User Agreement Updated By PayPal After The Backlashes

PayPal has clarified the statements that had led to confusions earlier pertaining to the updated User Agreement which is going to be active from tomorrow.

Latest PayPal news is about the announcement that the company has made today regarding the update of its User Agreement. This suggests that the company will clarify the terms in User Agreement to express the way in which it shall contact the customers.

There had been a fire from groups of consumer advocacy targeting it stating that there might be possible violations by PayPal regarding the robocalls and changes in the payment service company’s terms. In the User Agreement update that is going to be acted upon and shall go live from July 1^st, the language that had been used has indicated that it is allowed for the company to robocall the users or text them on any and every number they could obtain of them, not just the one that has been linked to PayPal account. This shall not only be done in case of an emergency but also for the marketing purpose.

This new agreement suggests that the customers are going to agree with the fact that the company is able to send the automated surveys, promotions and offers without an opt-out mechanism being available for the customers who do not wish to get into this. This wasn’t sure as well if the customers who do not wish to receive robocalls say no to it will be continuing with the services associated PayPal or not.

Since all of these issues left everyone being confused, just before beginning of the updated Agreement period, the PayPal news has stated in a blog post apologies for the confusion to customers that has been caused. The disputed section (1.10) shall be modified by the company now in order to clarify that the company will be “primarily” using prerecorded or autodialed calls and also texts for the purposes as follows:

1.    In order to help, protect and also investigate the customers from fraud.

2.    Also to collect the debt that has been owed to the company.

3.    The notices to be sent to customers regarding their account activity or account details.

Important are these clarifications being given by the company that shall compliant the User Agreement with FCC guidelines pertaining to texts and robocalls’ usage. For example, the company now points out that no marketing would be done via robocalls or texts to the customers without explicitly written or mentioned consent. This points out that the customers will be able to use the services of PayPal even if they disagree to receiving the texts and autodialed calls. However, previously the way these statements had been written pointed to the contrary. The company has assured the people that the statements are being worked on and also the language so there are no further confusions or misleads in the new User Agreement. 

Facebook Introduces Snapchat-like Feature

Facebook has introduced a new photo-related update.

Facebook has introduced a new photo related update, which will permit its users to add captions to their posted pictures, according to Facebook news. The new feature is currently being test launched on iOS devices. It would also provide its users with the opportunity to add Snapchat-like filters, text, emojies, and stickers to images before they are posted on the company’s platform.

Facebook news today informed that that the users of the new tool would find a vertical line drawn across their selected picture, informing them they could immediately adjust the shot with a number of filters, encompassing bright spring, golden summer, orange fall, black and white snow, vintage sepia, and auto color collection.

The social network operator is not new to the field of photo enhancement, as it is currently offering a similar option, known as Stickered for Messenger, which allows users to overlay text, add the company stickers, and snap photos. The new tool differs from the provided option, as it is integrated into the company’s platform.

Facebook breaking news reported that a limited number of iOS users are currently using the high-tech feature. These users would just need to type text after which they can change its size by pinching. The beneficiaries of the latest technology would be able to move the text to place it wherever they wish.

This update would perform a number of other functions as well, including photo cropping and tagging friends. Swiping would let the feature’s users apply an automatic color correction to the picture. This user-friendly option would be released in the later part of the year. Experts stated that the introduction of the picture editing update would not only lure social networkers towards the organization’s network, but would also improve its reputation in the modern digital world.

Facebook had previously offered to purchase photo messaging service provider, Snapchat, for $3,000,000,000. The service’s CEO, Evans Spiegel, had refused to sell the organization. It is probable that if the update succeeds, then it would send a threatening message to the networking organization’s rivals.

The social media corporation is known for development and innovation. It has been indulged in establishing additional features since its inception. It should now devise strategies to introduce the mechanism in the most possible manner to appease its users. This will also influence Snapchat as well, and force it to tread a path of constant innovation in order to keep pace with the changing needs.

Yahoo's Fight To Stay Relevant In The Mobile-First World

Yahoo is striving its way to make a mark in Mobile-First world where there are behemoths such as Facebook present.

