Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Former Olympus chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa comes down from the mount, into police custody]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/16/olympus-tsuyoshi-kikukawa-arrested-in-tokyo/#comments If you've been following the latest camera industry accounting scandal, then you're probably well aware that all is not well at Olympus. The Japanese company took its latest blow today when former chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa was arrested in Tokyo on suspicion of having falsified financial statements. The Tokyo prosecutor's office released a statement saying that two other former execs were also brought into police custody, including Hisashi Mori, a former executive vice president, and Hideo Yamada, a former auditor. Olympus is also faced with the possibility of being delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange -- the decision has been deferred awaiting further evidence. So what does all this mean for the scandal-ridden camera maker's position in the industry? Little, perhaps, from a consumer perspective, considering that Olympus has continued to announce and ship new products, including the well-received EM-5. The fate of its former executives, however, is less auspicious.

Former Olympus chairman Tsuyoshi Kikukawa comes down from the mount, into police custody originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountingarrestarrestedbusinessfraudillegalindustryjapanlegalmoneyolympuspoliceproblemraidraidedscamscandalShuichi TakayamaShuichiTakayamatokyoTsuyoshi KikukawaTsuyoshiKikukawaThu, 16 Feb 2012 09:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Company turns to bribery for 5 star Amazon reviews]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/company-turns-to-bribery-for-5-star-amazon-reviews/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/company-turns-to-bribery-for-5-star-amazon-reviews/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/company-turns-to-bribery-for-5-star-amazon-reviews/#comments In a world where word of mouth and the judgment of the hive mind is worth more than any ad or the ruminations of many professional reviewers, companies will do just about anything to ensure a strong rating on outlets like Amazon. It's clear that dummy accounts simply aren't the way to go, but what about bribing your existing customers? Apparently VIP Deals thought that route was perfectly acceptable and offered rebates to people who rated their products on Amazon. Now, the offer letter (which you can see at the more coverage link) doesn't explicitly ask for a five star review, but it is strongly suggested that the company expects one in exchange for receiving the product for free -- in this case, a leather Kindle Fire case. VIP's reviews and its products have all since been booted from Amazon, but it certainly raises plenty of questions about the ease with which some companies are able to game the system and how a reputable outlet can protect its customers from ratings scams. Hit up the source for the full story.

Company turns to bribery for 5 star Amazon reviews originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbriberyratingratingsrebaterebatesscamscamsvip dealsVipDealsSat, 28 Jan 2012 14:03:00 EST<![CDATA[iPads replaced with clay, sold to unsuspecting Canadians]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/ipads-replaced-with-clay-sold-by-retailer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/ipads-replaced-with-clay-sold-by-retailer/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/18/ipads-replaced-with-clay-sold-by-retailer/#comments That fuzzy sensation we get when unboxing a new toy gadget is the fuel that keeps us going at Engadget. A feeling a few unlucky Canadian's were deprived of, after buying what they believed to be an iPad 2 actually turned out to be a slab of clay. In a calculated scam, crooks purchased real iPads, replaced them with terra-cotta tablets, then returned them to the store in re-sealed boxes. The fakes then found their way back on to the shelves, and into customer's baskets. It was Mark Sandhu who first reported the incident after gifting his wife something a little too slate-like on Christmas Eve. Initially Future Shop wouldn't refund Sandhu, possibly believing him to be the scammer; it was only after taking the story to CTV, and up to ten other cases coming to light -- including some from Best Buy -- that the retailer took the claim seriously. Future Shop has since issued a refund, and given Mark a real iPad 2 for his troubles. Next time, he might want to try an official retailer -- or not.

iPads replaced with clay, sold to unsuspecting Canadians originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebest buyBestBuycanadaclayclay ipadclay ipad 2ClayIpadClayIpad2fakefake ipadFakeIpadfuture shopFutureShopipad 2Ipad2scamvancouverWed, 18 Jan 2012 21:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/09/seagate-teams-with-monster-for-staggeringly-overpriced-momentus/#commentsToo lazy to pop your existing HDD out in favor of a Momentus XT solid state hybrid drive? There's a Monster for that. In what has to be one of the poorest partnership decisions of the new millennium, Seagate has decided to hitch its wagon to a company famous for scamming customers, suing small businesses and charging a fortune for things that... well, shouldn't cost a fortune. Here at CES, Seagate and Monster Digital are introducing the Dakar series of upgrade kits, which will be offered with 750GB and 500GB models of Seagate's Momentus XT drive at suggested retail prices of $289.99 and $269.99, respectively. For those keeping count, the drives alone will run you around $100 (500GB) and $185 (750GB), which means that you're paying well over a Benjamin for the following: software (not needed; download cloning apps for free), cables (a couple of bucks on Monoprice), an instructional video (Monster should actually pay you to watch this) and a screwdriver (you have ten -- just look). Great product launch, guys. Just great.

Continue reading Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits

Seagate teams with Monster for staggeringly overpriced Momentus XT upgrade kits originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cesces 2012Ces2012Dakarhard driveHardDrivehddhybrid driveHybridDriveMomentus XTMomentusXtmonstermonster digitalMonsterDigitalrip offRipOffscamSeagatesolid state driveSolidStateDrivessdSSHDMon, 09 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Olympus' Tokyo offices raided over accounting scandal]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/olympus-tokyo-offices-raided-over-accounting-scandal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/olympus-tokyo-offices-raided-over-accounting-scandal/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/olympus-tokyo-offices-raided-over-accounting-scandal/#comments Eke. A nearly-century old outfit is currently giving up office space to Japanese prosecutors, who today moved in on Olympus' Tokyo facilities in a raid surrounding an ongoing accounting investigation. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters, the scandal involves many billions of dollars -- "irregularities" that have raised serious concerns about the outfit's handling of funds. It's bruited that the company has been running a scheme to conceal over $1.5 billion in investment losses, and we're told that the raid should pass right on through Olympus' headquarters and into the "homes of executives involved in the cover-up." All of this follows an admission last month that the firm had used "inflated payments made in acquisitions in recent years," and while it remains unclear what all of this means for its future, there's no doubt a few dark months are ahead as things sort themselves out. So much for looking pretty for the camera, eh?

