sincity

Image: Amazon People were understandably a little concerned when Amazon announced its new Amazon Key service, which lets couriers inside their houses in order to deliver packages without worrying that someone will steal them from the porch outside. Critics, though, worried that letting a stranger inside your house may be worse. Not to worry, Amazon said, as the service works in tandem with the new Cloud Cam (and a new smart lock), so you could check in on your house at the time of delivery and see if anything was amiss. Sounds kinda sorta okay, right? Naturally, there had to be a catch. Researchers from Rhino Security Labs recently told Wired that it's relatively easy for unscrupulous couriers or random people from the street to use a simple denial-of-service attack program to freeze the Cloud Cam's feed from any computer within Wi-Fi range. In other words, the courier or someone who followed him or her could possibly wait until after the package was delivered to freeze the feed and, right afterward, run into the house again before activating the lock. Worse, the Cloud Cam continues to show the last image captured, which makes it look as though nothing is happening onscreen. You can see the attack in action in the video below. Amazon released a statement to TechRadar asserting that it would soon release an update to provide faster notifications if the camera goes offline, as well as defending other aspects of its Key program. "Safety and security are built into every aspect of the service," an Amazon spokeswoman said. "Every delivery driver passes a comprehensive background check that is verified by Amazon before they can make in-home deliveries, every delivery is connected to a specific driver, and before we unlock the door for a delivery, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the right address, at the intended time. We currently notify customers if the camera is offline for an extended period. Later this week we will deploy an update to more quickly provide notifications if the camera goes offline during delivery. The service will not unlock the door if the Wi-Fi is disabled and the camera is not online.” Poor deliveryAmazon says it believes the findings currently pose little risk for customers, but that it is nevertheless taking action soon. In Amazon's view, the problems lie with Wi-Fi protocols rather than its own software. Amazon also emphasized that their couriers aren't allowed to move on to the next deliveries until the full process has been completed (including locking the door), but that technically doesn't account for the issues described in Rhino's scenario. Still, if a courier does do these things, Amazon says, it'll know exactly which courier was responsible, presumably due to the delivery schedule involved in the Key service procedures. The company will then notify the customer and take action. And if something does go wrong, Amazon said, it works with the customer to fulfill Amazon's Happiness Guarantee if any products or property are damaged. For now, all we can do is wait to see what this patch will look like. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/2e7XG61pBb4

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know Black Friday deals in the US are right around the corner. Amazon knows this all too well, of course, and today the mega online retailer is providing a sneak peak at all the deals it will offer on Black Friday 2017. Whether you're looking to save on a new Amazon Echo smart speaker, Amazon Cloud Cam, Fire tablet or even a 4K TV, Amazon is dropping prices across product categories. You can even save on treats and more for your pet (Fido will thank you later). In addition to revealing Black Friday price drops, Amazon also announced deals will start to open up on November 17, with more deals becoming available all the way through the official Black Friday date of November 24. On Black Friday proper, you can look forward to more than 30 Deals of the Day and, according to Amazon, thousands of Lightning Deals, which are limited-time deals that run for a set period, or while supplies last. Below you'll find the Black Friday price cuts Amazon has planned. Remember, these prices start to go live on November 17, and more will open up at various dates and times in the days to follow. In the meantime, we suggest you check out our best Amazon Black Friday deals page to get a sense of more Amazon sales you can expect. And if you really want to plan ahead, see the best Amazon Cyber Monday deals we're looking forward to this year. Cyber Monday is on November 27, three days after Black Friday, so it's never too early to start planning your online shopping strategy! Amazon Black Friday deals on Amazon devicesEcho Dot is $29.99 ($20 off)Echo 2017 is $79.99 ($20 off) Echo Plus is $119.99 ($30 off)Amazon Tap is $79.99 ($50 off)Buy a smart plug along with any Echo purchase for $5 ($20 off)Amazon Cloud Cam is $99.99 ($20 off)Fire 7 Kids Edition is $69.99 ($30 off), and you can save another $10 when you buy two for $129.98Fire HD 8 Kids Edition is $89.99 ($40 off), and you can save another $10 when you buy two for $169.98Fire HD 10 is $99.99 ($50 off)Fire HD 8 is $49.99 ($30 off)Kindle Paperwhite is $89.99 ($30 off)Kindle is $49.99 ($30 off)Kindle for Kids Bundle is $69.99 ($30 off)Fire TV Stick with Alexa Voice Remote is $24.99 ($15 off)Amazon Black Friday deals on 4K TVsSony 75-inch 4K Ultra HD smart LED TV (2017 Model) is $1,999.99 ($998 off)Sony 70-inch 4K Ultra HD smart LED TV (2017 Model) is $1,199.99 ($298 off)Samsung UN65MU8000 65-inch 4K Ultra HD smart TV (2017 Model) is $1,297.99 (list price of $2,199.99)Sony 65-inch 4K Ultra HD smart LED TV (2017 Model) is $1,499.99 ($298 off)Samsung UN55MU8000 55-inch 4K Ultra HD smart TV (2017 Model) is $897.99 (list price of $1,197.99)Sony 55-inch 4K Ultra HD smart LED TV (2017 Model) is $999.99 ($298 off)Unspecified 49-inch 4K TV is $159.99Unspecified 32-inch 720p TV is $69.99Unspecified premium brand 40-inch smart TV is $279.99Amazon Black Friday deals on laptops and moreSelect Seagate hard drives are up to 25% offAcer Helios 300 Gaming Laptop is up to $150 offCyberpowerPC Gaming Desktop is up to $120 offCorsair K70 Gaming Keyboard is 30% offSelect SanDisk products are up to 35% offSelect PC gaming laptops, desktops, components and more are up to 40% offAmazon Black Friday deals on smart home devicesSchlage Smart Lock is up to 40% offOpal Nugget Ice Maker is $50 offSmartThings Home Monitoring Kit is $100 offAmazon Black Friday deals on video gamesSelect PS VR bundles are up to $100 offJust Dance 2018 Gold Box is up to 50% offAmazon Black Friday deals are just getting startedAs noted, Amazon plans to offer literally thousands of deals on Black Friday, so while you can look forward to the sales outlined above, know that many more haven't been revealed yet but are on the way. We'll be sifting through all of Amazon's Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals in the lead up to and on the big days themselves, so be sure to stick with TechRadar as we bring you everything Amazon (and all the other major retailers) discounts this year. Biggest deals list to come: Cyber Monday 2017http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/sYZLiz2rreQ

Google Home review: Hey Google, your search engine is showing!It’s hard finding a good roommate. Some leave dishes in the sink. Others stiff you on rent. But Google, or more specifically, the Google Assistant, isn’t like that at all. Everything considered and as far as roommates go, it’s actually one of the best you’ll ever have. Click through to read our comprehensive Google Home review. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/epWC5mo4xSpgGTTgrbYkMB.jpg Nest Cam Outdoor review: A cut above the restNest became a household name by reinventing the thermostat, but now the Google-owned company has a range of smart devices that work together to automate or protect your home – including this weatherproof outdoor security camera. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EmEvhvKsLSTk3tWquvVEph.jpg Amazon Echo Plus review: Ruling the home with new smart hub functionsAmazon's Echo range hasn't quite made it to Australia yet, but it's widely regarded to be the best AI speaker in the biz, and the new Echo Plus is the centrepiece of the just-released 2017 range. Our UK team put the device through its paces – and found it's still one of the best AI speaker options. Read our full review here. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9G6gM3eqHkdH7pswWBwT5L.jpg iRobot Roomba 980 review: Do android vacuums dream of electric sweep?Though most automated vacuum cleaners are happy to bounce around your rooms, bumping into furniture like a drunk sleepwalker, iRobot’s Roomba 980 is leading the pack in terms of vacuum intelligence. Continue through to our full Australian review for the final verdict. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QvdFezUpPVCCNDNpdkBAf6.jpg Apple HomePod hands-on review: Going eyes and ears on with the new speaker from AppleApple's upcoming HomePod is the smart speaker that wants to be at the centre of your home audio experience, and that's great news for iPhone and iPad users. We got the chance to preview the HomePod, including its audio quality, when it was announced at Apple's WWDC keynote earlier this year – these were our impressions. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ZMQKJ4xzbqA