The business that has been Yahoo’s identity for long is about the latest tech usage in order to capture the attention of people with the interesting content to offer. They have been the first real home page for many people on the web. Before there was searching and socializing, people would go to Yahoo to visit the links that were worth checking out. Along with the periodic change in consumer tech, the company has adapted the product strategies in order to follow the model they possess. That came with its fair share of success and also failure. There is a way how the company is adapting the mobile-first world.

Latest Yahoo news is regarding the mobile-first world strategy that the company is looking into. The efforts that the company has added in mobile for the past years had the central attention towards the product improvisation by hiring new talented personnel and technology being brought in through the acquisition. For example, Yahoo News Digest has an aim to keep the large audience informed regarding the top news that particular day, in the same way like Yahoo home page did previously. However, the updates for the app are written partially algorithmically which means that there are no human curators needed.

Yahoo news reports that as far as the user experience is concerned, the mobile team in the company has created the award winning apps that have offered the ways which are pleasant in which the news and information can be presented to the people on daily basis. Albert Song, VP of design in the company states that most important aspect for the design team is to create the design language which is capable to incorporate the “flat” iOS features along with Material Design that Google offers so as to have the native feel when it comes to major platforms, yet unique enough for the users to realize that they are using Yahoo app.

There are hundreds of millions of people who are viewing the content that these apps have to offer. Such an attention becomes valuable for the advertisers however rather less valuable than the attention that advertisers can cater on the target specific audience. The reason here is due to the striving of the company for attention and also the ad dollars with the behemoths in social media such as Facebook. There are many people who are checking the social feeds ten times a day. Since there is a lot of attention captured, the services such as these can capture more different kinds of content in order to get the users to stay longer. 

Google Plans To Honor Requests For The "Revenge Porn" Search Results To Be Removed

Google will not let people query the "revenge porn" results for some pictures provided the people in pictures request the tech giant to remove them.

There had been a brief post from Google two days ago where it expressed that there will be a formal process that shall be introduced in order to allow the web users to request the “revenge porn” images to be removed from the search engine giant’s platform.

According to Google, the “revenge porn” refers to the images that is used by someone to publicly humiliate a person. For instance, this term shall refer to the images that have been posted by the ex-partner, images are referred as the private ones. In other cases, the term may be about the images being posted by hackers that have been stolen and also distributed from the accounts of victims, as per latest Google news. Broader definition encompasses the course of events such as the celebrity photo hack from iCloud or the hack in Snapchat which is called the “Snappening.”

There are not only psychological impacts coming with the type of abuse being discussed here but also the images are used by attackers to blackmail the victims and exploiting them by asking for money in order for the images to be removed from the website. Google news reports that there are many cases of “revenge porn” where the victims are women.

The tech giant reportedly has expressed, “our philosophy has always been that Search should reflect the whole web. But revenge porn images are intensely personal and emotionally damaging, and serve only to degrade the victims—predominantly women.” Therefore, the tech giant has decided to cater/honour the requests where people can ask to remove their nude or explicit images that have been posted without their consent.

The tech giant will be introducing the web form that the people can submit in order for their images to be taken down which are coming under the context of “revenge porn” and this will be happening in the coming weeks.

However, we have to keep in mind that pulling these images from the search engine results is not the same as pulling them down from web. There is no control of tech giant over the numerous websites that can or do host the images. This points to the fact that the images can be viewed by the people who have direct link or access to these images. It also means that these images won’t be easy to find since there won’t be any result for such search queries.

Samsung's Security Failure Has Left 600M Android Users Vulnerable To Keyboard Hack

Samsung has been in the news for the security issue that has been caused by the in-house SwiftKey keyboard which is incorporated mostly in its Galaxy devices.

Latest Samsung news is about the accusations and issues that the company is facing. There had been a research conducted by NowSecure that points out to a serious flaw in the handsets by the tech giant that has left approximately 600 million users with their android devices being vulnerable to a classis hack known as man-in-the-middle attack. It has to be noted that this is not the first time in the year that the company has been come under the issue of security practises being poor. However, this issue pertaining to the mobile flaw is the same as that of Smart TV issues related to encryption. There is the same root cause to the problem, the security measures that are poor and also the non-existent encryption practises.