Olympus' Tokyo offices raided over accounting scandal originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accountingbusinessillegalindustryjapanlegalmoneyolympuspoliceproblemraidraidedscamscandaltokyoTue, 20 Dec 2011 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Google admits sensitive email accounts have been hacked, some users knew months ago (update: US says no government accounts compromised)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/google-admits-sensitive-email-accounts-have-been-hacked-some-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/google-admits-sensitive-email-accounts-have-been-hacked-some-us/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/google-admits-sensitive-email-accounts-have-been-hacked-some-us/#comments The Contagio security blog posted evidence back in February of targeted attacks against government and military officials on Gmail. Today, nearly four months later, Google has finally admitted this is true: hundreds of personal accounts have been compromised by hackers it believes to be working out of Jinan, the capital of China's Shandong province. The accounts include those of "senior U.S. government officials, Chinese political activists, officials in several Asian countries (predominantly South Korea), military personnel and journalists." The hijackers' aim appears to have been to spy on their targets using Google's automatic forwarding function. But unlike the PSN fiasco, Google insists its internal systems "have not been affected." Instead it seems the hackers used a phishing scam, possibly directing users to a spoof Gmail website before requesting their credentials. Google says its own "abuse detection systems" disrupted the campaign -- but in a footnote right down at the bottom of their official blog page they also credit Contagio and user reports.

Update: And in comes China's response, courtesy of Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei. "Allegations that the Chinese government supports hacking activities are completely unfounded and made with ulterior motives." Ok then, that settles that.

Update 2: And the saga continues... According to an AP story published earlier today, the Obama administration has stated that the FBI is looking into allegations that hackers broke into Google's email system, but denied that any official government accounts were compromised. A White House spokesman went on to say that government employees are free to use Gmail for personal purposes, and can not be sure who in the administration might have been affected by the attack. Let's just hope they know how to leave the sensitive stuff at the office.

Google admits sensitive email accounts have been hacked, some users knew months ago (update: US says no government accounts compromised) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ChinaChineseCredentialsemailemailsGmailGoogleGooglemailhackhackerhackinghijackhijackerhijackershijackingKoreaKoreanloginloginspasswordphishingscamsecurityspoofThu, 02 Jun 2011 18:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Rogue modder rips off stingy consumer, puzzles repairmen... all with a USB thumb drive]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/rogue-modder-rips-off-stingy-consumer-puzzles-repairmen-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/rogue-modder-rips-off-stingy-consumer-puzzles-repairmen-all/http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/11/rogue-modder-rips-off-stingy-consumer-puzzles-repairmen-all/#comments
Welcome to today's episode of "You Get What You Pay For," starring some poor sap in Russia who bought an external hard drive in China for a "very, very low price." It seemed like a bargain, until the schmo noticed that video files were picking up from the tail end, as if the preceding footage had vanished. When the folks at a local repair shop tore the disk apart they found a dinky 128MB thumb drive running in a loop, emptying itself when full only to start saving more data. Laugh all you want, but the repair guys (and us, frankly) are still scratching their heads as to how those scam artists pulled off this mod in the first place.

[Thanks, David S.]

Rogue modder rips off stingy consumer, puzzles repairmen... all with a USB thumb drive originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chinaexternal hard driveexternal hard drivesExternalHardDriveExternalHardDrivesflash driveflash drivesFlashDriveFlashDriveshard drivehard drive repairhard drivesHardDriveHardDriveRepairHardDrivesrepairRussiascamscamsthumb drivethumb drivesThumbDriveThumbDrivesUSB stickUsbStickMon, 11 Apr 2011 06:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Hacker nets two years in jail after pilfering £7 million in virtual poker chips]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/hacker-nets-two-years-in-jail-after-pilfering-7-million-in-virt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/hacker-nets-two-years-in-jail-after-pilfering-7-million-in-virt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/23/hacker-nets-two-years-in-jail-after-pilfering-7-million-in-virt/#comments Crime, it just doesn't pay. Well, actually it does, to the tune of £53,612, but then you get caught and you have to work off that salary with two years at Her Majesty's pleasure. One Ashley Mitchell, an enterprising 29-year old from Devon, England, managed to break into Farmville maker Zynga's mainframe, hijack the identities of two of its staffers, and procure for himself a cool £7 million ($11.4m) in virtual poker chips. He then proceeded to sell about a third of them for the above sum, while consuming a big chunk of the rest in satisfying his own gambling habit. Ashley already had a history of digital malfeasance, having previously hacked into the systems of Torbay Council, his former employer, and is now on the receiving end of a two-year prison term for his current crime plus the activation of a 30-week suspended sentence. There's a warning in this tale of woe for us all, however -- Monsieur Mitchell piggybacked on his neighbors' unsecured WiFi networks in order to do his dastardly deeds. Slap a password on that router, won't you?

Hacker nets two years in jail after pilfering £7 million in virtual poker chips originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cashcrimecriminalgamblinggaminghackhackerhackinginternetjaillawlegalmainframemoneyonlineonline pokerOnlinePokerpokerprisonsafetyscamsecuritysentencesentencedstealingtheftthiefukunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwebzyngaWed, 23 Mar 2011 08:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy charges $30 for PS3 firmware update, laughs all the way to the bank]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/best-buy-charges-30-for-ps3-firmware-update-laughs-all-the-way/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/best-buy-charges-30-for-ps3-firmware-update-laughs-all-the-way/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/best-buy-charges-30-for-ps3-firmware-update-laughs-all-the-way/#comments In case you hadn't noticed by now, Best Buy's Geek Squad isn't always the most scrupulous sort, but their latest attempt to upsell consumers is truly off the charts. We've confirmed for ourselves that the Staten Island, NY store is offering 120GB PS3 Slims for $329.98, explaining away the surcharge as their fee for a firmware upgrade. In case you've never booted up a PS3 yourself, let us explain the sheer ridiculousness at work here: a system update requires about three button presses, and some discs prompt you automatically. Hell, if you want to play online or access the PlayStation Store, you don't even have a choice -- ever since Other OS got Sony's goat, firmware updates have been mandatory across the board. Still, it's hard to say no when Best Buy employees are this polite -- when we explained to a rep that we already had a PS3, he graciously offered us an update anyhow... for just $29.98.