It's a bit of a no-brainer that we'll eventually see Apple's Face ID on more future iPhones and iPads, but what about other devices like the upcoming HomePod smart speaker? According to Japanese news organization Nikkei, we could be using our faces to unlock personalized settings on the device as soon as 2019. Nor is this some sketchy rumor. The source is David Ho, the president of Inventec Appliances, which is the company that's actually responsible for making both HomePods and Apple's AirPod earbuds. Granted, it's a bit of a "could-be" thing, as Ho's exact words are that trends suggest that "engineers are designing smart speakers that will not only come with voice recognition but also incorporate features such as facial and image recognition." Analysts, though, interpret this to mean that Ho is referring to the next generation of HomePods after the model we're supposed to see hit shelves in a few weeks. Specifically, analyst Jeff Pu of Yuanta Investment Consulting thinks we'll see Apple's nifty 3D-imaging sensors on the speakers the year after next. Next verse, same as the firstYet these speculations aren't entirely new. As 9to5Mac points out, rumors that the HomePod could use facial recognition technology were swirling about as early as the middle of last year, but Face ID was nowhere to be found when we saw the actual device. There's a chance, of course, that Apple was merely waiting to see what the response to the tech would be with the iPhone X before applying it to other products. As for that first-generation of HomePods? The year is almost up, and we still don't have a clear date from Apple as to when we'll see it. At WWDC, though, Apple claimed it should start shipping at some point in December. Clock's ticking. Get the most out of iOS 11http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/ePCjJdXEuvQ

How much would you pay for a streaming service from Disney? According to the company's CEO, Robert A. Iger, subscriptions will cost less than the equivalent Netflix packages - though it's also going to have less content on offer, at least to begin with. "I can say that our plan on the Disney side is to price this substantially below where Netflix is," said Iger on an earnings call, Engadget reports. "It'll have a lot of high quality because of the brands and the franchises that will be on it that we've talked about. But it'll simply launch with less volume, and the price will reflect that." You can currently sign up for a new Netflix subscription from $7.99 or £5.99 a month, though the top end plan with HD and 4K will set you back $13.99 or £9.99 a month. Exactly where Disney will fall remains to be seen. Studio warsGiven the huge success of Netflix, content creators like Disney have come around to the idea of launching their own services - it means more money for the studios but more of a headache for consumers who have to sign up for multiple subscriptions. With production companies now wanting to protect their own material and squeeze as much money out of it as possible, it's no surprise that Netflix is focusing even more on original shows - it plans to spend $7 billion on new content in 2018, up from the $6 billion the company spent in 2017. Disney has pencilled in 2019 as the launch date for its new service and in the meantime is starting to pull its content off Netflix. At least when it does arrive on the scene, it might not cost you all that much extra. Here's why Disney has Netflix worried, explainedhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/5MiTogz-Ph4

A year ago, India went into the shock of the decade as Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetization of 500 and 1000 rupees notes. The event marked the nation's swift entry into the digital economy. Indians started to adopt tools such as digital wallets to apps in a very short frame of time. However, when every major aspect of the life was hindered and affected by the demonetization, one company that offered relief to its users and clients was Sodexo with its digital solutions. In fact, Sodexo, a renowned employee benefits service, began their digital journey few years before the demonetization, enabling them to be in a perfect position to serve their user base during the crisis of demonetization. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Sym7jy8xe2eXedBfGTUzRF.jpg "With technology and digital adoption, we have two objectives. At one level we want to help the HR teams improve the quality of lives of their employees. Second, we want to simplify their lives, make it as simple as possible," said Suvodeep Das, lead Marketing, Product development, at Sodexo India. It wasn't all easy for Sodexo, known for its iconic paper voucher, to make this digital leap, as they faced numerous large and small challenges. "When Sodexo decided to go digital, we needed to establish digital acceptance in every outlet the vouchers were accepted. It took a lot of time, effort and money- infrastructure development, but Sodexo wanted to do it right, by building our own proprietary network, and now our network is the biggest in the country in terms of reach in tier 3 and 4 towns, " Suvodeep Das explained. "The biggest challenge was two years back when Sodexo began setting up our network. This is a year before demonetization. Almost 5000 outlets had never seen anything digital. Sodexo had to educate them- what is a card machine? What is an EDC terminal? How do you swipe? How do you take a print out? How do you do a transaction? How do you do a batch settlement? It was a huge challenge," added Das. As of today, the company has 40,000 plus points of acceptance across 1,500 cities in India and also a mobile app that can be used for transactions. Sodexo currently has three million daily users with a significant portion of them resorting to their digital tools such as the mobile app linked to both the meal pass cards. However, Sodexo is in a process of constant innovation of its digital solutions. One of the digital solutions Sodexo has developed recently is "Tap & Pay." Instead of the normal paper vouchers and RF-ID cards, Sodexo is trying out NFC- enabled cards. Presently, Sodexo is incorporating this NFC based technology into the existing cafeteria pass they offer. At various cafeterias across IT Parks, they are replacing chip-based cards with NFC cards. On the other hand, Sodexo is already working towards eliminating paper voucher, cafeteria cards and meal passes by integrating the employee benefits into their existing company ID cards for employees. According to Das, "many companies have the ID cards that they use for punching in, checking out etc. and the card can be used as their cafeteria pass as well. Thus the employee will not have to carry two cards." Sodexo is currently running a Company ID-Based Solution as a pilot program with a client based in Bangalore. According to Sodexo, the ultimate goal of simplifying the process of an employee accessing their benefit is about saving time and fostering productivity. And that is exactly where Sodexo's food order app comes into play. "You have the menu on the app, you order through the app and pay through the Sodexo Meal or Cafeteria Card. The order goes to the merchant, and once the order is ready, the merchant presses a button giving you a notification that your order is ready, Suvodeep Das explained it's working. As a result, hundreds of working hours can be saved in a firm which is now wasted standing in a cafeteria queue. According to Das, Sodexo is going to play a bigger role in the future of Digital India, as more and more tools are being developed globally. And it is a just a matter of times they bring the right ones to Indian users. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/-9jrF0KVMrQ

With Amazon now the owner of the Whole Foods healthy-eating grocery chain, it should come as no surprise that it'd start putting its products on the shelves next to desiccated fruit and quinoa parcels. As such, with deals season about to go into full Black Friday overdrive, Amazon is getting ready to slash the prices of its own-brand gear in Whole Foods stores. And it's not just a warehouse full of old stuff Amazon is looking to get rid of. The deals include even the brand new Amazon Echo Plus. Echo, Kindle and Fire dealsOver 100 Whole Foods stores will be offering Amazon-related offers, with pop-up stores dedicated to Amazon items being introduced for a brief time at Illinois, Michigan, Florida, California, and Colorado from November 13. From the week leading into Black Friday, you'll be able to pick up at a Whole Foods Store: Amazon Echo Plus - $122.49, down from $142.49Amazon Echo - $74.99, down from $94.99Amazon Echo Dot - $27.49, down from $47.49Kindle Paperwhite - $89.99, down from $119.99Fire 7 Tablet - $27.49, down from $47.49Fire HD 8 Tablet - $45.99, down from $75.99Amazon Cloud Cam - $99.99, down from $119.99TechRadar will be digging out all the best offers come Black Friday weekend, so stay locked on our deals pages for some massive savings. Amazon Black Friday 2017: best dealshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/cPapfpiTpk0

