Day: September 4, 2017

Are you wondering what new features does Android 8.0 brings to Android Phones? The Android O has finally been revealed as Android 8.0 Oreo. This update was launched during the Eclipse this week. Google stated that Android 8.0 is faster, smarter and more powerful than before. There are numerous improvements in the latest update and some new features like picture-in-picture and better security protections. In this article, we have listed everything we know about Android 8.0 Oreo so far.

Here is everything you need to know about Android Oreo.

New Features

The Android 8.0 offers a plenty of new features on the best smartphones. Take a look at the new features of the Android 8.0 Oreo.

Picture-in-Picture

One of the great features to be introduced by Android Oreo on the best smartphone is the picture-in-picture. This feature enables you to watch any video on a smaller screen while you work on your email. In simple words, this feature lets you use 2 apps at the same time.

Stronger Security

Another feature that Android Oreo has introduced is better security. This update is more secure as it has built-in Google Play Protect. Along with this, it has security status front and center in the settings and strict app install controls. These make it more secure than the previous versions.

New Emoji

The emoji library is redesigned and new 60 emoji are added. Google has made the icons more constant. They are consistent in terms of style and size. Moreover, Google has added badges as well. This feature Apple has had for many years in iOS.

Bootup

Next feature that makes Android 8.0 better for the best Android phone is it has 2 times faster bootup time. This update reduces the background activity in the least used apps. This helps in extending the battery life of your phone.

Some other features include:

• App logins are remembered by the Auto fill feature
• The notification dot shows what is new. It can easily be swiped off the screen as well
• The Android Instant App launches in your browser without installation
• Camera upgrades
• Smart text selection

What Best Smartphone Will Receive the Update First

The Android 8.0 Oreo update will be delivered to your devices starting from August 21 for Pixel and Nexus devices. The first phones to receive the updateare Google Pixel and Pixel XL. Along with this, other phones are Nexus 6P, Nexus Player, Nexus 5X and Pixel C. Here is a list of best smartphone that will receive the update ranging from a few months to more than half a year.

• General mobile
• Huawei
• HTC
• LG
• Motorola
• Samsung
• Sony
• Sharp
• Nokia
• Blackberry

In the end, the latest version Android 8.0 will aim at improving your user experience. Google has introduced new features so it can provide high performance. The features like picture-in-picture and Auto fill offers you a smooth user experience. The Google Android phones like Pixel and Nexus will be the first to receive the update. It will take a couple of months for other manufacturers to bring the new update. What do you think of Android 8.0? Let us know in the comments below.

Cryptocurrencies are getting to be all the rage – and they are getting valuable too. Popular media and news sites like Buzzfeed and CNN, TED Talks and the Daily Mail are all raving about the exciting future that is blockchain technology. Thanks to all this buzz, it seems that everyone – even your mom – … Continue reading PlusCoin – Bringing Cryptocurrency to the People

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There are well over a thousand different cryptocurrencies and tokens currently listed on CoinMarketCap. Most of these coins were inspired by Bitcoin, but all are trying to do something a little different or improve upon it a bit. Ideological differences and catering to different use cases have led to the creation of popular altcoins such as Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and Ethereum. But do we really need all these different tokens?

Cryptocurrency in a Fiat World

There is a lot of bad blood between Bitcoin and Bitcoin Cash supporters. Both sides argue that the other currency has no value and that theirs is the “true” Bitcoin. However, when I and others look at the two coins, they seem to be useful for entirely different things. Bitcoin appears to be some sort of new digital gold as a store of wealth and long term speculation, and Bitcoin Cash can act more like a day-to-day currency. However, both sides seem to feel that their coin can do both well, if only the other side would go away or after some technical issues were worked out.

Wanting to be a coin for all purposes is understandable, but this should not be viewed as the ultimate validation of worth. Thinking this way, in my opinion, is a product of being steeped in the fiat world that surrounds us. The mindset seems to be that if the U.S. dollar or any other fiat currency can be both a store of value and tender to pay debts private and public, then surely cryptocurrencies should aim to emulate both those functions as well. In fact, I do not think this is anything really worth envying.