Best Buy charges $30 for PS3 firmware update, laughs all the way to the bank originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Best BuyBestBuycustomer serviceCustomerServicefirmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdateGeek SquadGeekSquadPlayStationPlayStation 3Playstation3PSPS3ripoffripoffsRipoffs and scamsRipoffsAndScamsscamscamsSonyupsellupsellingMon, 04 Oct 2010 20:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Dear Friend: 92 percent of all email is spam, says Symantec]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/dear-friend-92-percent-of-all-email-is-spam-says-symantec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/dear-friend-92-percent-of-all-email-is-spam-says-symantec/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/12/dear-friend-92-percent-of-all-email-is-spam-says-symantec/#comments
This statistic may or may not come as a surprise, depending on how closely you monitor your email inbox. Symantec has released an estimate that 92 percent of all email is spam, up from 89 percent last year. The good news? Phishing attacks declined 5 percent this year, and if we had to make a guess, we'd say attacks of listening to Phish are on an upswing. Check out another one of our favorite example spams below.

Continue reading Dear Friend: 92 percent of all email is spam, says Symantec

Dear Friend: 92 percent of all email is spam, says Symantec originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>emailjunk mailJunkMailphishingscamscamsspamstatstatisticsstatssymantecThu, 12 Aug 2010 19:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Windows CE-based ATMs especially generous (and vulnerable to hackers)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/some-windows-ce-based-atms-especially-generous-and-vulnerable-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/some-windows-ce-based-atms-especially-generous-and-vulnerable-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/29/some-windows-ce-based-atms-especially-generous-and-vulnerable-t/#comments
Speaking at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas, a fellow named Barnaby Jack (really!) used custom software to hack Windows CE-based ATMs on stage. After using an industry standard key to gain entry to the machines (apparently many ATM owners are too lazy to install new locks) Jack was able to load a rootkit on the device using a USB thumb drive. From that point, it was just a matter of running another program that caused all the cash therein to shoot out in a comical manner. The machines used in the presentation were manufactured by Trannax and Triton, both of which have have had a chance to send a security patch to customers prior to the demonstration. However, there are four different machines in common use that are still vulnerable. And no, he won't tell us which ones.

Some Windows CE-based ATMs especially generous (and vulnerable to hackers) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atmbarnaby jackBarnabyJackblack hatBlackHathackhackerhackingmoneyscamtrannaxtritonwindiows ceWindiowsCewindowsThu, 29 Jul 2010 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Enso's zenPad is vaporware, get refunds while they last (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/09/ensos-zenpad-is-vaporware-get-refunds-while-they-last/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/09/ensos-zenpad-is-vaporware-get-refunds-while-they-last/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/09/ensos-zenpad-is-vaporware-get-refunds-while-they-last/#comments Did you order a Enso zenPad? If so, you'll be happy to hear that the company has decided on a concrete release date; its website is now ticking down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until May 8th, when Enso claims they'll finally ship the rebranded Smit MID. Problem is, if you ordered your zenPad on March 22nd -- the day we wrote about it -- you will have waited 47 days by the time the device ships, exactly two days too many to get a PayPal refund. But more importantly, manufacturer Smit has now disavowed any knowledge of a deal, and Enso itself has admitted that the zenPad as such does not currently exist. We've done quite a bit of digging and even spoke with an Enso founder to get the whole story. Enough promises have now been broken and lies told that if we were you, we'd request refunds ASAP, but if you still want to hang on for a chance at a $155 Android tablet, you can hear the whole tale right after the break.

Update: We just spoke to Enso CEO Alberto Armandi, who says that the company has now secured the necessary funding to make good on orders, and promises that he will ship us a zenPad for review within two weeks. We'll revisit this story then. Meanwhile, read how we got to this juncture after the break.

Continue reading Enso's zenPad is vaporware, get refunds while they last (update)

Enso's zenPad is vaporware, get refunds while they last (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alberto ArmandiAlbertoArmandiandroidandroid tabletAndroidTabletbuyer bewareBuyerBewareeBayEnsoMaurizio ColarossiMaurizioColarossiOlivier LalondeOlivierLalonderefundrefundsrip-offrip-offsripoffripoffsscamscamsscams and fraudsscams and rip-offsScamsAndFraudsScamsAndRip-offsShenzen State Micro TechnologyShenzenStateMicroTechnologyShenzhenSmittablet pcTabletPczenPadFri, 09 Apr 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Newegg terminates supplier relationship over counterfeit Core i7 CPUs]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/08/intel-and-newegg-pass-the-blame-for-counterfeit-core-i7-chips/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/08/intel-and-newegg-pass-the-blame-for-counterfeit-core-i7-chips/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/08/intel-and-newegg-pass-the-blame-for-counterfeit-core-i7-chips/#commentsThis weekend, up to 300 Newegg customers who pulled the trigger on a new Intel Core i7-920 processor found themselves puzzling over a clever fake instead. Who's to blame? It's not exactly clear -- Newegg initially said that the processors were "demo units," but has now posted a statement to Facebook saying that supplier IPEX shipped counterfeit chips and has had its contract revoked. That's good news for D&H Distributing, another Newegg supplier that responded to an initial wave of finger-pointing by issuing legal nastygrams to sites covering the story, thus ruining whatever good vibes the truth's generated.

Finally, here's the statement Intel just sent us, explaining in no uncertain terms that these are counterfeit parts:
"Intel has been made aware of a limited number of counterfeit i7 920 packages in the marketplace, specifically Newegg, and is working to how many and/or where they are being sold. The examples we have seen are not Intel products but are counterfeits. Buyers should contact their place of purchase for a replacement and/or should contact their local law enforcement agency if the place of purchase refuses to help.

Intel is getting samples to inspect and until then we can say that everything in the package appears fake. Some of the photos of the processor look like it is a casting and not even a real processor of any kind. Newegg has moved quickly to replace the suspect units."
No matter who's at fault here, the damage has been done. We'll never build another PC without losing precious seconds carefully examining its CPU first.

[Thanks, Cody C.]