In the case being discussed here, the tech giant has shipped the in-house version of SwiftKey with the devices, it is an Android keyboard. The statement by the developers of SwiftKey expressed that this bug is not in the original version of the keyboard’s code. This points out that the tech giant is responsible for not only creating but also distributing the flaw.

The update process of SwiftKey runs in the background being invisible but it is run at the permission level of System User. This is merely a step away from the root access, the admin access that means, and also has the ability to give the permission to process to bypass the security checks and also the safeguards which shall prevent this operation in other way. There is pretty less of confirmation or file checking, the process for update does hash check on the downloaded ZIP file, however the researchers have already routed the way of bypassing it.

Since the tech giant performs all this in plain text, it is pretty easy for anyone who is on the same Wi-Fi to be able to perform man-in-the-middle attack and also put the similar SHA1 hash along with the infected file. This will be able to monitor the microphone, camera, install applications, read messages and also without users knowing about them. If the users think that not using this keyboard will help then they are wrong, it won’t. It will be checking for the background updates even then and will be vulnerable all of this time.

Samsung news reports that the company had fixed the bug back in the start of this year but not even a single carrier included the fix to this bug. That points to the fact that everyone who has these devices is vulnerable to the MitM attack. While the tech giant is surely deserving the major chunk of blame for being failed in respect to checking the security measures, that institution is not the only one whom we shall blame. Nobody here is taking the security seriously at their levels.

IBM's Initiative To Facilitate Tennis Fans

International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation has decided to facilitate Tennis fans.

The American multinational technology giant, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, is about to help the cause of Tennis fans. IBM news informed that the company and the All England Lawn Tennis Club have jointly proclaimed to introduce a number of advance facilities for the Championships.

It is revealed that both organizations have decided to benefit from the latest technology developments in analytics, social, security, mobile, and cloud. Market sources stated that the two organizations intend to bring tennis fans closer to the gaming event, no matter where they are geographically situated.

IBM news today affirmed that both partners would permit Tennis fans to benefit from insights, courtside action, and access to real time scoring. The facilities would be provided through the means of high-tech mobile applications and a radical reformation of Wimbledon website.

Wimbledon Client and Programming Executive, Sam Seddon, has stated that the capability to provide a continued access to trends and real-time game records would help fans to benefit from an enriched experience.

IBM breaking news reported that a compelling and comprehensive digital network would be used to help users to access scores, articles, videos, and breaking news. Experts say that the game-friendly initiative would not only promote tennis but also help improve the reputation of the corporation and the club.

Media sources indicated that Wimbledon’s reformed web page could work with all platforms. To let fans engage in offline browsing, the personalized Wimbledon application is integrated with an offline mode. The corporation’s social media analytics would be employed to perform a number of functions, such as recognition of most well-known voices, comprehension of the most preferred topics, and targeting of social communications.

A real time video specialist, Grabyo, has also decided to help the cause of the club, as he has agreed to bring near-live highlights of the event to billions of audiences. Social media sources suggest that the clips would be shared on social networking platforms. Industry experts believe that if the organization succeeds in building a link between the event and fans, then it would successfully appease the sports lobby.

It is probable that the joint efforts of the two entities would strengthen their long-lasting relations. The corporation has been working with the club since 1990. IBM should now take measures to launch the high-tech tennis-friendly updates in the best possible manner to entertain the game’s fans and live up to its claims. This will indeed strengthen its credibility in the market.

What Would Users Want To See From Sony At E3 2015?

Sony has the chance to take advantage of PS4 being a head in game and being better than Xbox One. E3 could be the time when it introduces something jaw-dropping.

Latest Sony news is regarding its presence at E3 2015 beginning from Monday, 15^th June. It is going to be a lot of challenge for the tech giant at E3, this year. It is clear from the position that Sony holds with the top sales performer when it comes to console market that then it has to pull some punches with PS4 if the company wishes to stay ahead of Nintendo and Microsoft. Over the past years, the company has set their eyes only and purely on games.