Amazon's been a busy bee these past few weeks. Not only has it put out a brand new Amazon Echo, the smart-home focussed Echo Plus, revealed the screen-packing Echo Spot and launched a new waterproof Kindle Oasis, it's also been quietly working on some software audio tweaks for its new speakers, too. The latest update, quietly pushed over the air this past weekend, focusses on the audio performance of the new standard Amazon Echo. And it's all about that bass. While the new Echo is no slouch in the audio department, with Dolby processing now included, we noted in our review that "it’s more in the lower levels where the Echo starts to strain." The new update should address that lacking bass response a tad, aiming to up the low frequency quality without smothering the mids and highs. Agile AmazonTo check whether your new Echo has received the update, head to the Alexa app, and hit the settings pane. There you'll find the version number, with the update in question being number "592452420". The update should bring the audio performance of the new Amazon Echo more in line with the premium Amazon Echo Plus and, considering its substantially cheaper, should make choosing between the two speakers all the more easy, provided you're not enamoured with the Echo Plus's smart home hub capabilities. With the latest wave of Echo speakers having been on shelves for less than a fortnight, and criticism of the original audio performance being fresher still, it's great to see Amazon moving so quickly to address any issues. You could argue that, with increased competition from Google Assistant / Google Home speakers and the forthcoming Apple HomePod, it doesn't have a choice – the smart speaker race is now truly hotting up. The entire Amazon Echo line-up explained: which smart speaker is right for you?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/qiygs1y5rnE

Today is the third anniversary of the release of the first Amazon Alexa device, the Amazon Echo, and Amazon is celebrating with a massive sale today only. Amazon isn't messing around, either. This is basically an early Black Friday sale as it's limited to today and one of the deals exceeds 50% in discounts. Since time is limited for this happy birthday sale, let's have a look, shall we? Save now: Amazon's early Black Friday dealsMore Amazon Black Friday deals are on the wayThis is just the beginning of what's going to be a big month of savings at Amazon. We're already looking ahead to the best Amazon Black Friday deals, and will bring you all the ways you can save on tons of products from the world's largest online retail site as November rolls on into Cyber Monday! http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/TgNxygfcjq0

My workout gear has started heckling me. It’s been such a long time since my last proper scheduled workout that it’s started doing an impression of the Tell-Tale Heart, calling to me while I sleep. Just to put things in context, I used to work out pretty regularly. I was a performer in some physically demanding stage shows, and I qualified as a personal trainer so that I could take care of my body. I was never ‘buff’ or ‘jacked’ or whatever the gym rats are saying these days but I could comfortably move my body from a lying-down position to a standing-up position without it feeling like a herculean task. Now, those days are sadly long behind me. I still go for the occasional run, do a few push-ups here or there, review the occasional fitness tracker, but the joints are definitely a little rusty. Slow and steady wins the raceI don’t know if you’ve ever been in this situation, but the more time that passes, the harder it gets to motivate myself to actually slip my (slightly rounder) body into some workout gear and hit the mat. Gyms are pretty intimidating places if you’re feeling less-than-confident, full of testosterone fuelled meatheads and fitness models in training. I’ve always been a fan of working out at home, and I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to test out some of the fitness apps available that you would be able to use at home while also getting myself back in shape. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ifVke828an235CA9G9go5D.jpg Here's a demonstration of perfect form from a perfect human.Because it takes at least six weeks for actual physiological adaptation to take place, I will be using different apps, and occasionally using this column for updates, both on what I think of the apps, and how I’m getting on with my road back to fitness. Don't worry, if you're not into fitness stuff, it won't all be fitness. That said, my hope is that you’ll join me on this journey. Hitting the matSo, the first workout. The first app. Freeletics Bodyweight, is available for both iOS and Android devices. Each workout has a dictated set of exercises; you’re given the amount of both sets and reps, then you have to complete your allocated workout in the shortest time possible. For me, that immediately rings alarm bells, as speed over form is where all injuries are born, but Freeletics does a pretty impressive job of instilling good form in you. Each exercise has a video connected to it, showing an aggressively attractive demigod performing the maneuver with a skill and grace that you’ll never achieve. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/A7oitQCL5kdM2Cyzd29EUR.jpg Continuing the theme, each of the workouts are named after characters from greek mythology, and there is something really satisfying about doing ‘Atlas’ rather than ‘core workout’. You can kid yourself into thinking you’re sculpting your body into a statuesque form. Make no mistake, Freeletics is definitely aimed at people who are wanting to really push themselves and get that low body fat, big muscle look, and that means that the workouts are tough. The cost of fitnessThere’s a free version of Freeletics that just gives you access to some of the workouts, but if you start paying the subscription, all the workouts open up, and more importantly, you get an artificially intelligent coach that gives you workouts specific to your fitness level and goals. Which meant that actually hitting the mat wasn’t as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. There were some crunches, some mountain climbers, some side lunges, and finished off with an interval session. It wasn’t easy, but I definitely finished the session wanting more, which is probably a good indicator of the smartness of the AI. All I know is we’re off to a good start. If you want to join me on this journey, or have any apps (or pieces of tech) that you want me to try out, send them over to andrew.london@futurenet.com or tweet me at @AndrewMLondon Andrew London is a laughable excuse for a human being, barely held together with string and sticky tape. In Tech Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself he will be sharing with you the different technology that he uses to try and pass for a proper functioning person.Logo design courtesy of FreePik http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/gPzKdqwIB8M

