and freezing problems, and accelerating … Read more

First look: Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T-68U118, an 11.6-inch powerhouse

We said we were noticing a trend in 2010 toward "premium" Netbooks, and that's no joke--it seems as we begin our final descent through this calendar year that true ultraportable laptops are back, in a big way.

The $899 Acer Aspire TimelineX 1830T-68U118 looks like a Netbook from the outside, just slightly bigger. An 11.6-inch glossy screen and a full-size flat keyboard are contained cozily in a narrow lightweight chassis with little bulk, resembling an Acer TimelineX in miniature. A six-cell battery is tucked above the keyboard and between the screen hinges, reducing bottom bulk. With … Read more

Splitting the Atom: Acer Aspire One goes dual-core

Netbooks don't change very much in terms of specs, at least compared with other laptops, but there has been one new wrinkle as of late: dual-core Atom CPUs.

Acer's 10.1-inch Acer Aspire AOD255 Netbook includes a new dual-core Atom N550 CPU for a very reasonable $329, along with 1GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Starter. A single-core AOD255 will still be sold as well, starting at $269. It comes in four colors--red, black, brown, and aquamarine--and will go on sale later this month.

Acer has a line of "premium" Netbooks … Read more

Nero's newest multimedia tools

There are plenty of options--from iTunes to DoubleTwist to Windows Media Player--that will keep the average consumer satisfied in terms of basic multimedia organization and playback. However, if you count yourself among those creative or persnickety enough to delve into the realm of audio and video editing, you may want to consider some more fully featured media tools.

That's where Nero's latest products come into play. Today, the company announced Nero Multimedia Suite 10 Platinum HD and Video Premium HD, two solutions for "creative enthusiasts" that will be available October 15 for $129.99 and $… Read more