Microsoft fixes critical flaws in Internet Explorer and Office

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://bit.ly/16Db7GR'><img alt="Microsoft fixes critical flaws in Internet Explorer and Office" src="http://ift.tt/1GOWCzp"/><br/><br /><p>Microsoft has patched four critical vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to carry out a remote code execution.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The fix was included in the latest "Update Tuesday" concerns vulnerabilities in Internet Explorer, <a href="http://ift.tt/1Gyu6xV">Microsoft Office</a>, Microsoft Graphics and HTTPS.sys that needed immediate patching.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The HTTP.sys patch repairs a flaw in <a href="http://ift.tt/YRXM92">Windows</a> that would have allowed a remote code execution if an attacker sent a specially created HTTP request to an affected Windows system.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Internet Explorer patch, meanwhile, closed a potential loophole for remote code executions built into specially crafted webpages. If successful the attacker would have gained same user rights from the website viewer, potentially a disastrous threat for those with admin rights.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Lastly, Microsoft fixed a Office vulnerability that could allow a remote code execution if the user opened a custom-built Microsoft Office file. Open a nefarious file would allow an attacker to run arbitrary code in the context of the current user and potentially gain access to admin rights.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Smaller fixes too</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>The final critical update concerns Microsoft Graphics where a remote code execution could have infected systems if the user visited a specially crafted website, opened a specific file or browsed to a directory containing a specialised Enhanced Metafile (EMF) image file. In this case, Microsoft stated that attackers wouldn't have been able to force users to do so and instead would have to persuade them via instant messages or emails.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Microsoft also issued various less critical fixes for Sharepoint Server, Task Scheduler and <a href="http://ift.tt/1xKgn65">Windows</a> that prevent attackers from compromising user accounts and applying changes. Another pair of patches fix disclosure flaws in Active Directory Federation Services and the .NET Framework whereas the final two patches repair problems in both Windows Hyper-V and XML Core Services.</p><br /><br/><br /><ul><br /><li style='list-style: none'><br/> </li><br /><li>Check it out: <a href="http://ift.tt/14ad0ox">Windows 10 Hands-on review</a> </li><br /><li style='list-style: none'><br/> </li><br /></ul><br /><br/><br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWn9f" width="1"/><br clear='all'/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1yvWn9h" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1Iijog5"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1yvWn9n" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1Iijog9"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1yvWn9t" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1Iijm81"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1yvWnpL"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1Iijogd"/> </a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWnpN" width="1"/><img alt="" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1Iijm85" width="1"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From <a href="http://ift.tt/yaGhNV">techradar</a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />from http://bit.ly/1Hxq9MY<br/></div>

Microsoft fixes critical flaws in Internet Explorer and Office

Microsoft has patched four critical vulnerabilities that could have allowed attackers to carry out a remote code execution. The fix was incl...

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This is what GTA 5 looks like through an Oculus Rift

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This is what GTA 5 looks like through an Oculus Rift