Newegg terminates supplier relationship over counterfeit Core i7 CPUs originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core 2010core i7core i7-920Core2010CoreI7CoreI7-920counterfeitCPUdhdh distributingDhDistributingfakei7intelknockoffNeweggprocessorripoffscamMon, 08 Mar 2010 20:58:00 EST<![CDATA[NewEgg sells 300 counterfeit Core i7-920 CPUs, KIRFers pump their fists]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/07/newegg-sells-300-counterfeit-core-i7-920-cpus-is-now-investiga/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/07/newegg-sells-300-counterfeit-core-i7-920-cpus-is-now-investiga/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/07/newegg-sells-300-counterfeit-core-i7-920-cpus-is-now-investiga/#commentsOops. Over the weekend, it seems as if 300 or so unlucky individuals were shipped a counterfeit processor from the normally reliable warehouses at NewEgg, and Hard|OCP has the images (and video) to prove it. Vincent Waller couldn't have possibly been more eager to receive the Core i7-920 that he had ordered, but upon unboxing it, he realized that he had received a well-disguised fake. After a fair bit of digging, it seems as if one of NewEgg's "long time partners" (D&H Distributing) got ahold of 300 fakes in a batch of 2,000, though not everyone's buying the "it was an honest mistake" line -- especially when you consider that said company has already issued cease-and-desist letters to the sites who published the news. At any rate, NewEgg has already arranged for an authentic CPU to be rushed to Mr. Waller, and it's purportedly working around the clock in order to make things right with any other negatively affected customers. Hop on past the break for a look at the knockoff, particularly if you just took delivery of a shiny new Core i7.

Continue reading NewEgg sells 300 counterfeit Core i7-920 CPUs, KIRFers pump their fists

NewEgg sells 300 counterfeit Core i7-920 CPUs, KIRFers pump their fists originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>core 2010core i7core i7-920Core2010CoreI7CoreI7-920counterfeitCPUfakeintelknockoffNewEggnewegg.comprocessorripoffscamvideoSun, 07 Mar 2010 18:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy's $40 'pre-optimization' determined to be worthless, iPhone earbuds determined to be white]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/best-buys-40-pre-optimization-determined-to-be-worthless-ip/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/best-buys-40-pre-optimization-determined-to-be-worthless-ip/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/best-buys-40-pre-optimization-determined-to-be-worthless-ip/#comments
Best Buy's $40 'pre-optimization' determined to be worthless, iPhone earbuds determined to be white
Have you tried to buy a laptop or desktop at Best Buy lately? If so, you've probably been hit for a $39.99 "pre-optimization" fee, an extra charge that you just couldn't avoid. The cost goes toward covering the meager living expenses of some poor Geek Squad employee -- and to keep their retro gaming habit in check. In exchange those workers laboriously go through your machine and "optimize" it, removing some trialware and, apparently, enabling status bars. Supposedly the machines are faster and easier to use after this service, but Consumerist and Consumer Reports tag-teamed to make sure. The results? Not good. In most cases there was no performance increase, though in one instance the machine was 32 percent slower! Laptops were also found to be left in suspend mode, sometimes with software installs and Windows Updates half-completed. The worst part is that stores often won't sell you a machine that hasn't had this "service" performed. That's what we call shady behavior -- the sort we'd expect to see at the competition.

Continue reading Best Buy's $40 'pre-optimization' determined to be worthless, iPhone earbuds determined to be white

Best Buy's $40 'pre-optimization' determined to be worthless, iPhone earbuds determined to be white originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuyoptimizationpre-optimizationripoffscamtrialwareTue, 05 Jan 2010 02:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Steorn Orbo livestream begins: Look, fairies!]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/steorn-orbo-livestream-begins-look-fairies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/steorn-orbo-livestream-begins-look-fairies/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/15/steorn-orbo-livestream-begins-look-fairies/#comments We're not going to spend any more time on this than absolutely necessary. After all, Steorn's claims haven't changed a bit in the three years since the histrionics began. But we will point you to Steorn's live free energy demonstration so that you can ponder for yourselves how Orbo "uses magnets to gain energy" on a trio of live cams. If you look closely, you might even see a leprechaun dancing after the break.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Continue reading Steorn Orbo livestream begins: Look, fairies!

Steorn Orbo livestream begins: Look, fairies! originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 03:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>energyfree energyFreeEnergymagnetmagneticorboscamsteornTue, 15 Dec 2009 03:40:00 EST<![CDATA[Molinker is no more on the App Store -- ratings scam results in expulsion]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/molinker-is-no-more-on-the-app-store-ratings-scam-results-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/molinker-is-no-more-on-the-app-store-ratings-scam-results-in/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/08/molinker-is-no-more-on-the-app-store-ratings-scam-results-in/#commentsWell, here's the happy side to the police state known as Apple's App Store. One of the more prolific app makers out there, Molinker, has been recently unceremoniously expelled from the Apple orchard due to its manipulation of app ratings and reviews. As it turns out, Molinker has been massaging the truth by pumping out false five star reviews for its wares, and now Phil Schiller himself has stepped in and pulled the company's whole catalog -- consisting of more than 1,000 apps -- seemingly permanently:

Yes, this developer's apps have been removed from the App Store and their ratings no longer appear either.

So the App Store is now a bunch of travel guides lighter and Mr. Schiller gets a "good boy" badge from the blog brigade. Good news all around then.

Molinker is no more on the App Store -- ratings scam results in expulsion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appapp storeappleappsAppStoreethicsexpellediphoneiphone appsIphoneAppsipod touchIpodTouchmanipulationmolinkerphil schillerPhilSchillerratingsrejectedreviewsscamunethicalTue, 08 Dec 2009 07:47:00 EST<![CDATA[UK T-Mobile customer data sold to cold callers, responsible staff to be prosecuted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/#comments Let's be honest, who here is actually surprised that underpaid and overworked data workers would sell on our details for a few extra quid? Given the number of uninvited calls to our unlisted phone numbers, we know for a fact that somebody has been dishing our personal contacts to those Nigerian princes and caring loan consolidators, so it's no shock to learn that T-Mobile employees have been fingered for committing the deed and are now facing prosecution. We're told that inappropriately leaked information made its way into the hands of brokers, who then "cold-called the customers as their contracts were due to expire" without T-Mob's knowledge. Disappointed by the failure of current fines to discourage such illegal information trade, British Justice Minister Michael Wills has even called for "custodial sentences" to be levied against the poor slobs responsible. So, if you're scoring at home, that's now two black eyes for T-Mobile when it comes to keeping our data safe. For shame.