What shall be done by the company this year to make it more interesting for the gamers? There are few of CNET editors with their views as to what should the company introduce this year to win the gamers’ hearts. There have been more than 22 million PS4 consoles that have been sold. This points out that things are quite well for the company at the moment. However, there is always more competition and room for improvement. For improvement and new announcements, no other venue could serve better than E3 for the tech giant to flex the muscles.

One of the editors expressed that they wish for an extended demo of Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. It has been proven by Naughty Dog that it is able to create most jaw-dropping, compelling and awe-inspiring action sequences and set pieces in all the games ever produced. In order to make up for the game’s delay till next year, E3 could be the time to suffice for the delay and show some spectacular things.

Sony news states that one other editor wanted to see Driveclub struggles to be owned by the company. It’s more like an elephant in the room till the company addresses it. This game has had problems. They should take the ownership in the struggles with the game and also tell the world why it won’t happen with Gran Turismo 7. Also it needs to assure the PS4 owners that first party games and the new ones are going to be released. After all, the company itself has accepted that the lineup for first party games has been a little sparse.

The company needs to come out swinging at E3 2015. Since the sales of PS4 is leading Xbox One, the company is well aware of the fact that it has the console that people like. However, the momentum can only be a continuous process when the tech giant holds the end of bargain. The PS4 will not be able to sustain the sales for a longer period of time with that high price tag because nothing speaks better to a consumer than the low price tag.

JD.com Eats Into Alibaba's Dominance, Becoming A Tough Competitor

Alibaba is still the e-commerce giant in China however, the small competitor JD.com has seen the increasing popularity recently.

 Latest Alibaba news is regarding the waves of competition that the Chinese e-commerce giant shall be expecting from JD.com. It is known to all of us that Alibaba has dominated the online market in China and also has won many hearts of Chinese consumers over the years. However, there might be some signs that rather the smaller competitor of the company, JD.com is closing those gaps.

As per the data received from FT Confidential Research, the popularity for Alibaba’s competitor has soared within these months to a new height. Approximately 45 percent of the people who took part in the survey for the first quarter of 2015 mentioned that they shop regularly on JD.com, which are almost 2000 online shoppers. One year ago, in the first quarter of 2013, there were only 30 percent of the shoppers that regularly shopped on JD.com.

Although the Chinese e-commerce giant has remained clear as the leader in market, the popularity for both of its ecommerce sites for the consumers, Tmall and Taobao, has seen a decline while the competitor JD.com has gone up sharply.

The main reason to the popularity of JD.com, which is growing fast day-by-day, is due to the reason that it has experienced a rapid expansion in the smaller cities, of its logistics, and also there is a strategic alliance with Tencent, a Chinese Internet group, going on since mid-2014.

While the persons living in eastern coastal cities which are the wealthy ones and also first-tier had been the earlier and also the first ecommerce adopters, the smaller cities and provinces that are inland are rather more deserving ones as it is difficult for them due to the bricks that are less advanced and also the mortar alternative. JD.com has done heavy investments in expanding the business and giving access to the smaller cities over the past few years. 

This factor has increased the popularity of the company, as per the Alibaba news. JD.com has delivered 3,539 items and also has the pick-up stations in 1,961 cities and also countries across the nation only in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the partnership of the company with Tencent has provided the retailer access to Tencent’s huge user base, The QQ mobile apps and WeChat by Tencent has provide the 1 billion users.

The promotional activities of the company using QQ and WeChat, for instance hongbao, the distribution of red envelope gifts virtually, in the time of lunar year, have undoubtedly increased the importance and popularity between the consumers of mass market and also the price sensitive one. The quality of delivery has always supported the popularity of the company between the demanding consumers.

Ford Supports Ark In Michigan

Ford Company has taken a step to donate a significant amount to the Arts and Music community.