Would you let a stranger into your house while you're out just to drop off a package? Amazon thinks you will if the tech is right, and is launching Amazon Key on November 8 in 37 cities in the US. However, the service – which will allows couriers to open your front door and drop-off a package – is less about your convenience, and more about Amazon’s ultimate ambition; it wants to own the smart home future. But is it safe? We'll break down what we know about the service and how it's going to work, and then talk to some security experts to see what they make of Amazon Key. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rC63REZ6dGU2tyMohJte8G.jpg Users will be able to live-stream video of couriers dropping-off a package. Credit: AmazonHow does Amazon Key work? Available at no extra cost to Amazon Prime members, Amazon Key is a unique 'in-home' delivery service built on what Amazon calls 'secure home access'. The tech involved is the smart home personified; to use Amazon Key, you'll need to install both a digital keyless lock and an Amazon Cloud Cam. (Both of which, Amazon is selling together in a bundle for $249.) Next comes a layer of digital admin; you can track the delivery, get real-time notifications, actually watch a live feed on your phone from the Amazon Cloud Cam of the delivery happening or watch a video later after it's complete. So the access code to your home is given to a random courier? Well, not quite. When a delivery driver requests access to your home, Amazon verifies that the correct driver is at the correct address at the agreed time, and engages in encrypted authentication (thus checking the identity of the courier, and sending a message in a way that cannot be hacked). That process kickstarts Amazon Cloud Cam, which starts recording just before the door is unlocked. Is there a security risk? Amazon Key is being marketed as making online ordering ultra-convenient, but some think it could be a security risk waiting to happen. “In theory, the new delivery service launched by Amazon sounds great for consumers – missed deliveries must be one of the biggest gripes among the generation that likes to buy everything online," says Lee Munson, security researcher for Comparitech.com. “In reality, it sounds like it may be a classic case of convenience trumping security. Staff-vetting isn’t totally fool-proof, smart locks can malfunction, and the majority of smart home products should come with a warning on the box, because many manufacturers appear to prioritise sales over security." It might look like Amazon is thinking about its customers with Amazon Key, but there's a lot more to this new service than pain-free deliveries; this is part of a battle for the future based on largely unproven tech. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dgdty4BYNUcq7eyyXsTHCG.jpg Amazon already offers WiFi-connected Dash Buttons. Credit: AmazonCould the system be hacked? Are keyless door locks safe from hackers? “At this point we really have no idea how secure this system is, although frankly Amazon has a pretty good track record," says Geoff Webb, vice president, product marketing and solutions strategy at software company Micro Focus. "It's unlikely that they would be offering a product like that without giving it a lot of due diligence in security." That's surely true, but even if we 100% trust in Amazon, its latest service could still prove to be unsecure. "It's not how Amazon will use the information, but how hackers could potentially exploit it," says Adam Maskatiya, UK and Eire General Manager at cyber security company Kaspersky Lab. "What makes the issue particularly dangerous is its potential reach – if a hacker can access the database of door codes, they can gain entry to a whole street’s worth of homes." After all, hacks against Internet of Things (IoT) devices are on the rise. "If a hacker can access the database of door codes, they can gain entry to a whole street’s worth of homes."Adam Maskatiya, Kaspersky Lab "As we’ve seen in recent high-profile cyberattacks, one lucky hit by the attacker is enough to bring down the entire operation and cause reputational damages," says Matt Walmsley, EMEA Director at threat detection company Vectra, whose latest blog details how to make a webcam into a backdoor. That way, burglars could see if you were home, and even see that there's a tasty new Amazon delivery to steal. Of course, Amazon will have robust precautions to secure Amazon Cloud Cam and the keyless door locks, but cyber risks will remain. Your front door could become a backdoor into your smart home system. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sQA6hYM22NEBQxZihHuFGG.jpg Amazon plans to vet its couriers. Credit: AmazonPrime suspects The technology Amazon Key will rely on is not 100% safe, but let's get real; the bigger threat is people. "We already know that digital locks are susceptible to hacking, but in the immediate future I don't foresee your average burglar going around trying to hack digital locks," says Vince Warrington, director of information security company Protective Intelligence. After all, the average burglar won’t have a clue how to hack your keyless lock. No, the main risk in the system lies with the authorised delivery driver. "I can see either opportunistic theft occurring, or criminal gangs infiltrating the system by getting their own people approved as delivery drivers, or through bribing the approved drivers themselves," says Warrington. Those risks will increase when Amazon expands the service – as it plans to – to give 'secure home access' to dog walkers, cleaners, plumbers and decorators. Is Amazon Key's multi-factor authentication process enough? "It may provide robust access control, but once they're in the building, the homeowner is relying on a trust model, with no way to exercise control."Matt Walmsley, EMEA Director at Vectra "It may provide robust access control, but once they're in the building, the homeowner is relying on a trust model, with no way to exercise control," says Walmsley. If Amazon plans to vet its couriers so fully, why is the Amazon Cloud Cam required? It appears to be an attempt to use tech to persuade us. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WSH3n3ZR8TZeCtkjBne9VG.jpg As with the Echo, Key is about the smart home future. Credit: AmazonWhy is Amazon launching this service? It's also very easy to be cynical about why Amazon Key is being launched. Exclusive to Prime members, it's an attempt – like Amazon Prime Instant Video – to persuade as many people as possible to pay a monthly fee for the privilege of faster deliveries. (Prime members currently pay $10.99/ £7.99 / AU$5.99 per month.) Then there's the cost of the Amazon Key In-Home Kit, which includes an Amazon Cloud Cam and a compatible smart lock from Yale or Kwikset. The price for both starts at $249.99, which does include free professional installation. So the initial set-up costs go straight into Amazon's coffers, too. However, neither is the main reason why Amazon Key has been created; this is about the future of shopping. "It’s a strategy to create subscriber engagement, spend, and loyalty for Amazon’s services and ecosystem," says Walmsley. "As the home automation market continues to grow at rapid speed, new innovations and digital access control systems will become readily available for consumers. Amazon is seeking to take advantage of the intersection of home automation and innovative online shopping services." http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7G5ifirSvrr5B8pFXS7V4G.jpg Is Amazon Key a case of convenience trumping security? Credit: AmazonOwning the smart home future This is literally about Amazon getting its foot in your door. “What you see here is Amazon continuing to drive the conversation and set the technology agenda in the escalating land-grab that is the connected smart home," says Webb. "The real prize here isn’t your front door, it’s the whole house." Amazon isn't the only one, of course; Google is also making a play to be your home's central hub with devices such as the Google Home and Google WiFi, with Apple HomePod up next. The battle to be the go-to next-gen smart home ecosystem provider has begun. It goes even deeper than that. “The implications for the smart home go far beyond the consumer world," says Webb, who explains that global businesses understand that knowledge workers want to seamlessly blend office, car, and home so they can access information at any time, and from anywhere. "The company that sets the standard for smart homes also becomes highly relevant for technology-dependent companies who want to tie together the office and the home, securely and simply. Ten years from now, that’s going to be pretty much every successful business on the planet." Amazon doesn't care about your front door. What it wants is to build, and control, the ecosystem of the smart home and businesses coming in the 2020s. Amazon wants to own the future. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DLFeAEVj9pGfL8ognUSk4G.jpg Pet owners will struggle with the concept of Amazon Key. Credit: AmazonWill customers trust Amazon enough for this service to work? Amazon Key may turn out fine, with no security problems, but copycat services from other retailers – using less secure hardware – will likely mean the 'secure home access' market will prove controversial. As it should, according to some. "Until Amazon can prove that this delivery service works well, without anyone being burgled, via independent commentary, I do not believe the majority of people will be interested in such a risky proposition," says Munson. "If I’m wrong in that assessment, then the government, schools and security industry has a heap load of work to do on security training and awareness.” What Munson is saying is that the Internet of Things is not safe, but there's another, less talked about problem with Amazon Key that pretty much kills it dead for a huge number of homes: pets. Just under half of all homes in the US and the UK have either a dog or a cat, and the thought of them escaping because a stranger opens the door will be horrifying. It may have little to do with the smart home, but for those millions of households, the Amazon Hub locker remains a much more palatable idea. Amazon Key: Everything you need to know about Amazon's new delivery servicehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/Z3wze6sAZNk

Discovering that you've lost data without backing it up can be heart-stopping, but it isn't necessarily the end of the world. With the best free backup software and a little patience, there's a good chance that you'll be able to restore your precious data – whether it's an individual file or an entire partition. Perhaps most importantly, you will probably be able to do it for free rather than having to pay a small fortune to call in the experts. It's important to install a data recovery tool now, before you've lost any files; installing one after the event risks overwriting the data you've lost. There's no guarantee that your lost data will be recoverable, but this free software will give you the best possible chance http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oFoUUNmXUvDpxTT2wW8AyP.jpg One of the best things about Piriform Recuva is the wealth of ways to use it: manual scanning, wizard-driven scanning, and via the context menu. For anyone who feels as though they need a little help using the software, the wizard on hand to provide guidance, but there is also the option of taking manual control of the scanning and recovery process. The scan can be customized to look in particular locations, or for particular types of files, and Recuva uses a traffic light guide to how likely it is that you'll be able to recover an item intact. You also have the option of right clicking a folder or the Recycle Bin if you know you have deleted a file from a particular location. It's all very easy, and the results speak for themselves. Upgrading to Recuva Professional for US$19.95/£19.95/AU$24.95 adds the ability to work with virtual hard drives, access to premium support, and automatic software updates. These are nice additions, but the free version of Recuva will be plenty of most users. Piriform Recuva reviewDownload Piriform Recuvahttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u3WNLhC9JYdbZQVUucaaHN.jpg When it comes to ease of use, it's hard to beat Wise Data Recovery. Although this free data recover software doesn't have a wizard-led interface, there are no complicated configuration settings to worry about either. Tracking down recoverable data is a simple matter of selecting the drive you want to check and clicking 'Scan'. Alternatively, you can use keywords to search for recoverable files so you don’t have to wade through quite so many results. Whichever route you choose, recoverable data is presented in an Explorer-like tree structure that makes it easy to tell where it was originally stored. Like all the best free data recovery software, Wise Data Recovery uses a traffic light system to indicate the health of files (and therefore how likely it is that you'll be able to recover them intact, and there's a file preview feature so you can identify files that have been detected. You can recover individual files, or entire folders at once, but selecting numerous files in several locations means performing several operations. Download Wise Data Recoveryhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hwopf5W3JJoVhUk2LKHUcF.jpg PC Inspector File Recovery goes further than many data recovery tools in that it will detect partitions that have been lost, even if the boot sector or file system has been damaged or deleted. This could be a real life-saver in an emergency, potentially helping you get data back even if your hard drive is not visible within Windows. Beginners might find the terminology and design of PC Inspector File Recovery intimidating, and even some more advanced users may find the workflow a little confusing to start with. Take some time to learn your way around it, and you'll find a powerful data recovery program – but one that seems to get better results with FAT and FAT32 drives. Download PC Inspector File Recoveryhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p9rUR7rEBdB98Jdj4qvijH.jpg Finding recoverable data with EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Free is very simple: select a drive or folder and wait for a few minutes while it completes its scan. You can browse through the recoverable data using a Windows Explorer style interface and filter them by type or opt to search for specific files. Data recovery is effective, but the Deep Scan option is very slow, so you'll need to be patient. The installation of this software is a mixed experience. The installer, importantly, advises not to install to the same drive that you want to recover data from because this could overwrite data and render it unrecoverable. It also, sadly, tries to enrol you in a customer experience improvement program, without explaining what this entails. It's worth noting that the free version only allows for the recovery of up to 2GB of data, so it's not going to be suitable for all circumstances, but it will be enough to get you out of most sticky situations. Download EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard Freehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UkvnvJHpwJtGWzYZ7nFVeK.jpg Presented as a pair of tools rather than a single integrated solution, TestDisk and PhotoRec together can recover data from both lost partitions and files. TestDisk takes care of the partition side of things. The fact that it's a command line tool with no graphical interface might off-putting at first. If can set this to one side though, there's help on hand to guide you through the process of working with your drives. TestDisk offers support for so many file systems, it should cater for most eventualities. PhotoRec is the component for recovering files. It's available with a command lint interface, but unlike TestDisk there's also a GUI for less confident users. It may not be as intuitive as some of the other recovery software in this listing, but it's effective. PhotoRec is cross-platform and can be run as a portable app from a USB stick, which means you don't have to install it on your PC and risk accidentally overwriting the data you want to recover. TestDisk and PhotoRec reviewDownload TestDisk and PhotoRecTo avoid data loss, check out our guide to the best free backup softwarehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/uTvQ7MXgejY