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UK T-Mobile customer data sold to cold callers, responsible staff to be prosecuted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contact detailsContactDetailsdataillegalinfoinformationlawmobilepersonalpersonal datapersonal detailsPersonalDataPersonalDetailsprivacyprivatescamscamsstafft-mobilet-mobile ukT-mobileUkukTue, 17 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[UK T-Mobile customer data sold to cold callers, responsible staff to be prosecuted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/17/uk-t-mobile-customers-data-sold-on-to-cold-callers-responsible/#comments Let's be honest, who here is actually surprised that underpaid and overworked data workers would sell on our details for a few extra quid? Given the number of uninvited calls to our unlisted phone numbers, we know for a fact that somebody has been dishing our personal contacts to those Nigerian princes and caring loan consolidators, so it's no shock to learn that T-Mobile employees have been fingered for committing the deed and are now facing prosecution. We're told that inappropriately leaked information made its way into the hands of brokers, who then "cold-called the customers as their contracts were due to expire" without T-Mob's knowledge. Disappointed by the failure of current fines to discourage such illegal information trade, British Justice Minister Michael Wills has even called for "custodial sentences" to be levied against the poor slobs responsible. So, if you're scoring at home, that's now two black eyes for T-Mobile when it comes to keeping our data safe. For shame.

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UK T-Mobile customer data sold to cold callers, responsible staff to be prosecuted originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>contact detailsContactDetailsdataillegalinfoinformationlawpersonalpersonal datapersonal detailsPersonalDataPersonalDetailsprivacyprivatescamscamsstafft-mobilet-mobile ukT-mobileUkukTue, 17 Nov 2009 18:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/brilliant-ps3-slim-ad-loses-nigerian-scam-reference-internet-ru/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/brilliant-ps3-slim-ad-loses-nigerian-scam-reference-internet-ru/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/brilliant-ps3-slim-ad-loses-nigerian-scam-reference-internet-ru/#comments Turns out not everyone was amused by Sony's tongue-in-cheek PlayStation 3 Slim ad about internet rumors -- just ask the Nigerian government. The line in question, "you can't believe everything you read on the internet, otherwise I'd be a Nigerian millionaire by now," apparently caused a bit of a stir, and the local authorities demanded the company pull the commercial. It's now been replaced in the company's Viddler account with a slightly altered version that claims online FUD is "how World War One got started." Someone should tell Sony Director of Rumor Confirmation Kevin Butler that there's a certain assassinated Austrian Archduke who would beg to differ. Revised video after the break, and just for kicks, we found the old video on YouTube for comparison.

[Via Joystiq]

Continue reading Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI

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Brilliant PS3 Slim ad loses Nigerian scam reference, internet rumors now known to have started WWI originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadscommercialcommercialscontroversynigerianigerianplaystationplaystation 3playstation 3 slimPlaystation3Playstation3Slimps3ps3 slimPs3SlimscamscamssceaslimsonyFri, 11 Sep 2009 21:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Shocker! PC repairmen aren't to be trusted]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/shocker-pc-repairmen-arent-to-be-trusted/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/shocker-pc-repairmen-arent-to-be-trusted/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/shocker-pc-repairmen-arent-to-be-trusted/#comments
Sure, it seems like a no-brainer, but when Sky News in the UK dropped a brand new laptop off at several repair shops in London (equipped with a key logger and sneaky video recording software) they caught employees accessing personal data, hacking accounts for banking and social networking sites, and charging for unnecessary work. Who would've thunk it, right? For their next report, the news team is going to investigate whether or not the iPozh is actually manufactured by Apple.

Update: Now with video!

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Shocker! PC repairmen aren't to be trusted originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimelaptopneer do wellsNeerDoWellsscamspecial reportSpecialReportthievestrickeryukWed, 22 Jul 2009 12:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Investigators demonstrate Nokia 1100's criminal potential]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/#comments In case you weren't already convinced of a certain model of Nokia 1100's hackability by the exponential surge in its aftermarket value, fraud investigation firm Ultrascan has successfully recreated a virtual bank heist by reprogramming one of the devices to receive another phone number's text messages. Using this trick, shady characters in fancy suits can get your mobile transaction authentication number -- provided you live in a country like Germany or Holland that use mTANs -- and use it to get into your bank account and transfer funds. They'd also need your account name and password, mind you, but obtaining that data isn't nearly as complex when there's plenty of people clicking on the wrong emails and signing into fake website with all those deets and the associated digits. It all sounds a bit like the stuff of crime novels, doesn't it? And before you go running to eBay with that 1100 you stashed away in a drawer years ago, please note that it only works if the candybar was produced at a very specific plant in Bochum, Germany.

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Investigators demonstrate Nokia 1100's criminal potential originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1100bankbank hackbank hacksbank heistBankHackBankHacksBankHeistbankingbochum germanyBochumGermanycrim syndicatecrimeCrimSyndicateeuropefinanceganggermanyhackhacksmodmodsnokianokia 1100Nokia1100scamultra scanUltraScanFri, 22 May 2009 03:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Investigators demonstrate Nokia 1100's criminal potential]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/22/investigators-demonstrate-nokia-1100s-criminal-potential/#comments In case you weren't already convinced of a certain model of Nokia 1100's hackability by the exponential surge in its aftermarket value, fraud investigation firm Ultrascan has successfully recreated a virtual bank heist by reprogramming one of the devices to receive another phone number's text messages. Using this trick, shady characters in fancy suits can get your mobile transaction authentication number -- provided you live in a country like Germany or Holland that use mTANs -- and use it to get into your bank account and transfer funds. They'd also need your account name and password, mind you, but obtaining that data isn't nearly as complex when there's plenty of people clicking on the wrong emails and signing into fake website with all those deets and the associated digits. It all sounds a bit like the stuff of crime novels, doesn't it? And before you go running to eBay with that 1100 you stashed away in a drawer years ago, please note that it only works if the candybar was produced at a very specific plant in Bochum, Germany.

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Investigators demonstrate Nokia 1100's criminal potential originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 May 2009 02:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1100bankbank hackbank hacksbank heistBankHackBankHacksBankHeistbankingbochum germanyBochumGermanycrim syndicatecrimeCrimSyndicateeuropefinanceganggermanyhackhacksmobilenokianokia 1100Nokia1100scamultra scanUltraScanFri, 22 May 2009 02:22:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster "HDMI Difference" scam still kickin' in Fry's Electronics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/#comments
Man, this is just sad. Over a year after the internet was set ablaze with rage after seeing Monster's HDMI cable scam, we've just been notified that the tactic is still being used in at least one Fry's Electronics store. For those unaware, the rig works as such: two TVs are set beside each other along with a sign that says "See the Monster HDMI Difference." Trouble is, the "Monster set" (on the right) is connected to its source via an HDMI cable, while the "non-Monster set" (on the left) is connected via composite cable. As in, the lamest looking signal next to using an RF modulator. So, is anyone with any amount of power paying attention to this? We get the feeling "false advertising" is a real understatement of the situation.