Ford Motor Company has taken a step to appease the Arts and Music community. Ford news reported that the automaker has decided to donate $500,000 to the Ark. In response, Ark’s management would acknowledge the enterprise’s contribution by introducing a Ford Listening Room.

President Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services, Jim Vella, has stated that the artist-friendly organization is a cultural asset, not only for the residents of Michigan, but also for musicians across the globe. The values of customs and traditions are reflected in art and culture.

He added that the donated funds would play a role in letting it continue its efforts. Ford news today informed that the relationship between the two organizations dates back to 1991. It is expected that the disbursed funds would be used to finance the renovations and procurement of the club’s 400-seat venue.

Executive director of the Ark, Marianna James, has stated that the vehicle producer is a long-standing partner and an appreciator of the venue’s mission. She further added that the funds represent an evolutionary gift. It helps Ark to deliver to the future generations.

Ford Breaking news affirmed that the cultural institute is not the only institute supported by the Michigan-based company. A number of other organizations have also been supported by the automaker, such as Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Detroit Institute of Arts. Since 1920s, the automaker has patronized folk music.

Experts stated that the company’s contribution would not only meet the needs of the club but also help to improve its own reputation. The finances have been provided at a time when the quantity of corporate sponsorships has reduced. Company sources have suggested that the funds would be received over the course of 60 months.

Ark intends to explore ways to utilize the space in the daytime. The ticket sales are a major source of the organization’s revenue. The membership program of the institute annually contributes $280,000 each year. One could say that Ford has funded a financially deprived organization, as its deficits are funded through grants and corporate financing.

Industry experts believe that Ford’s efforts to support Ark would satisfy artistic experts. It is probable that if the disbursed funds are utilized in an efficient manner, they would play their role in improving the premises of the club. The automobile giant should now take measures to sponsor the institution in the best possible manner to avoid any trough in addressing the concerns of the venue.

Cisco Plans To Remove Its Senior Executives In China

Due to slips of sales in China, Cisco has removed many senior executives

Cisco Systems is one of the well renowned technology companies in the information technology sector that has made a positive impact ever since its inception. However according to the Wall Street Journal the company has planned to axe its few senior executives in China.  The journal says that “Company has seen sales slide amid government security concerns about foreign networking gear,” according to latest Cisco news. People familiar to the matter reported this news regarding the removal of senior executives in China.

This shake up has flattened the organizational structure of China which also is placed in accordance with the global reorganization at the company when John Chambers, the former Chief Executive, announced about his departure last month and handed over its position to another veteran of the company, Chuck Robbins. People believed that Chuck Robbins was the perfect replacement that would keep Cisco going at a fast pace in the industry. His passion of working and dedication towards the company is the main reason why the board believed in him to be the next Chief Executive.

As soon as Chuck Robbins came into this company as a Chief Executive, he demanded to have a structure within the company that can come up to conclusions and make decision more quickly. Furthermore, he reduced the number of people in his core management group to 10 members from 13 members which also noticed in an elimination of several presidents.

Moreover, according to latest Cisco update, several senior executives have been asked to tep dowwn from their positions in China which includes Hahn Tu, who is the President at Cisco in China and Fredy Cheung, the VP of the region. Sources familiar to the matter said that people could not reach Cisco for a comment. It is still unclear whether these positions are totally eliminated from China or they will be replaced in the coming times. The chairman of Cisco in Greater China, Owen Chan, will remain in China.

According to Bernstein Research, “Cisco’s China sales fell 20% in the quarter ended April 25 from a year earlier, compared with the company’s 5.1% global revenue gain. Its share of the router market in the country fell to 9.4% in the first quarter from 21.2% a year earlier, with the lost sales going to local rival Huawei Technologies Co.”

Cisco is currently facing broader challenges which are making it tough for the company to perform. It is believed that the rising competition from other companies in the software and hardware market is also an obstacle in company’s way. However, Chuck Robbins is determined to build Cisco’s position stronger in the new markets.

Facebook Introduces Online Selling Update

The American social network has recently introduced a new selling feature.