Centralization is largely the reason that USD serves both purposes so effectively. An issuing authority gives the currency value, and a governing body is willing to protect the interests of the issuing authority via FDIC banking insurance. Consumers may possess the currency and can use it in both roles, but the control they have over it is incredibly limited due to its centralized nature. Cryptocurrency is supposed to be about decentralization, and I think that may even apply to the entire ecosystem.

If different coins can satisfy different needs of the market and consumers, while remaining independent from central institutions, then it is healthy that myriad cryptocurrencies participate. A one-coin-fits-all scenario might be just as centralized and prone to corruption as the institutions from which the community attempts to distance itself so dramatically. The prices and market caps of all these various cryptocurrencies are evidence of individuals willing to give them value, and their typical use cases demonstrate how we can utilize different coins for different purposes.

While I realize that I am not the first person to make this point, I think it is important that we continue this discussion and avoid entrenching ourselves in antagonistic efforts against various other cryptocurrencies. While most tokens have viable functionality in most use cases, each does some things better than others. Avoiding centralization may mean having to keep use cases decentralized across many different cryptocurrencies.

With Bitcoin and Ethereum dominating the cryptocurrency and blockchain landscape, it is not surprising to witness new competitors emerge on a regular basis. One of these new entities is Rchain, a new type of blockchain technology. Its goal is to provide content delivery at the scale of Facebook and process transactions at the speed of Visa. Both of these claims are pretty bold. The company recently raised US$5 million in funding to advance the project.

RChain has a lot of Ambitious Goals

The transaction throughput of both Bitcoin and Ethereum leaves a lot to be desired. This is especially true for Bitcoin, as its throughput per second is still pretty small. Right now, the average hovers somewhere between 7 and 10 transactions at peak performance, although network statistics usually hover around 3.5 – 4 transactions per second. Compared to Visa’s 3,000 transactions per second, there is still a lot of work to be done. The Lightning Network may provide some relief moving forward.

Until that happens, a competing blockchain is looking to take away the spotlight from both Bitcoin and Ethereum in this regard. RChain, the brainchild of mathematician and software engineer Greg Meredith, is a force to be reckoned with. Although the ambitious goals put forth by the team are quite impressive, it remains to be seen if their technology can deliver on the initial promise. Delivering content on the scale of Facebook while providing Visa-levels of transaction throughput at the same time is not easy to accomplish.

This raises the question as to how this degree of scalability will be provided. While blockchain technology is a disruptive innovation, it seems to be plagued by scaling issues from day one. For the time being, it remains a bit unclear how all of this will be achieved, but we do know the first software project using RChain will be unveiled in late 2018. This tool will be called Mercury and will require the use of RHOCs, RChain’s native ICO tokens.

Considering how the sale of these ICO tokens has only begun recently, it remains to be seen how much money can be raised in the end. So far, over US$5 million has been collected from multiple investors, which is a positive sign. The end goal is US$15 million, assuming the project is as successful as the team hopes it will be. Additionally, one has to adhere to some commitments when purchasing these tokens. Every contributor must commit to joining the project in one way or another. For instance, they can offer to look at financial models, run a node, or perform code validation activity. It is a different take on things, as most investment projects require no active participation from buyers whatsoever.

It appears RChain will be compatible with both private and public blockchains moving forward. This would certainly introduce a whole new degree of compatibility between different blockchains. After all, with so many different blockchains in circulation right now, a way has to be found to make them all work together in one way or another. RChain may be the solution people have been looking for, although it remains to be seen if the project can deliver on its promise.

Some people may have heard the name RChain before, as it was scheduled to be used by the Synereo project. That is not surprising, as Meredith was CTO of that project until last year. With the company’s focus on monetizing the attention economy, using RChain made a lot of sense. However, the Synereo shareholders voted to remove Meredith from the project because he could not deliver any functioning code. RChain is now being developed independently, although there are still a fair few doubts regarding the functionality of this code. Time will tell what the future holds for this project.

The post Scandinavia Leads Europe With Latest Bitcoin Exchange Traded Note Launch appeared first on Bitcoin Magazine.

Defining Bitcoin or any other cryptocurrency as a legal asset is not as straightforward as some people may think. Various countries around the world are currently in the process of determining the legality of cryptocurrencies in their respective regions. Interestingly enough, the number of countries attempting to ban Bitcoin is pretty small right now. Ukraine is the next country to be voicing a legal definition of Bitcoin. A statement is expected within three weeks’ time.