[Thanks, Jeff]

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Monster "HDMI Difference" scam still kickin' in Fry's Electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compositefryshdmihdmi cablehdmi differenceHdmiCableHdmiDifferencehdtvmonstermonster cablemonster scamMonsterCableMonsterScamscamMon, 23 Mar 2009 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Monster "HDMI Difference" scam still kickin' in Fry's Electronics]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/23/monster-hdmi-difference-scam-still-kickin-in-frys-electronic/#comments
Man, this is just sad. Over a year after the internet was set ablaze with rage after seeing Monster's HDMI cable scam, we've just been notified that the tactic is still being used in at least one Fry's Electronics store. For those unaware, the rig works as such: two TVs are set beside each other along with a sign that says "See the Monster HDMI Difference." Trouble is, the "Monster set" (on the right) is connected to its source via an HDMI cable, while the "non-Monster set" (on the left) is connected via composite cable. As in, the lamest looking signal next to using an RF modulator. So, is anyone with any amount of power paying attention to this? We get the feeling "false advertising" is a real understatement of the situation.

[Thanks, Jeff]

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Monster "HDMI Difference" scam still kickin' in Fry's Electronics originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>compositefryshdhdmihdmi cablehdmi differenceHdmiCableHdmiDifferencemonstermonster cablemonster scamMonsterCableMonsterScamportsscamMon, 23 Mar 2009 11:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia warns that KIRF phones are a threat to personal safety, national security]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/#comments
Over the years, Nokia handsets have fallen victim to the infamous KIRFing process time, and time, and time again. Evidently the suits up in Espoo have had enough, as evidenced by a new marketing campaign urging bargain hunters in India to avoid unbranded / duplicate handsets. The ad, which was spotted in the Mumbai Mirror, is comical in a number of ways. For starters, the notion that "originals last forever" is obviously misleading untrue, and secondly, the whole "instilling fear" tactic is severely unnecessary. Nokia asserts that all KIRF handsets lack an IMEI number, and thus owning one "could be a threat to your safety and national security." Or is that longhand for "a threat to Nokia's bottom line?"

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Nokia warns that KIRF phones are a threat to personal safety, national security originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingchinachineseindiaknockoffmobilenational securityNationalSecurityNokiaripoffscamsecurityMon, 24 Nov 2008 00:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Nokia warns that KIRF phones are a threat to personal safety, national security]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/24/nokia-warns-that-kirf-phones-are-a-threat-to-personal-safety-na/#comments
Over the years, Nokia handsets have fallen victim to the infamous KIRFing process time, and time, and time again. Evidently the suits up in Espoo have had enough, as evidenced by a new marketing campaign urging bargain hunters in India to avoid unbranded / duplicate handsets. The ad, which was spotted in the Mumbai Mirror, is comical in a number of ways. For starters, the notion that "originals last forever" is obviously misleading untrue, and secondly, the whole "instilling fear" tactic is severely unnecessary. Nokia asserts that all KIRF handsets lack an IMEI number, and thus owning one "could be a threat to your safety and national security." Or is that longhand for "a threat to Nokia's bottom line?"

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Nokia warns that KIRF phones are a threat to personal safety, national security originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adadvertisementadvertisingchinachineseindiaknockoffnational securityNationalSecurityNokiaripoffscamsecurityMon, 24 Nov 2008 00:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Larcenists get a cheap Blu-ray player (the illegal way)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/larcenists-get-a-cheap-blu-ray-player-the-illegal-way/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/larcenists-get-a-cheap-blu-ray-player-the-illegal-way/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/03/larcenists-get-a-cheap-blu-ray-player-the-illegal-way/#comments
Can't wait for Black Friday? Neither could two suspects in Virginia Beach. Reportedly, a crafty duo entered a local Walmart late last week, with one placing a Samsung Blu-ray player in her cart while the other placed a DVD / VCR combo unit in his cart. Once that was complete, the two met in the pet section, swapped the unwanted DVD / VCR unit out for a Blu-ray deck and proceeded to checkout. The cute couple paid for dog food and a rather inexpensive DVD / VCR player, yet arrived home with dog food and an improperly boxed Blu-ray player. Moral of the story? Blu-ray adoption would clearly soar if manufacturers would just price the players right. (We kid, we kid.)

[Via CDFreaks]

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Larcenists get a cheap Blu-ray player (the illegal way) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycomedycopsfunnyhdillegalother formatsotherformatspolicesamsungscamstealstealingstolentheftthiefVCRVHSwal-martwalmartMon, 03 Nov 2008 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA[ATM skimmers: now with SMS notification built right in]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/atm-skimmers-now-with-sms-notification-built-right-in/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/atm-skimmers-now-with-sms-notification-built-right-in/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/10/atm-skimmers-now-with-sms-notification-built-right-in/#commentsAw, how convenient! Now, when you purchase your next ATM skimmer, you don't even have to risk being arrested when you wander out to retrieve it. For those outside of the know, an ATM skimmer sits on credit / debit card machines and swipes information as unsuspecting civilians pass their cards through. In the days of old, scammers would have to physically retrieve the skimmer in order to acquire all that precious information; now, models with built-in SMS notification are becoming available, meaning that numbers, expiration dates and that easy-to-forget three digit code on the back can be shot out instantly after the data is snatched. Word on the street has these devices going for $8,500 a pop, and they can dish out around 2,000 texts. Just another zany hack to be aware of in the wide world of ATM shenanigans.

[Via Hack-A-Day]

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ATM skimmers: now with SMS notification built right in originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ATMatm cardatm hackatm skimmerAtmCardAtmHackAtmSkimmerbankbankingcredit cardCreditCardhackscamscammerSMSFri, 10 Oct 2008 03:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/#comments
It's been a long time coming, but we've finally found a KIRF suitable to become the one and only successor to our very first "Keepin' it real... WTF?!" This here iPhone -- which is little more than a familiar chassis with a lead weight and a small amount of internal hardware -- is reportedly used by scammers in Russia in order to barter for train tickets, grub, etc. In essence, the phone has just enough electronics within it to give the appearance of a "boot up" sequence, complete with the Apple logo; the scammer in possession of it then explains that the battery is simply drained, but that it will work perfectly fine once charged. After any given sucker hands over something quite valuable in exchange for this heap, he / she proceeds to crush it into a million pieces while cursing the unknown name of whoever fooled them in the first place. Moral of the story? Stay sharp, street traders.

