Google Wallet PIN Gets Cracked on Rooted Android Phone

Looks like Google Wallet running on any rooted Android device is getting a little compromised. . Now although the PIN is encrypted, it would take someone who has found your phone to run a program to crack the PIN, which is pretty easily done with the right program. This is demonstrated in the video below.

How do you prevent anyone from cracking your Google Wallet? Well you can not root your device, (yeah like that is going to happen) or simply just make sure you have a number or pattern lock on your lock screen. Google is aware of this problem and will work to change how Google Wallet’s security infrastructure is set up in order to resolve this issue. This will move responsibility from Google to the banks that power the Wallet. That is a scary thought if you ask me. Check out the video below to see how simple it is to crack the PIN.

Source: The Verge

How to Tether Android Phone to your Computer Without Being Blocked or Detected

Nowadays, people on the go don’t tag along just one mobile device. It is typical for them to have multiple mobile devices in their bag. Smartphones, PDAs, tablets, and laptops are some of the usual gadgets they carry around. And, having to bring these gadgets along gave birth to Internet tethering, through which one can share the Internet connection from one’s phone to other gadgets.

The sad part about Internet tethering, though, is the fact that most wireless providers would charge you extra even if you are already subscribed to an unlimited data plan. This is an issue that has been debated on even until now.

The issue may be bad, but the good thing is we always have a workaround for it. If you check the Android Market, you will see several tethering apps that offer solutions for issues like this. ClockworkMod Tether is one of these apps that offer Internet tethering solutions. The app is basically a USB tether solution that will work with Windows, Mac, and Linux. You don’t need to pay extra for Internet tethering.

The app is a free trial good for 14 days, which is not bad. After that period, you can still use the app but it will limit you up to 20 MB of download. If you like the full version of the app, you can buy the premium one.

This app has been launched recently and it has already received a lot of positive feedback. There are many people who are happy with the app. This app came from the developer of the famous ClockworkMod Recovery, so we shouldn’t be surprised if this app is a good one.

For the steps on how to install and use this app, see the instructions below.

Download the ClockworkMod Tether app from the Android Market and install it into your smartphone. Get the app here.Download the software for your PC. If you have an Internet connection on your laptop or desktop, download and install the software to your computer. For Windows (XP or higher), get the installer here. For Mac (10.6 or 10.7), get the installer here. For Linux, get the installer here.If your computer doesn’t have an Internet connection at the moment, open the ClockworkMod Tether app that you installed to your phone earlier. Go to the Help option in the app and then download the PC software into your smartphone from there. Copy the downloaded file to your PC and install it afterwards.Download and install the USB/ADB drivers for your Android smartphone from here.Enable USB Debugging on your device by going to Settings > Applications > Development and check the box for USB Debugging.Connect your phone to your PC using a USB cable.Open ClockworkMod Tether on your phone. You should now be able to surf the web on your computer.

Congratulations! You can now tether your computer to your Android phone without needing a separate tethering plan or without being blocked or detected by your mobile carrier.

Have you tried this app to bypass your network carrier’s tether detection? How’s the Internet connection speed on your device?

Sources: Androidauthority.com

[Lightning Review] Capta: Thanks To Some Awesome Alien Goo, Tripod-ifying Your Phone Has Never Been Easier

How many times have you thought to yourself, "I really, really wish I could put my phone on a tripod!" Ten? Thirteen? Three-hundred-ninety-four? Regardless of whether or not you've ever actually said that to yourself, Kickstarter-lauched product Capta is an awesome little accessory that lets you do that (and more!).

So, what else can Capta do? Mostly, it can just hold your phone in various positions. This is actually incredibly helpful, though, for different functions. Watching videos? Put the phone in a more upright position. Need the phone n a more reclined position? No problem, Capta can handle that, too. It even has a nice little crevice on the bottom side so you can route a charging cable and use it as a makeshift dock. The best part? Thanks to some sort of proprietary sticky stuff alien goo, you never have to worry about your device falling off of Capta. The cool thing about said alien goo, though, is that it doesn't leave any residue on your device.

Let's take a closer look at what this $35 accessory has to offer.

 

It's a dock/tripod mount/phone holding thingy.Should I buy it? If you've ever wanted to put your phone on a tripod, then you should definitely buy this. If you're otherwise looking for a way to easily prop your phone in various positions, again, you should buy it. 

 

Easy to use. Seriously, Capta is crazy-easy to use. Just put your device on the black sticky pad, apply a bit of pressure, and it's good to go. When you want to remove the device, give it a little twist. It comes off clean!You can finally put your phone a tripod. Perfect for great stills, stable video, and all the other things people use tripods for.Small and lightweight. Since Capta is made of aluminum, it weighs next-to-nothing. You can easily toss it in your bag and not even know it's there. And that's a good thing.It's well made. Capta consists of two pieces: the "main" part (with the sticky pad) and the "cover," which protects the sticky pad. Both pieces are machined to fit together perfectly, and all the lines are incredibly clean and smooth.The sticky pad will hold your device for hours (or days), but comes off clean. I have to admit, I was a little bit hesitant to stick my phone on Capta the first time I used it. Once I did, though, it was very clear to me that it wasn't going anywhere. However, a simple twist is all it takes and your devices comes away completely clean. It's quite neat.It's "universal." Capta should work with all phones, and even many small (seven-inches or less) tablets. I can't say that I would recommend it for an eight+ inch tablet, but it was able to handle my Acer Iconia A100 and Galaxy Nexus without issue.It's washable. When that sticky stuff gets some gunk on it, you can just wash it off with soap and water. It's good to go again!The cable track along the bottom is too small for many USB cables. Looks like the Capta guys dropped the ball on this one and designed it more for the thinner cable that comes with the iPhone rather than a traditional USB (micro or mini) cable. With that said, I was able to get a few of my cables to fit, though it seems pretty hit or miss. Sadface.It doesn't work as well on devices with textured surfaces. This one is by no means a deal breaker, just something to be aware of. Many devices that ship with a textured back, like the Galaxy Nexus for example, don't work with Capta as well as those with a smooth surface. Basically, that means that it will hold your textured-back device for 4 straight days and your smooth-back device for a whole week. In other words, it's really negligible, but worth mentioning.It doesn't allow one-handed operation while in "dock mode." While Capta allows you to use your in other ways than just on a tripod, none of them are perfect. If you want to use to to prop your phone up to watch a movie, then it should be fine for that, but if you plan on using your phone while on it's propped on Capta, then be prepared to either use both hands or chase your device all around the desk. Thanks to Capta's aluminum construction, it slides all over the place.It's not free. Seriously, I'm running out of cons. 

 

All in all, I think Capta is an incredible little invention. Is it worth $35? That depends. If you want an incredibly versatile little gizmo that can hold your phone in a number of ways and let you mount it on a tripod, then you cannot live another day without Capta. If, however, none of those things sound appealing to you, then you probably won't die if you don't buy one.

I bet you're wondering where you can get that sexy red Capta, aren't you? Truth be known, you can't buy it yet. They should be available soon enough, though, so keep your eyes peeled!