Bitcoin Could Become Legal in Ukraine

Bitcoin may not necessarily have the best of reputations in Ukraine right now. Several major ransomware attacks were launched from this country, which gave the popular cryptocurrency a bad name. Although Bitcoin occupied a gray area even before those attacks, it does not appear Ukrainian officials had any reason to openly oppose it.  With the government scheduled to release its verdict on the legality of cryptocurrency in three weeks, these ransomware issues may have made things a bit more difficult.

At the same time, one has to keep in mind Ukraine is home to a growing number of freelancers. These individuals, who mostly operate in the IT sector, often work for companies across Europe and even other continents. With working from home becoming a lot easier these days, there are plenty of Ukrainians making a living this way and getting paid from overseas. That means they are subject to potentially lower wages and higher fees associated with receiving paychecks. Bitcoin payments can make a big impact since they remove most fees from the equation.

Whether or not any of these factors will influence the government’s decision remains to be seen. The Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers on the Financial Stability Board is now in the process of rendering its decision regarding the legality of cryptocurrency in the country. Considering that the Cabinet of Ministers is the highest body of executive power in the country, its decision will shape the future of Bitcoin and altcoins in Ukraine – and possibly neighboring countries – moving forward. For now, no one knows what we can expect from this decision, and there have not been any outspoken negative comments so far.

It seems Ukraine is slowly embracing blockchain technology. The government has been experimenting with this technology through multiple pilot projects. In a way, the upcoming announcement could be positive for the future of Bitcoin in the country, although there is no guarantee of a joyous outcome. Cryptocurrency is still one of the more innovative technologies the financial sector has ever seen. Providing the corresponding legal status for these instruments in the Ukrainian financial markets will be quite the challenge.

In around three weeks from today, we will know the government’s final verdict. Regulation of Bitcoin in one way or another will have some positive effect on the world’s leading cryptocurrency. The news will be further validation of how governments cannot – and should not – ignore Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies any longer. After all, they have been doing so for many years, claiming Bitcoin to be just a temporary trend that will eventually fade away. The past few years have painted a very different outcome and have now forced the hand of regulators to come to a decision sooner rather than later.

Ukraine’s central bank, for its part, remains indecisive regarding Bitcoin for the time being. It has no interest in legalizing Bitcoin, but it is not planning to make it illegal either. The NBU will need to follow the guidelines issued by the Cabinet of Ministers. These are exciting times for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It also highlights the fact there remains a big gap between cryptocurrencies and ICO tokens, as they are entirely different business models altogether.

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After achieving a new all-time high at $4,975 merely two days ago, Bitcoin price has decreased to around $4,350.

Cryptocurrency exchanges have always been targeted by hackers and other people with nefarious intentions. While most of these attacks are thwarted, a successful hack occurs every now and then. Phishing campaigns have also been somewhat successful over the past 18 months. It now turns out someone has been trying to breach user accounts of the Cryptopia exchange. Although this platform is only a small fish in the pond, the incident highlights some security concerns.

Cryptopia Users Should be Concerned

One of the more common security practices recommended when signing up for a cryptocurrency exchange is to not use the same email and password combination across multiple platforms. Although using the same (or a simple-to-guess) password is pretty convenient for users, it is a major security risk as well. So much of our information has leaked on the Internet due to lackluster security on the side of the service where we use specific credentials. In most cases, that exposed information gets used to breach accounts across multiple platforms.

One of the biggest cryptocurrency-related data hacks occurred a few years ago. At one point, the entire Bitcointalk database was compromised by an unknown assailant. He or she was able to collect thousands of usernames, email addresses, and hashed passwords. It turns out the email addresses used for Bitcointalk accounts are often linked to cryptocurrency exchanges. This is why we see so many phishing attacks on the community, as they all emanate from the person or people who obtained an email list of cryptocurrency users.

Bitcointalk is not the only service which has suffered such a hack, though. Over the years, many exchanges have been compromised in one way or another. While funds have been stolen in virtually every scenario, it is certainly possible the hackers also took a copy of the user database with them. This would mean even more email addresses were exposed to phishing campaigns or potential brute-forcing attacks through other exchanges and cryptocurrency-related services.