[Thanks, Abhijit]

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Keepin' it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleedgefakefake iphoneFakeIphonegsmiphoneiphone osiphoneosKIRFmobileripoffrussianscamscamsTue, 07 Oct 2008 21:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Keepin' it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/07/keepin-it-real-wtf-part-ii-russian-iphone-boots-up-does-no/#comments
It's been a long time coming, but we've finally found a KIRF suitable to become the one and only successor to our very first "Keepin' it real... WTF?!" This here iPhone -- which is little more than a familiar chassis with a lead weight and a small amount of internal hardware -- is reportedly used by scammers in Russia in order to barter for train tickets, grub, etc. In essence, the phone has just enough electronics within it to give the appearance of a "boot up" sequence, complete with the Apple logo; the scammer in possession of it then explains that the battery is simply drained, but that it will work perfectly fine once charged. After any given sucker hands over something quite valuable in exchange for this heap, he / she proceeds to crush it into a million pieces while cursing the unknown name of whoever fooled them in the first place. Moral of the story? Stay sharp, street traders.

[Thanks, Abhijit]

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Keepin' it real WTF, Part II: Russian iPhone "boots up," does nothing else originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applefakefake iphoneFakeIphoneiphoneKIRFripoffrussianscamscamsTue, 07 Oct 2008 21:07:00 EST<![CDATA[In-store demo compares Monster HDMI interconnect to composite cable]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/in-store-demo-compares-monster-hdmi-interconnect-to-composite-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/in-store-demo-compares-monster-hdmi-interconnect-to-composite-ca/http://www.engadget.com/2008/04/21/in-store-demo-compares-monster-hdmi-interconnect-to-composite-ca/#comments
It's not like we haven't seen Monster Cables used in "A-B" demos before, but the latest in-store comparison is downright laughable. The image shown above was reportedly captured at a Fry's Electronics in Indiana, and as you can see, some clever bloke / dame figured they'd attempt to pull the wool over ignorant eyes by setting up an absolutely absurd side-by-side demonstration. The only difference between the two rigs is the use of a Monster Power Filter versus a vanilla power strip and a Monster HDMI cable versus a... no-name composite cable. Both devices were piped to a 19-inch 720p LCD, and according to the tipster who snagged the picture, the actual image quality was only marginally different -- presumably due to the "nearly monochromatic ocean scene" that did nothing to show off the differences between the two mediums. Donuts to dollars a coat hanger would've actually proven superior to the Monster.


[Thanks, P.]

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In-store demo compares Monster HDMI interconnect to composite cable originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablecomparisondemodemonstrationhdhdmimonstermonster cableMonsterCableothersscamMon, 21 Apr 2008 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy customer purchases $300 hard drive, receives oodles of dried beans]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/best-buy-customer-purchases-300-hard-drive-receives-oodles-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/best-buy-customer-purchases-300-hard-drive-receives-oodles-of/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/04/best-buy-customer-purchases-300-hard-drive-receives-oodles-of/#commentsNo, this isn't the first time we've heard of innocent consumers snagging some new kit only to find random bits of unwanted garbage in place of the actual product, and unfortunately, we've all ideas it's not the last. This go 'round, a couple waltzed into Best Buy, snagged a "brand new" $300 hard drive and zoomed home to start packin' those platters. Much to their dismay, no HDD was found inside the box -- rather, three bags of dried beans weighed it down enough to not seem suspicious. As expected, Best Buy wasn't about to refund any money for fear that the actual purchasers could be the culprits, and while that's certainly understandable, we're quite relieved to know that a little outside intervention netted the two a $300 gift card to the retailer. We bet they'll inspect that package a bit more closely before taking it home next time (sad though that may be).

[Image courtesy of DKImages, thanks Craig]

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Best Buy customer purchases $300 hard drive, receives oodles of dried beans originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beansbest buyBestBuyhard driveHardDriveretailripoffscamTue, 04 Mar 2008 18:49:00 EST<![CDATA[HDMI cable scam used to fool in-store customers?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/hdmi-cable-scam-used-to-fool-in-store-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/hdmi-cable-scam-used-to-fool-in-store-customers/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/17/hdmi-cable-scam-used-to-fool-in-store-customers/#commentsWe'll be straight with you -- we aren't inclined to believe that this is even remotely close to factual, but considering the lengths big box retailers will go to in order to make sure you leave with a totally overpriced cable or two in your bag, we suppose it's not outside the realm of possibility. Reportedly, GizmoRepublic walked into an unspecified "big box store" and went to check out a display touting the superiority of Monster cabling. Upon further inspection, he realized that the difference in picture quality wasn't due to the gold-plating or fancy braiding, but rather the use of composite cables on the non-Monster TV. Of course, there are photos of the scene posted in the read link, but even still, we've got our reservations about the whole thing. Regardless of what happened in one particular store in one particular setup, one thing's still quite clear: there's simply no need to waste your hard-earned dollars paying for fancy packaging.

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HDMI cable scam used to fool in-store customers? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cablehdhdmimonstermonster cableMonsterCableothersscamMon, 17 Dec 2007 10:14:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Union hopes to enable mobile money transfers, scammers rejoice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/#commentsJust when you thought those Nigerian scammers were simply running out of avenues to coerce you into cashing some counterfeit check for $4.98 billion, along comes this. Western Union is apparently buddying up with 35 or so cellphone operators to "develop a system that would allow consumers to transfer money from country to country via their mobile phones." Reportedly, the outfit has successfully tested the service in a number of US cities, and if everything goes as planned, it could launch in Q2 of 2008. Notably, it still sounds like an actual human will be a part of the process, as the system will purportedly "connect the user to a company operator to complete the transaction." Quite frankly, we appreciate the convenience of such a service, but don't you go falling for any sappy stories of long-lost cousins needing your help to funnel in millions as you ride to work, alright?