It's the first day of November, which means writers worldwide are dusting off their keyboards for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). This annual event challenges writers to produce a 50,000 word mini-novel in just 30 days. NaNoWriMo is a test of grit, willpower and creativity, and if you're tackling it this month, you'll be relieved to know you're not alone with a blank text document; there's an array of free software that can help you manage your time, stay on track, and refine your writing as you go. We've gathered a set of essential tools that will make NaNoWriMo more manageable, in the order in which you'll need them. On your marks... http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/78b6e7d5f102a8d8d8c82cdcf71c9953.jpg 1. FreeMindStart on the right foot and keep organized with a speedy planning tool There are dozens of ways to plan a novel and keep your thoughts in order while writing, but if you’re a visual thinker then take a look at FreeMind – a free mind-mapping tool that helps you develop, expand and sort concepts. FreeMind's frill-free interface means won’t have to sink a lot of your precious NaNoWriMo time into mastering complex controls, and your diagrams can be as simple or complex as you like. Alternatively, you might like to use a spreadsheet tool like LibreOffice Calc to get a ‘god’s eye’ overview of each event in your novel and help you see how they fit together. It’s the method JK Rowling used when planning the Harry Potter series (albeit on a screen rather than paper). Download FreeMindhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X6MFAqZfYkMSg3NaXhxjzW.jpg 2. EvernoteKeep your resources in one place and access them any time, anywhere Evernote provides a handy way to categorize ideas, character notes and other snippets during the planning stage, but it’s a great way to bookmark links, articles or other resources during the writing process. Like Dropbox, Evernote is available for just about every operating system, making it a great choice for working on the move. All your notes are synced to the cloud automatically, so you can access them on any device with an internet connection. Download Evernotehttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QEkR6xYMV7AcAZR5ixQRAX.jpg 3. FocusWriter and NovProgAvoid distractions and keep track of your daily progress Full-fat word processors like Microsoft Word, Pages and LibreOffiec Writer are great for most writing tasks, but for NaNoWriMo, all their formatting tools and other options are just an unnecessary barrier between your brain and the page. FocusWriter is a frill-free writing app that strips away all distractions so your novel gets your full attention. Moving your mouse to the edge of the screen reveals a carefully curated set of tools to help you stay productive, including a word count, timers and alarms, and a spell-checker. NovProg, from the same developer, is designed specifically for tracking your progress during NaNoWriMo. It plots your progress against your goals, and presents the results in a handy graphical format. Before you start with FocusWriter, make sure you’ve activated the auto-save option. FocusWriter itself is stable and reliable, but you never know when a hardware accident or other disaster might befall your work in progress. More on that in a moment. Download FocusWriterDownload NovProghttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eVdKHB8gZm95cpEwwBKcYh.jpg 4. DropboxBack up your work online to avoid catastrophic accidents Losing work to a hardware or software fault during NaNoWriMo could be disastrous, so we strongly advise backing up your manuscript to the cloud. Any cloud storage service will serve you well, but Dropbox’s generous free storage allowance and cross-platform support make it a particularly good choice. Because it’s compatible with so many devices, you can open your novel anywhere and use any spare moments to jot down a few extra words. For peace of mind, we recommend keeping multiple backups of your work in different locations Download Dropboxhttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XpjytZKadYHuY5Kqsnopd7.jpg http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3b7U6L9ujXzjBMYgLErQBo.jpg 5. GrammarlyA helping hand with editing your NaNoWriMo manuscript NaNoWriMo is all about powering through and getting a first draft down as quickly as possible, so some grammatical errors are par for the course. Grammarly is available as a free extension for Firefox, Edge, Safari and Chrome (plus other Chromium-based browsers like Vivaldi) that detects common errors and suggests corrections. You can use it when writing online, or copy and paste parts of your manuscript to analyze them. If you want to check your work on your desktop, Grammarly Premium analyzes text in native desktop apps. In addition to spelling and grammar, it also hunts down issues with sentence structure and style to help improve your work. A monthly subscription costs US$29.99 (about £20/AU$40), so give the free browser extension a try before investing. Autocrit is a similar app designed specifically for novelists. Rather than checking your spelling and grammar, it helps you identify issues with pacing, repetition and use of unnecessary filler words. Unlike Grammarly there’s no free version of Autocrit, but pasting a scene or two into the online demo tool will give you an idea of the results you can expect. Download Grammarlyhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/Ps5IYKGAENg

Microsoft has announced that the free upgrade from Windows 7/8.1 to Windows 10 for those who use assistive technologies will cease at the end of this year. Microsoft has updated its assistive technologies upgrade web page to state: “Please take advantage of this offer before it expires on December 31, 2017.” The software giant had previously said that the accessibility-based upgrade would not last forever, and that it would make a public announcement when the scheme was being brought to an end. And, obviously enough, this is that announcement. Theoretically, you aren’t supposed to use the assistive tech upgrade if you don’t make use of Windows 10’s relevant accessibility features, but as no verification system is in place to check whether users do or not, anybody has effectively been able to use this as a morally dubious upgrade route. But, not for much longer. However, another potential route to a freebie upgrade could still remain open. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/j8vKpZY9i3rpv79q8z4UdS.jpg Key capersAs for the other upgrade path which has existed since the Windows 10 free upgrade offer expired in July 2016, this is a completely unofficial route that Microsoft has never acknowledged or talked about at all. It involves using an existing Windows 7/8.1 product key to activate the installation of the new OS. And, apparently it’s still a usable method of upgrading, as Thurrott.com observed at the end of last week. However, Thurrott does note that you have to use a retail Windows 7/8.1 product key, and not an OEM key (i.e. an installation of Windows which came pre-installed on your PC when you bought it). There also seems to now be some doubt as to whether the retail key in question has to be unused, but anecdotally, even keys which have already been used to install a copy of Windows have been known to work for some folks upgrading to Windows 10. The question is: will this second route to a free upgrade also cease at the end of this year? We won’t know about that because, as we’ve mentioned, Microsoft has never officially commented on this particular avenue of upgrading. In official terms, it doesn’t exist. But, if you do want to upgrade to Windows 10 via an existing retail product key, we’d probably do so before 2018 rolls around, just to be on the safe side. Some of the best laptops of 2017 run Windows 10Via Slashgear http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/5juwmXzZER8