In the case of the Cryptopia attacks, it is unclear how someone was able to partially compromise so many accounts at once. Either someone got a list of email addresses from Cryptopia somehow, or a lot of people use the same email address for different exchanges. We have received numerous reports from people who received emails from the exchange reporting failed login attempts using their accounts. Notably, all of these attempts were made from foreign IP addresses. This does indicate the assailant has some access to user passwords as well.

Anyone who has enabled two-factor authentication security on their Cryptopia account is safe from harm for the time being. The criminals theoretically could have removed 2FA access themselves, but it does not appear they have that degree of control over the exchange’s backend, which is a good sign. Users who do not have 2FA or additional security measures enabled are advised to update their passwords ASAP and move their funds off the exchange for the time being. It may even be worth it to create a whole new account using a fresh email address, unique password, and 2FA, just to err on the side of caution.

Until the company issues an official statement regarding this matter, the situation remains unclear. It is likely Cryptopia has either been compromised in some way, or is affected by an attack from someone with a list of cryptocurrency-related email addresses. Some users have even complained that changing their passwords didn’t stop the failed login attempts, which is pretty worrisome. If you can still access your account, request a withdrawal immediately before it is too late.

September 4, 2017 – Wild Crypto (SYMBOL: WILD), developers of a revolutionary international lottery and eGaming platform built upon blockchain technology, has completed its initial token sale in just 96 seconds. Ahead of the main token sale on Tuesday, 5th September, which begins at 08:00 GMT+1, the pre-sale offered early access in a bid to … Continue reading Blockchain eGaming Platform Wild Crypto Completes Token Pre-Sale in 96 Seconds

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Two fintech operators are developing tech to equip 500 ATMs with Bitcoin functionality, and could add altcoins thereafter.

Now that Segregated Witness has been deployed on the Bitcoin network, the scaling debate has officially been solved. That would be the case, assuming there were at least some SegWit transactions on the Bitcoin blockchain. So far, it seems that has not been the case. Over the past few days, we have seen around 1% of network transactions showing SegWit activity. This is a disappointing number, although things are improving slowly.

SegWit Bitcoin Transaction Numbers Are Disappointing

The Bitcoin community had looked forward to seeing Segregated Witness activate on the network for quite some time, as this scaling debate had been going on for the better part of a full year. After many months of opposing SegWit as a scaling solution, the major mining pools finally agreed to have it activate on the network around a week ago. Some pools still want to fork to SegWit2x in the future, but for now, that is not a big concern.

The bigger question is how soon we will see a significant number of SegWit transactions on the Bitcoin network. The past few network blocks contain around 1% SegWit transactions. This means there is still a lot of work to be done, although that is much easier said than done.

It is not all that easy to send a SegWit transaction on the Bitcoin network right now. Very few wallet solutions support this new type of transaction by default, which is a situation that needs to change soon. With so many different Bitcoin wallets out there openly supporting SegWit, one would have expected them to facilitate these types of transactions by now. That is not the case, although we can only hope things will pick up in the coming weeks and months.

Furthermore, it appears a lot of Bitcoin users have no idea how to use SegWit. Once again, this is not a surprise by any means, considering there is no intuitive way to do so. The TREZOR hardware wallet uses SegWit addresses by default right now, but most people still have money in so-called legacy addresses. Other hardware and software wallets have a lot of work to do in this regard as well. Until most services integrate SegWit by default, we will not see a major uptick in the number of transactions utilizing the new standard.

According to the most recent statistics, the number of SegWit transactions is increasing pretty quickly. The past 144 blocks indicate significant growth in this regard, although the transaction count still remains incredibly low for the time being. The scaling solution so many people have been waiting for is not as commonly used as it could or should be by now. Service providers have had plenty of time to prepare for this solution, yet it seems most of them have not put in the required effort to date.

It is not entirely shocking to see things develop in this way for Bitcoin, though. The Litecoin network experienced a similar issue at first, as its Core client did not initially support SegWit transactions by default. Activating a scaling solution on the network and effectively using it are two very different things. We can only hope to see more SegWit transactions on the Bitcoin network moving forward.