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Western Union hopes to enable mobile money transfers, scammers rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cashmoneymoney ordermoney transferMoneyOrderMoneyTransferscamWestern UnionWesternUnionFri, 19 Oct 2007 06:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Union hopes to enable mobile money transfers, scammers rejoice]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/19/western-union-hopes-to-enable-mobile-money-transfers-scammers-r/#commentsJust when you thought those Nigerian scammers were simply running out of avenues to coerce you into cashing some counterfeit check for $4.98 billion, along comes this. Western Union is apparently buddying up with 35 or so cellphone operators to "develop a system that would allow consumers to transfer money from country to country via their mobile phones." Reportedly, the outfit has successfully tested the service in a number of US cities, and if everything goes as planned, it could launch in Q2 of 2008. Notably, it still sounds like an actual human will be a part of the process, as the system will purportedly "connect the user to a company operator to complete the transaction." Quite frankly, we appreciate the convenience of such a service, but don't you go falling for any sappy stories of long-lost cousins needing your help to funnel in millions as you ride to work, alright?

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Western Union hopes to enable mobile money transfers, scammers rejoice originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Oct 2007 05:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cashCulturemobilemoneymoney ordermoney transferMoneyOrderMoneyTransferscamWestern UnionWesternUnionFri, 19 Oct 2007 05:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Birthday girl gets two rock-filled iPod boxes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/birthday-girl-gets-two-rock-filled-ipod-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/birthday-girl-gets-two-rock-filled-ipod-boxes/http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/09/birthday-girl-gets-two-rock-filled-ipod-boxes/#commentsWe're tempted to believe this story just isn't true, but if the details are indeed factual, we're a bit flabbergasted to say the least. Turns out, a teenager's mother scurried to Target in order to snap up a video iPod for her daughter's upcoming birthday, and she put it on a Target credit card in order to receive a discount. Upon opening it up, the gal's 14th birthday party took a turn for the worse as Regan Ritter found nothing but rocks packaged neatly inside. After demanding a refund and getting rejected, store employees were able to locate another iPod at a different Target location. As you can probably guess, that box was also stuffed with rocks. Target still refused to refund the lady's dough and insisted that she blow the $350 on other store merchandise instead. As it stands, Ms. Ritter is expecting some higher-ups to contact her and truly resolve this, but there's no word as to whether or not Regan ever acquired an iPod from anywhere else.

[Via Techmeme]

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Birthday girl gets two rock-filled iPod boxes originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleipodportable audioportable videoportableaudioportablevideorocksscamtargetTue, 09 Oct 2007 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Medison promises money back if it can't deliver... in three months]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/27/medison-promises-money-back-if-it-cant-deliver-in-three-mont/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/27/medison-promises-money-back-if-it-cant-deliver-in-three-mont/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/27/medison-promises-money-back-if-it-cant-deliver-in-three-mont/#commentsThat $150 Medison Celebrity we glanced a few days back seemed to smell a bit fishy from the get-go, and a recent press release from the firm does a fairly terrible job of assuring us all otherwise. Typically, one's in dire straits if it has to address mass concerns of scamming, and Medison is now blaming the unexpectedly large amount of orders and "tremendous" amount of website hits and support calls for an apparent "shift in the time frame" in which customers will receive their orders. Granted, the company still promises that it will deliver, and now claims that your money will be returned if your machine isn't received in three months. Ah well, it's not like you had better things to do with your cash than let someone else earn interest on it while you fret over ever seeing it (or a laptop in its place) ever again, right?

[Thanks, Valdi I.]

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Medison promises money back if it can't deliver... in three months originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britisheuropelinuxmedisonmedison celebrityMedisonCelebritymoney backMoneyBackscamvaporwareFri, 27 Jul 2007 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell facing investor lawsuit over shady Intel kickbacks]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/dell-facing-investor-lawsuit-over-shady-intel-kickbacks/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/dell-facing-investor-lawsuit-over-shady-intel-kickbacks/http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/03/dell-facing-investor-lawsuit-over-shady-intel-kickbacks/#commentsAh, Michael, look what a fine mess you've got us into this time. Sure, Dell's not the first company to get smacked with a bit of sharp interrogation regarding shady accounting practices, and it's definitely not the first to have allegedly collaborated with another outfit to benefit the group, but the Texas powerhouse is facing a lawsuit that accuses it of illegally accepted quite a bit of coinage it didn't (legally) deserve. The class-action suit claims that the firm "artificially inflated profits by secretly receiving approximately $250 million a quarter in likely illegal rebate kickbacks payments from Intel in return for an exclusive deal to purchase Intel's microprocessors," which in a nutshell, doesn't bode well for either company if proven accurate. Of course, Dell's frolicking in the fields with AMD these days too, but the plaintiffs also contend that the corporation participated in a "widespread, long-running scheme to defraud shareholders and inflate Dell's stock price." As expected, nobody on the receiving end of this is taking any time to comment, and even though Rollins recently took the easy way out of his high falutin' position, himself -- along with Dell's accounting partner PricewaterhouseCoopers -- aren't out of this hot water just yet.

[Via Slashdot]

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Dell facing investor lawsuit over shady Intel kickbacks originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceocrimecriminaldellillegalintelinvestorlawsuitlegalmichael dellMichaelDellrollinsscamsuesuittroubleSat, 03 Feb 2007 14:46:00 EST<![CDATA[PayPal to offer security key fobs for additional account protection]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/15/paypal-to-offer-security-key-fobs-for-additional-account-protect/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/15/paypal-to-offer-security-key-fobs-for-additional-account-protect/http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/15/paypal-to-offer-security-key-fobs-for-additional-account-protect/#commentsFor every stupendous scam that crafty / immoral individuals pull off on eBay, there's at least a couple phishing scams out there trying to jack your precious eBay or PayPal password and access your hard-earned dollars. PayPal is readying a VeriSign security key that will resemble the RSA SecureID we corporate workers are all too familiar with with, and will sport a monochrome LCD screen that rotates a six-digit password every 30 seconds. Clients who opt to use this device will be able to enter it along with their usual username / password credentials when logging in, which would prevent scammers from accessing their account without the key fob in hand. The firm has been testing the device with employees for "several months," and plans to start trialing it with customers "within a month or so." Personal account owners in America, Germany, and Australia will eventually have the option of picking one up for a one-time fee of $5, while business accounts will receive the unit gratis, but if you're not savvy enough to pass on by those tempting scams, five bucks could be a small price to pay to keep your cash out of strangers' hands.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

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PayPal to offer security key fobs for additional account protection originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dataebaykey fobKeyFobpasswordpaypalPayPal Security KeyPaypalSecurityKeyphisingrsascamscamssecuridsecuritysecurity keySecurityKeythiefverisignMon, 15 Jan 2007 11:15:00 EST