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LG's L90 handset is rolling out this week... in Russia
If the debut of LG's L-series of handsets at last month's Mobile World Congress had you hankering for a new phone, you're in luck. The 4.7-inch L90 starts rolling out this week in the CIS region (think Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia). LG has also detailed a few new specs, as well. In addition to the 1.2GHz processor, the L90 comes with 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage space and a 2,540mAh battery. Its cameras are rated at 1.3MP up front, and 5MP or 8MP for the rear. Pricing and domestic availability remain ambiguous for now, but the South Korean outfit promises more local info will be available closer to a domestic launch. To pass the time until then, you could always work out your own custom Knock pattern; we recommend the beat from "Around the Fur" by the Deftones for maximum cool-points.
LG makes Knock a standard feature, update coming for L Series II models
LG first rolled out its Knock feature on the G2 earlier this year, but now that item will become a standard feature on future handsets. If you'll recall, the power button on that smartphone is situated around back, so Knock allows users to turn the unit on by double tapping on the screen. In addition to those upcoming devices, the outfit will add Knock to existing L Series II gadgets via a maintenance release update starting next month. Of course, specific availability will depend on region and carrier, so you might have to wait a bit longer for the add-on.
Knock unlocks your Mac with a simple knock-knock on your iPhone
Knock-knock Who's there? Steve Steve Who? Unlock my (#$&(#$ iMac, OK? Sure! Take out the cursing and that's the idea behind Knock, a pair of apps (free for Mac, US$3.99 for iOS) that lets you unlock your Mac by simply knocking twice on your iPhone. You don't need to even take the iPhone out of your pocket -- rapping twice on the device, even through your favorite jeans, types in your password and unlocks your Mac. No more sitting down and typing your 11-character safe password -- just knock twice. The app works on just about all new Macs -- the 2011 or newer MacBook Air or Mac mini, the 2013 or newer MacBook Pro, and the late-2012 or newer iMac (note that the iTunes app description says 2013 or newer, but it works perfectly on my late-2012 iMac). The "key" app that is installed on your iPhone works on an iPhone 4s or newer that's equipped to handle Bluetooth LE (Low Energy). It's that use of Bluetooth LE that lets this work without draining your iPhone battery. Your iPhone and Mac will be linked whenever you get close to the Mac with your phone, and that double-rap sends a signal to the Mac to "open up." The go-ahead to unlock from the iPhone app is encrypted via 2,048-bit RSA encryption, and Knock Software notes that the Mac app "makes sure your Mac's lock screen isn't being manipulated by bad guys" before unlocking, although they smartly don't say how or why. So, does it work? Heck, yeah. And considering that I unlock my iMac screen about 10 times a day with an 11-character password, being able to do this with a knock is like magic. I figure that Knock will pay for itself very quickly in terms of saved time.