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Review: Sony MDR-ZX770BT

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://bit.ly/16Db7GR'><img alt="Review: Sony MDR-ZX770BT" src="http://ift.tt/1D8dXMk"/><br/><br /><p>It's a difficult task to stand out in the headphone market these days. Having a killer feature helps, be it awesome sound performance or wireless capabilities. But value remains the most important item on many listeners' checklists. The more packed into the offering, the better.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Sony enters 2015 guns a-blazing with a new set of wireless over-ear headphones for just $150. (This model isn't currently available in UK or AU regions, though Sony's MDR-ZX770BN, a step-up in specs including noise cancellation, is available in the UK for £129.)</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Awkwardly dubbed MDR-ZX770BT, Sony's naming convention lacks grace. But these cans represent a steady focus on fusing value with a boatload of features, impressive sound and battery performance.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Design</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Considering that a headphone's design is as important as its sound performance, Sony's MDR-ZX770BT may seem at first like a safe bet. But upon closer inspection, these over-ear headphones are decked out with unique design effects that spice up their stuffy executive vibe.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Sony MDR-ZX770BT review" src="http://ift.tt/1HbqyV0" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>The MDR-ZX770BT that Sony sent to TechRadar for review is equal parts black and blue, echoing a similar play on colors found in the firm's gaming brand, PlayStation.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The unit's headband is stocked with two flavorful layers of color. On the outside, matte-textured black plastic makes up the sidearms. Reaching toward the top, an all-leather wrap is in place where the headphones make contact with your noggin. Similar to the sidearms, the outer layer of the headband is also black.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Sony MDR-ZX770BT review" src="http://ift.tt/1D8e0rI" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>On the inner band, the MDR-ZX770BT takes on a sporty splash of blue coloring and design touches. The materials mirror what's outside, but the matte plastic and leather are decked out with a dotted texture that gives off a fun vibe.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Extending the size of the headphones, a blue plastic frame reinforced with a thin layer of brushed aluminum reveals itself. These cans stretch over my head, which is large enough for me to consider this a feat. But what's more, there were adjustments to spare, meaning that those with an even larger head can find a safe place under these headphones.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Moving on to the earcups, the design flourishes continue to impress. Along with shiny branding, the outside of the cups are also speckled with a sparkling plastic coating that looks dashing. Their insides are pumped with cushy padding and coated with a thin layer of leather.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Sony MDR-ZX770BT review" src="http://ift.tt/1D8e0HY" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>On the left earcup, you'll find the power button, which doubles as a Bluetooth pairing button if you hold it for a few seconds. Nested up against that button is a status LED that flashes in various frequencies and colors. On its bottom, there is a micro USB charging port.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Finally, around its front, there are two features, one being a reset button in case all goes wrong and the other being the mic for picking up your voice. You can tap your phone to this cup to connect via NFC, if your phone supports it.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Sony MDR-ZX770BT review" src="http://ift.tt/1HbqAfm" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Switching over to the right earcup, we find the ever-important volume rocker. It's dotted with a protruding finger guide that helps to differentiate the volume increase from decrease with ease.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Next to it is the multi-function button. Moving it side-to-side changes to the next or previous song. Pushing it in acts to pause and resume playback or to pick up a phone call. It's dead simple compared to most wireless headphones, which have you tapping the play button two to three times to skip songs.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Performance</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>The Sony MDR-ZX770BT rocks a design that makes it easy to get listening in style and, thankfully, the guts packed inside power a generally satisfying experience.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The comfy design allows heads of all sizes to listen all day long without a gripe. Its headband gently presses against the crown and the closed-back earcups create a secure seal that blocks out a decent amount of sound. My ears inside did get a little sweaty during a brisk walk and some household chores, so a small break was required after about an hour of use.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Sony MDR-ZX770BT review" src="http://ift.tt/1Hbqzbo" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>These headphones are capable, at best, of encoding music with the aptX Bluetooth codec. Out of the box, however, they operate at the subpar SBC codec, which is the more compressed option of the two. How you go about adjusting the sound quality is well-hidden, a little too well-hidden. I had to open up the online instruction manual to figure it out.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Even once I "upgraded" the sound quality, the soundstage generally sounded more cramped than over-ear headphones should ideally provide. The sound signature is quite balanced in temperature, which makes them versatile across genres. Adding to the mix, clarity and mids and highs response trump all else. The lows are well represented, but bass presence is lacking.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The battery packed inside the MDR-ZX770BT is a workhorse, easily meeting its advertised seventeen hours of battery life at a moderate volume. During testing, these lasted almost three full days – just over 20 hours – in a work week before needing a charge.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Rounding out the headphones' performance, Bluetooth connectivity and call quality are fine. At the very least, they perform precisely to my satisfaction.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Final verdict</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Sure, the Sony MDR-ZX770BT won't win any awards for astounding audio quality. That said, these headphones will receive well-deserved accolades for its stellar battery life, comfort and premium design. Even the smallest details, like the button interface, are thoughtfully implemented.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>If sound performance is key, putting down another $50 can get you the superior-sounding Koss BT540i. While I do prefer its bass response, these Sony cans take the cake every other way while costing much less.</p><br /><br/><br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWp17" width="1"/><br clear='all'/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1Iijl4b" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWmCt"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1IijnZB" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWphn"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1IijlB2" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWphr"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://ift.tt/1IijlB5"><img border="0" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWphv"/> </a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1IijlB8" width="1"/><img alt="" height="1" src="http://ift.tt/1yvWphx" width="1"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From <a href="http://ift.tt/yaGhNV">techradar</a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />from http://bit.ly/1Hxq9wp<br/></div>

Review: Sony MDR-ZX770BT

It's a difficult task to stand out in the headphone market these days. Having a killer feature helps, be it awesome sound performance or...

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Review: mini review: Bose SoundLink Color