If you're anything like us (and we'd venture to guess that you likely are), you've probably been binging through the latest season of Stranger Things on Netflix and can't get enough of the gloriously retro series. Well, you're in luck! A new interactive game has been launched exclusively for Google Home and Google Home Mini that lets you feel like you're part of the adventure. Without spoiling anything major, Dustin has spent a fair chunk of time trying to contact his friends on their walkie-talkies in Stranger Things 2, so it's up to you to answer the call by saying “Ok Google, talk to Dustin from Stranger Things” to start the game. From there, you'll have to provide the show's characters with information that will help them unlock the latest mystery taking place in Hawkins, Indiana. At present, the game is only available in the US, UK and Australia. You can check out a trailer for the game below. Why Netflix's new Stranger Things merch is good news for lovers of cult TV and movieshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/csz8kzUVMj0

http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WDTqs4qsWt3YeKkRDDdv7C.jpg If you've installed the Hive Active Heating system and fancy expanding your smart home credentials, or if you've fancied getting onto the smart home ladder but haven't done it yet - Hive just launched its Autumn Sale to tempt you into taking the plunge. Hive is offering exactly 20% off the majority of its smart home products until the end of the weekend, including the Hive Active Heating Kit which is down from £199 to £159.20. Hive is owned by the same parent company as British Gas, and its flagship product offers you the ability to control your central heating and hot water systems from your smartphone, whether you're at home or away. Hive reckons this system can save you up to £130 on your heating bill each year by ensuring your home is heated only when needed. These days the system goes far beyond that though, and also offers smart lighting, smart plugs and smart sensors which can all be controlled through a central hub, smartphones and tablets or even via Amazon Alexa voice commands. We reviewed the latest Hive Active Heating kit back in the summer and gave it four stars and a 'Recommended' badge. All the deals run until the end of Sunday so you'll need to be decisive to take advantage of this one. See all the deals in the Hive Autumn SaleHive's Autumn Sale deals:Check out TechRadar's deals homepagehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/kjsVd7cQwW8

Up until now, there's never been a need to pay for the extra services or "skills" you can get for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant on Echo devices, but that's no longer the case. That's because Alexa now has a monetization model. It's a move that seems geared toward letting third-party skill developers get some cash back for their efforts and so possibly encourage other developers to start making skills for the platform. As Voicebot.ai discovered while using the Amazon Echo Show, the popular Jeopardy! skill is the first to enjoy the new monetization model. In exchange for $1.99 (about £1.50 / AU$2.60) per month, Echo users will get six extra questions (or "clues," in the game's parlance) per day while playing with Alexa. Amazon tells us the Jeopardy subscription model is US-only, for now. The Jeopardy skill is a particularly good one for Amazon to test the service, as it's found on every Echo device from the affordable and lightweight Amazon Echo Dot to the pricey Show. (It's particularly entertaining on the Show, which presents questions as white text on a blue screen, much as you'd see while watching the actual program on television.) http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JsR8qBndZSSwKqSaHGATid.jpg Image credit: Voicebot.aiThe payment model isn't as predatory as it possibly sounds. Most notably, you only have to pay for the extra questions if you're not an Amazon Prime member, and if you own any kind of Amazon Echo device, there's a good chance you're already a Prime member anyway. The new subscription also doesn't fundamentally change the way the skill works. Before, you only got access to six questions per day, but the "Double Jeopardy" subscription model brings that number up to 12. Pay to sayIt's worth contemplating, though, how popular the developers will find the option when Amazon eventually rolls it out further, considering how common Amazon Prime subscriptions are. One possible answer is that Amazon may simply maintain its existing rewards program for Alexa skills, in which it simply flat-out pays developers for making "eligible skills that customers engage with most." The catch is that the system appears to be highly subjective, with the main criterion for qualification being described like so: "If your Alexa skill qualifies, you will receive an email from the Alexa team by the middle of the following month." Well, that's ... precise. In that context, knowing straight off that you're going to get $1.99 from each new customer who uses the skill seems like a far more appealing bet. But will Alexa lose some of her appeal in the process? Alexa and other voice assistants will get a lot of attention at CES 2018http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/DVCAvfE-Jfs

Never doubt Amazon’s prowess when it comes to innovation. This is the company that turned an online book store into one of the largest companies in the world in a decade’s time and now sells everything under the sun at cheaper prices than outlet stores. But sometimes the company’s ‘innovation’ can be a little … divisive. Take, for example, Amazon Key, a new high-tech package delivery system that sends mail couriers inside your home to drop off deliveries instead of leaving them on the porch where strangers can snag them before you ever get home. In order to achieve this level of white-glove service, Amazon has to take a few liberties with your personal space: You’ll need to install Amazon’s Cloud Cam near your door, and sync your smart home up with an Amazon Key-compatible smart lock. Amazon can then grant its delivery drivers access to your home remotely and send you a live feed of the delivery as it’s happening. If you can get over an Amazon delivery person temporarily stepping into your home, Amazon Key promises to be the bane of package thieves some of us so desperately need. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Uc3pzfbZL3xmZMFHyTNWbh.jpg Amazon Key: Price and release date So how much is Amazon’s futuristic delivery service going to cost you? Once you buy all the components, absolutely nothing. But buying those components - the Amazon Cloud Cam and Amazon Key-compatible smart lock - could be a bit pricey. Right now, Amazon is offering Amazon Prime subscribers a deal that for $249 you’ll get a smart lock, a connected camera and free installation. Should you already own smart lock from Yale or Qwikset, you can buy a Amazon Cloud Cam separately for $120. Once setup, the basic system won’t cost any monthly fee to maintain - but should you want to be able to see more than the last 24 hours worth of clips, there are three additional subscription packages you can choose from: Basic ($6.99/mo, $69/yr) offers access to the last 7 days of motion detection clips for up to 3 cameras Extended ($9.99/mo, $99/yr) offers access to the last 14 days of motion detection clips for up to 5 cameras Pro ($19.99/mo, $199/yr) offers access to the last 30 days of motion detection clips for up to 10 cameras The Amazon Cloud Cam is available to pre-order today, and should ship by the time Amazon’s in-home delivery system goes up and running on November 8. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZvQtXokspP3UknfoaowVLP.jpg How do I get Amazon Key delivery? For starters, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime subscriber, as Amazon is only opening this up to its most loyal fanbase first. If you're not already an Amazon Prime subscriber, you can sign up via this link. Here’s the cool part: Once you've signed up for Amazon Prime and your system is up and running with camera installed and lock on the door, Amazon will enable a Key delivery option automatically at checkout. But before you get any big ideas of ordering a washer from Amazon to watch in horrifying glee as a delivery as a delivery person struggles to carry it up the two flights of stairs to your apartment, there are two major caveats. The first is that Amazon will only allow Amazon Key delivery for around 10 million goods on the website - and only on stuff that a delivery person could reasonably carry by themselves. Which means for now, appliances and large electronics are not included in the service. The other caveat is that while Amazon is an innovator, it’s not an idiot - Amazon is only enabling Amazon Key deliveries for its own drivers. That means it won’t open this service to UPS, FedEx or even the USPS - at least for now. While that may help you sleep easier at night knowing it’s only Amazon who has a key to your home, it’s also problematic for anyone living outside of the 37 cities where Amazon actually handles its own deliveries. Live outside of those 37 US cities and it could be awhile before you get access to Amazon Key. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/f4UcqSeSUFwSYbza7929oT.gif Amazon Key as a way to let in service peopleOf course, Amazon wasn't just thinking about deliveries when it designed the Amazon Key system: it will soon be available to professional services as well. What that means is, say, you want to schedule a dog walker but can't be there to let him or her into the house every day. You could use your Amazon Key setup to grand that person access to your home for short periods of time. If you're not a pet owner, it's OK - Amazon is planning on opening up the service to the 1,200 companies that are part of Amazon's Home Services program. That list includes maid services, pet sitters, repair people and more. Like any other smart lock, you can also send key codes to friends and family members, too, allowing them to come and go from the house without you being there to let them in or see them out. Pretty nifty! Amazon Key safety precautions So how exactly will the system work? As mentioned, once your system is setup you’ll be able to check Amazon Key delivery at checkout. A driver will come to your place as per usual, but instead of leaving the package on your doorstep, the delivery driver can scan the barcode on the side of the package to match it up to your order number. Should everything come back OK, your smart lock will click open and the camera inside the house will turn on and start recording the drop-off. You’ll get a notification on your phone that a delivery is being made, and Amazon will store a copy of the video for 24 hours so you can view it later. The delivery person will place the package close to the entryway of the home and once the delivery is complete, the smart lock will relock as the delivery person exits your home. Now, it's worth pointing out that Amazon Key isn't compatible with other security systems you already have in your home. So, if you have an alarm in the house that needs to be disarmed when someone enters the house, you'll need to turn that off on the day the delivery is slated to happen. Amazon Key for and against The system seems pretty safe, right? For all intents and purposes it is. And yet in a world full of stolen credit card information and password leaks, it can be scary to put the literal keys to your front door in the hands of a big company. And this is Amazon’s biggest obstacle in widespread adoption to Key - people just aren’t all that trusting of big companies at the moment. To play devil's advocate, the idea is relatively well thought-out. The ability to unlock your door is only being granted to Amazon delivery drivers, and only if they are currently carrying a package that’s slated for delivery to your house that day. If they come later with a different package, there’s no way to get in. Then there’s the camera to consider. Any time someone does use the app, the camera will start up and start recording - sending you a real-time feed of the delivery in progress. There’s no Amazon password information being exchanged between you and the driver, and the door lock ensures that no one else will be able to get in after the driver leaves. There are scenarios to consider where someone steals something in your home or a driver doesn’t close your door all the way and the lock doesn’t engage properly, but in the end we’re nearly certain that Amazon Key has to be a better system than leaving a package on your doorstep in broad daylight. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/u6a0FrloOrQ