The American social network, Facebook, has recently introduced a new selling feature. Facebook news reported that sellers would soon be able to be benefit from the company’s ‘Buy’ button. After testing the function with a few selected test merchants, the company has test-launched it on Shopify’s ecommerce network.

A larger number of retailers would now be able to benefit from the update. Experts presented their view that the introduction of the recent update would not only improve sale conversion rates for selling shops but also speed up the process of purchasing goods.

Facebook news today informed that the said update would help the networking organization battle against seller-friendly organizations, Google and Pinterest. The users of the network would soon find the said button in the platform’s Page Posts and Promoted Posts Advertisements launched by Shopify merchants. The latest initiative of the company would reduce online buyer’s dependence on the websites of retailers, as it would initiate a checkout link within the Newsfeed.

Facebook Breaking news affirmed that this update would permit online shoppers to buy instantly. To benefit from the new feature, buyers would need to file their payment details with the platform. It is expected that the launch would help the platform’s management comprehend the means by which this function can drive sales for various types of merchants. It has been revealed that the launched technology would let merchants track Facebook sales.

It is expected that Shopify would help the company to benefit from a standardized online selling backend, which necessitates the development of the feature. Electronic selling networks are not new for the company, as it has previously tested its payment detail auto-fill update on Ecwid.

Company sources have highlighted that Facebook has struggled several times to discover the means by which it could successfully dominate the field of online selling. Initially, it operated its gifts store, where social network users could purchase products from the platform and send them to friends. Unfortunately, the store failed.

Industry experts believe that if the new feature succeeds in addressing the concerns of the sellers and buyers, then it would help to improve the reputation of the company in the highly competitive world. Media sources stated that ‘buy’ button is not the only seller-friendly update launched by the digital network, as beacon has recently been introduced to ease the difficulties of the retailers as well.

Facebook should now plan to share its feature with the largest number of sellers available on the selling networks, so that it could benefit from the necessary feedback.

Cisco Launches Network Security Suite

Cisco has unveiled a new plan to enhance security

Cisco Systems is on a roll. According to latest Cisco news, the giant in networking equipment industry revealed a new plan at a live conference this week that will focus on integrating security deeply across its extended network. The new plan is for everything such as from data centers to endpoints, and branch offices and clouds, the company wants the best level of security all in all. It is believed that the company has planned to threat protection at the endpoints on the VPN of Cisco AnyConnect 4.1. This will help the company to combat any Malware attacks in the future.

Furthermore, the plan unveils that Cisco has decided to provide FirePOWER Services solutions on campuses and branches for the Integrated Service Routers commonly known as ISR, as reported by latest Cisco updates. The FirePOWER Services Solutions will provide the company with ‘centrally managed intrusion prevention system and advanced malware protection.’

According to BidnessETC, “Cisco’s main aim here is to ward off all kinds of cyber threats especially those that can attack on multiple fronts. Cisco’s new security Suite will allow its clients which in this case are corporate offices, to adopt a more threat-centric approach with regards to network security. The threat-centric model will allow for a reduction in time-to-detection and time-to-response.” The company is willing to install further additional sensors in its network devices that will contribute in detecting any malware threats and attacks. Also, the plan is to enhance its overall network system in the coming times.

Through the changes that Cisco Systems is talking about will allow users to associate to immediately identify any threats, anomalies, and misuse of any networks or applications. The company is also willing to enhance all enforcements and reportedly it has introduced more controls to make it happen.

According to sources, the extended network security system of the company somehow includes an increased contribution of Cisco’s Identify Services Engine (ISE) and Lancope Stealth Watch. Due to this “Stealth Watch can immediately stop suspicious network devices from gaining access through segmentation changes in response to identified malicious activity,” according to sources.

The company came up with an extensive and diversified plan to change the game of network security within its infrastructure and for its customers and clients. The new security plan is also said to include the Hosted Identity Services (HIS) which will enable cloud services for the security policy platform of Cisco Identity Services Engine.

BidnessETC believes that such enhanced security will help a lot in the Internet of Things Sector. Furthermore, Cisco also considers the industry of Internet of Things as a great opportunity in the future.