<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><div xmlns='http://bit.ly/16Db7GR'><img alt="Review: mini review: Bose SoundLink Color" src="http://bit.ly/1PDiRe6"/><br/><br /><p>Bose has recently taken a keen and welcomed interest in making some very colorful products. This change is most apparent if you compare the difference between the straight-faced, executive style of the QuietComfort 15 to the <a href="http://bit.ly/1Dbtuyh">Bose QuietComfort 25</a>. These recently launched over-ear headphones received an injection of jubilance that goes a long way in making its design fresh, while remaining loyal to Bose fans.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Continuing with this lively style, Bose has introduced the SoundLink Color. For $130 (£120, AU$180), you can nab yourself one of these affordable Bluetooth speakers splashed in one of five vibrant colors. The form factor is small, but thankfully, that doesn't hinder its ability to pump out a full sound in the slightest.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Design</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>The vertically-oriented Bose SoundLink Color offers a thin and discreet build compared to its larger SoundLink brethren. However, compared to other miniature Bluetooth speakers in its class, like the <a href="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1u">UE Mini Boom</a>, it's larger in size.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Bose SoundLink Color review" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtttX" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Weighing in at just over a pound (half a kilogram), the SoundLink Color rocks an all-plastic construct. Plastic may get a reputation for being cheap, but the material is elegantly implemented here. The sky blue plates covering the outside of the speaker contribute greatly to the presentation, giving it a simple, but appealing look.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The perforated grille dominates the front of the speaker allowing the impressive sound to flow. Bose stuck a big ol' logo near the top of the speaker, but it doesn't get in the way of the looks too much.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Around the sides, the speaker shows off its curves. The plastic plates that make up the enclosure come together and give way to a strip of rubber that wraps the device, which provides a protective bumper of sorts.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Bose SoundLink Color review" src="http://bit.ly/1PDiRe7" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Similar to the front, the back of the SoundLink Color also features a grille, although it's much smaller. On the bottom corner, Bose included a small selection of ports: an auxiliary port for listening over a wired connection and a micro USB port for charging the speaker.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>On top of the speaker, there is a rubberized panel containing six buttons. From left to right, the speaker features a power button with an LED to indicate battery status, a Bluetooth pairing button and a switch for auxiliary mode. The remaining buttons control the play and pause functions, which also skips and reverses tracks with a double click and triple press, respectively. The volume buttons round out the offering of controls on the SoundLink Color.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Bose SoundLink Color review" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtttY" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>Inside the box, there isn't much to see. Bose includes a micro USB cable and a wall charger inside the package.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>To sum up Bose's design, don't fear the plastic. The speaker's colorful presence is pleasing and makes for a sleek, playful addition to your entertainment center, bookshelf or wherever else you put it around your pad.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Performance</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Bose doesn't have as much experience in the budget arena as it does in making premium products, so how did taking the affordable route turn out with the SoundLink Color? In many ways, extraordinarily well.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Bose more than keeps its promise of lengthy battery life for this speaker, kicking out the jams in my studio apartment past the advertised eight hours of juice. Finally, after a long day of cleaning at a medium volume, the SoundLink Color entered a peaceful sleep just shy of the nine hour mark.</p><br /><br/><br /><p><img alt="Bose SoundLink Color review" src="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1w" width="420"/> </p><br /><br/><br /><p>In that regard, Bose makes it known that its budget Bluetooth speaker is a worthy contender in this price range. But there's one more card up its sleeve that puts Bose above the competition: sound performance. What the SoundLink Color can push out is much more impressive than what's usually heard in similarly sized – and priced – Bluetooth speakers.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>While there's a heavy emphasis on lows and pounding bass, mids and highs don't get lost in the message. This speaker has no issue filling a room with even sound at a variety of volumes.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The UE Mini Boom comes the closest with a surprisingly bass-heavy sound. But some of that boom muddles the mids and highs in the sound profile.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>The Bose SoundLink Color stands alone in this category, and represents a spectacular value for those seeking a Bluetooth speaker that has heavy-hitting sound chops.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>If sound performance and battery life are the only features needed to sell a product for you, by all means, pick up this Bluetooth speaker. Just be aware that Bose has otherwise dropped the ball, stocking the SoundLink Color with a fairly limited set of features.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>You won't be able to charge your phone with the SoundLink Color, nor will you be able to connect via NFC. Also curiously missing from this speaker is a microphone. This means you'll need to keep your phone handy, as you won't be able to take the call with this speaker.</p><br /><br/><br /><h3>Final verdict</h3><br /><br/><br /><p>Don't knock this speaker for its straight plastic build. The design puts forward a slick, modern look that, in one of five popping colors, is sure to appeal to many.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>When it comes to performance, the SoundLink Color has it in spades. From the overachieving battery life to the even audio, this Bluetooth option is a workhorse that outpaces the competition at its price range.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Barring the fantastic sound and battery performance, that's about all there is to see with the Bose SoundLink Color. Those hoping for a feature-dense option here will be sorely disappointed. If the lack of features like NFC, charging over USB and conference calling are a deal-breaker, check out the $99 UE Mini Boom for a cheaper option that fills these blanks.</p><br /><br/><br /><p>Otherwise, if you're simply a fan of hearing your music pumped through some beautiful pipes, there's a lot to love in the Bose SoundLink Color. We're not too surprised with the excellent performance, but the vibrant design and the affordable price tag make this speaker almost too good to pass up.</p><br /><br/><br /><img border="0" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtuOw" width="1"/><br clear='all'/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1y" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtttZ"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1A" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtuOB"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1D" rel="nofollow"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1Dbttu1"/> </a><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><a href="http://bit.ly/1PDiS1F"><img border="0" src="http://bit.ly/1DbtuOE"/> </a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1PDiU9A" width="1"/><img alt="" height="1" src="http://bit.ly/1Dbttu5" width="1"/><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />From <a href="http://bit.ly/1DWqmcX">techradar</a> </div><br /><br/><br /><br/><br />from http://bit.ly/1PDiShZ<br/></div>

Review: mini review: Bose SoundLink Color

Bose has recently taken a keen and welcomed interest in making some very colorful products. This change is most apparent if you compare the ...

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