Amazon is rolling out a controversial new smart home service that will make sure you never miss a delivery again. Amazon Key is exclusive to Prime members, and allows couriers to unlock your front door to drop off packages if you’re not at home to receive them. The controversial element, of course, is that a delivery person will actually be able to step inside your home while you're not there. The service, which is currently being rolled out in the US, is thought-provoking to say the least. As part of the service Amazon has introduced a new Key In-Home Kit, which it's pitching as one of the most affordable Smart Home security solutions on the market. Costing $249 (about £190, AU$320) the In-Home Kit includes an Amazon Key-compatible smart lock and Amazon Cloud Cam indoor security camera. What's more, there is no subscription fee tied with using the camera or the smart lock – so long as you only need the last 24 hours of footage. If users want to keep any Cloud Cam footage from yesterday or the day before they'll have to sign up for one of these plans below. Basic ($6.99/mo, $69/yr) offers access to the last 7 days of motion detection clips for up to 3 camerasExtended ($9.99/mo, $99/yr) offers access to the last 14 days of motion detection clips for up to 5 camerasPro ($19.99/mo, $199/yr) offers access to the last 30 days of motion detection clips for up to 10 camerasAmazon stresses that these In-Home delivery men are the same professionals who deliver your Amazon packages today. Upon arriving at your door, drivers are required to knock or ring and request to unlock the door before they use their Amazon handheld scanner to get in via Amazon Key. Householders will also be kept fully informed during the whole delivery process. On the morning of the delivery, users will receive a notification with an estimated four-hour delivery window. Before the driver arrives at your door you’ll also receive an 'Arriving Now' notification, with the option of watching your door through the Amazon Cloud Cam. Just in case anything looks suspicious, or users want to deny entry while they’re home, users can 'Block Access' via the Amazon Key App at any time. The other thing users will need to keep in mind is that Amazon Key is not compatible with other home security systems, so they’ll need to disarm their home security alarm on the delivery day. As mentioned, you'll need to be an Amazon Prime member to sign up. The Amazon Key service is currently only available in the US cities listed below or you could check its availability in your area by inputting your zip code at this site. Although, we can see this service eventually coming to all countries in which Amazon operates. Atlanta, GAAustin, TX Baltimore, MD Boston, MA Chicago, IL Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH Dallas, TX Denver, CO Detroit, MI Houston, TX Indianapolis, IN Jacksonville, FL Kansas City, KS Los Angeles and Orange County, CA Louisville, KY Miami, FL Milwaukee, WI Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN Nashville, TN Newark, NJ Orlando, FL Philadelphia, PA Phoenix, AZ Pittsburgh, PA Portland, OR Richmond, VA Sacramento, CA Salt Lake City, UT San Antonio, TX San Diego, CASan Francisco Bay area, CA Sarasota, FL Seattle and Eastside, WA St. Louis, MO Tampa, FL Washington, DC metro areaAmazon has been on a mission to integrate itself into homes with its Echo-powered smart speakers and screens, and Amazon Key seems like the ultimate way for the brand to become an essential part of your smart home setup. All the smart home devices you need to build your digital homehttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/dq9lJzq27oU

Thinking of starting your own website? Incomedia is offering TechRadar readers the chance to download its brilliant WebSite X5 site-building software free. WebSite X5 comes with a set of great-looking templates. Just pick the design you want (or choose a blank one), enter some basic information like your site title and category, then create your site map. Once that's done, you're ready to start building your pages using WebSite X5’s straightforward site builder. Just drag an element (a text box, picture, HTML5 animation, media file or HTML snippet), then click the ‘Content’ button to edit it. WebSite X5 includes a rich text editor, plus a photo editing tool that lets you flip, rotate and apply filters to your images without leaving the program. When you've finished, you can upload your site to the web via an FTP connection, save it to disk, or save the project file so you can edit it later. Don’t have your own web hosting? Don’t worry – there are free options available from services like 000webhost.com and x10Hosting. More advanced features like shopping carts and blogs are available in WebSite X5 Evolution, but this exclusive free version has everything you need to get your first site up and running. Grab it today and get started. Download Incomedia WebSite X5 free http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/RESiderj2Cg

As expected, everyone's favorite 1-for-1 vouchers solution, the ENTERTAINER has launched its range of products for 2018. However, there is no physical book this time around and the only way to utilize these offers is through the app on your iOS or Android smartphone. Donna Benton, CEO explained how books only make up 6% of the total sales and the digital-only direction for the company was very clear moving forward. “As we’ve transitioned from print to digital we’ve learnt so much about our customers and how they like to use the ENTERTAINER. The insights we get from app users means that we’ve been able to constantly adapt and improve our products based on their behaviours and preferences.” Benton also announced the split of Beauty and Fitness into two separate products- body for wellness spas, and, fitness for gyms and fitness studios. What's new on ENTERTAINER 2018Other than offers from 30% more merchants members will also get access to ENTERTAINER getaways, an in-app booking engine working with over 550,000 hotels in 200+ countries. “With ENTERTAINER getaways we’re bringing our customers a seamless way to browse a huge range of exclusive hotel room rates and book directly from the ENTERTAINER app. And finally, ENTERTAINER goods, an e-commerce site launched earlier this month that gives UAE members access to savings is expanding. Categories that will allow you to spend your smiles (virtual currency earned by using the ENTERTAINER) now include the following: Fashion & Retail will feature ‘Spend & Save’ offers from leading retailers including Magrabi, Steve Madden, Kurt Geiger, LIALI Jewellery, Time House and many more. Everyday Services will feature 50% off popular service providers including Champion Cleaners, Green Parking, Shampooch and many more. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8kysY7kHHWkDuYPDjy8fNo.jpg Donna Benton, CEO showing the first ENTERTAINERWhen is it available and how much does it cost?The 2018 ENTERTAINER products will be available to purchase through the website or the app from the 25th October. Until the end of November, customers can save AED 100 off the regular price of AED 495 on all 2018 products. This will also unlock 2017 offers plus include a selected FREE product of your choice from the following. Cheers DubaiDubai BodyDubai FitnessTravel 2018 (including Hotels Worldwide and ENTERTAINER getaways).The full range of products in the UAE includes Dubai, Fine Dining, Cheers Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Cheers Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Body, Dubai Body - and (new for 2018) Dubai Fitness, which features 50% off classes, memberships and passes at gyms and studios across Dubai. ‘The ENTERTAINER’ app is available in English and Arabic for free download on iOS and Android. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/3T74Z5kdKUo

Windows 10 Fall Creators Update has a nifty security feature which perhaps hasn’t been trumpeted by Microsoft as much as it should: namely anti-ransomware defenses. In a blog post detailing how the Fall Creators Update is being deployed in a phased rollout (as all these big upgrades are), Microsoft mentioned that it had hardened security and added protection against ransomware. Specifically, the main countermeasure is a ‘controlled folder access’ feature which is activated in the Windows Defender Security Center app in Windows 10, in the Virus & Threat Protection section, as the Register reports. It’s a simple slider to turn the feature on, and then specified protected folders are locked down, with only authorized apps able to make changes to the files within these folders. As Microsoft explains: “This feature protects your files from tampering, in real-time, by locking folders so that ransomware and other unauthorized apps can’t access them. It’s like putting your crown jewels in a safe whose key only you hold.” By default, common folders where user data is stored (like the Documents, Pictures, and Videos folders) are protected by the controlled folder access system, but you can manually add whichever folders you want to be defended against malware. Solid securityRemember, you’ll need to have upgraded to the Fall Creators Update to get this feature, and not everyone will have been offered it yet (if you can’t wait to get beefed up security, you can always check out our guide on how to download and install the update right now). Microsoft noted elsewhere: “[This] and other security technologies [introduced in the Fall Creators Update] protect against persistent ransomware campaigns like Cerber, Locky, and Spora, as well as global outbreaks like WannaCry, and Petya.” And indeed a third-party has tested the new anti-ransomware feature against Locky, and it successfully thwarted the attack. So it sounds promising from the off. In its post detailing the Fall Creators Update deployment process, Microsoft also noted that it had tested the update with more Windows 10 devices in advance this time around, which should theoretically mean a smoother (and perhaps faster) rollout. That said, we have already seen some issues, although that’s not uncommon with an upgrade of this size and scope (if you’ve encountered any gremlins, we’ve got another guide on how to fix common problems with the Fall Creators Update). The download size of the update is also smaller to the tune of 25%, Microsoft notes, because of the use of ‘differential downloads’ (at least if you grab the upgrade via Windows Update). Some of our best laptops of 2017 run Windows 10http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/tH_HvYi-h64

There's the standard Google Home speaker, and then there's the compact Google Home Mini, and then there's the powerful, high-end Google Home Max - could Google also be working on a Google Home with a screen to rival the Amazon Echo Show? Apparently so, according to bits of code found in the new Google app by the ever-diligent Android Police. The new device is apparently codenamed Quartz and will come with the ability to display videos from YouTube, show recipes from the web, bring up a weather forecast, and so on, with everything controlled by your voice. This isn't the first time we've heard this rumor: gossip about a screen-equipped Google Home was circulating before the company's big hardware event in October. Back then the screen was said to be 7 inches in size, just like the Echo Show from Amazon. Not so fast?As interesting as the new sections of code are, they're not yet conclusive proof that a Google-Home-with-video-and-pictures is indeed on the way. As Android Police points out, It's possible all these features refer to content that can be thrown to a Chromecast rather than shown on the device itself. It could even be a device to display content on a connected phone or tablet - the code mentions menus and buttons, but it's not clear whether these are physical, hardware features or something displayed through software. However, given the rumors we heard last month, and all the Google apps it would be useful to have on a device like this - YouTube, Google Maps, Google Photos - we'd say it's looking pretty likely the Google Home family is about to be extended yet again. Are you ready for the Black Friday deals coming your way in the US?http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/OHpIYV4FDEI

Update: Harman Kardon has finally lifted the curtain on its Cortana smart speaker – we now know the Invoke's release date (October 22) and final price ($199). We have an Invoke review unit of our own that we've been testing and will have a review live on the site shortly. Original article continues below... We have truly entered the age of the digital assistant. When Apple first introduced Siri to our iPhones back in 2011 it seemed like a novelty without much purpose. Now digital assistants are establishing themselves as a solid part of everyday life, not only on our mobile devices but in our homes too. Both the Amazon Echo and the Google Home have set themselves up as must-have accessories for early adopters of smart speaker home technology. With two years having passed since the first Echo getting released, there have been rumors about Microsoft joining the fray, and now we’re starting to see some solid info about the speaker from hi-fi speaker manufacturer Harman Kardon that’ll house Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana in your home. Here you will find all the information we have about Harman Kardon’s Cortana-powered speaker, the Invoke. Cut to the chaseWhat is it? A smart speaker powered by Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana, made by Harman KardonWhen is it out? October 22, 2017What will it cost? $199 (around £150, AU$250 – although, Harman has not announced availability in either of those territories yet)Invoke release dateWord just came out that the Harman Kardon Invoke will be available starting on October 22, 2017 on Amazon and Best Buy. Neither retailer is offering pre-order pages for the products but, thankfully, you won't have to wait long to get your hands on a Cortana speaker of your own. With a fall release, the speaker is here for Black Friday. Obviously there's no guarantee that it's going to be discounted but given the likelihood of Amazon's Echo and Dot going on sale, it would be a shrewd move to do a small discount. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/sXpRj4rAMBVjL7sRgFMcNA.jpg Invoke featuresWhile information is fairly thin on the ground about the capabilities of the speaker, it is safe to assume that it will follow in the same vein as the Amazon Echo and the Google Home. It will certainly be able to play music, answer questions and control your smart home products. In terms of playing music, we know from a recently discovered device setup app that the Invoke (and any Cortana-powered speaker) should have the ability to select which music app is the source for your music, meaning you can play music from Spotify, Pandora, and others. This feature was revealed when Microsoft released a Device Setup app in April, leading us to think that a Cortana-powered speaker was imminent. Smart home product integration is still slightly untested ground, so it will be interesting to see which products play nicely with this first generation device. What looks like it will really set Invoke apart is its ability to make phone calls, a feature that is still missing from all the current competitors on the market. This will technically take the form of a Skype voice call, but using an app for calls looks like it may be the way voice calling is going, with recent rumors hinting that Apple will be replacing voice calls with Facetime Audio on iOS 11. Invoke designThe Invoke looks more than a little like the Amazon Echo, although when creating a speaker with 360 degree sound it's probably inevitable that you’re going to create something fairly cylindrical. It's crafted out of metal, and looks like it’s going to come in either a chrome or black finish. http://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8p62mEd5GLtCc4nTeRoN5j.jpg A smart move? Harman Kardon has a reputation for high quality speakers so one of the things we can be certain of is that the Invoke will sound good. What’s uncertain is the price tag. We're assuming that with its premium looks and the likelihood of premium guts, it will almost certainly come at a premium price. With the Apple HomePod scheduled for a December release, Samsung working on the Bixby-powered Vega, and Amazon both releasing the Echo Show and opening up its development tool-kit so that anyone can make a speaker with their mic set-up, the market is likely to get very crowded in the next few years. Microsoft needs to find a unique selling point for its smart speaker and it will be interesting to see if the Invoke is positioned as the ‘premium’ option. Want to check out the competition? Here's everything we know so far about the Apple HomePod.http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/digital-home/~4/v4ffJBv_U4c

Samsung DeX already allows users to access a full Windows 10 desktop from their smartphones, and now the company is bringing Linux to the likes of the Galaxy S8. The DeX is a compact docking station which you can hook up to a display, and along with a mouse and keyboard, it will soon be used to facilitate a full Linux desktop experience driven by your phone. This is courtesy of the Linux on Galaxy app, which, as the name suggests, brings Linux to your mobile, allowing developers to work with whatever their favourite flavor of Linux distro happens to be right on their handset – with DeX further powering up the experience in allowing it to be realized on a large monitor screen. At this point, the app is still being trialled, so this is something that’s still in the pipeline right now. You can sign up here to be notified of when the project will be ready for public consumption. Black Friday could see some tempting discounts on Samsung phoneshttp://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qZqneWGizqYviHoJ43NMsD.jpg Gaming glorySamsung further boasted that DeX is taking strides on the gaming front, allowing some mobile games to be played in full-screen with a large display, again with mouse and keyboard control. The firm noted that it has forged key partnerships with big-name game developers to enable the likes of Vainglory, Survival Arena, BombSquad and Lineage 2 Revolution to be brought into the DeX fold. Via: CNXSoft You could be running Linux on one of our best business mobileshttp://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/techradar/software-news/~4/2Ej35E8Tg8w