Pokemon Go Finally comes to an Apple Watch Near You!

The popular mobile game Pokemon Go is now available on the Apple Watch, squashing rumours that the game's maker was scrapping the plans.

The game involves catching Pokemon's in an augmented reality version of your surroundings. The Apple Watch version will let you discover nearby Pokemon and collect special items, such as potions, from nearby PokeStops. But once you encounter a Pokemon, you will need to use your iPhone to catch it.

#PokemonGO is now available on the Apple Watch! https://t.co/L4cYBGi0oq pic.twitter.com/lmuYLYzsgl

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) December 22, 2016

Still, the Apple Watch should make it easier for players to log their steps needed to hatch eggs, and to avoid walking around with their phones held out to search for nearby Pokemons.

Pokemon Go was a huge success when it came out in July. Plans for the watch version had been announced at Apple's iPhone launch event in September. And only recently it was said to have been scrapped, but Niantic had given the players an hope, by tweeting out that the Apple Watch version was in the making.

The game's maker, Niantic, hasn't announced any plans for Android Wear and Samsung Gear smartwatches.

Source: Twitter

Pokemon Go for Apple Watch 'Coming Soon': Niantic

Pokemon Go for Apple Watch was announced at Apple's iPhone 7 event earlier this year. And now it may be nearer. The official PokemonGo Twitter account tweeted, "Pokémon Go for Apple Watch is coming soon. Stay tuned,"

Pokémon Go for Apple Watch is coming soon. Stay tuned.

— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) December 17, 2016

It seems that what Niantic showed off during Apple's event was "unfinished" as per sources speaking to 9to5Mac. Odd considering it was described as companion app touting features such as being able to tap the Apple Watch as you approached a PokeStop.

"At this point, Niantic hasn’t offered up any details as to why it ceased development of the Pokémon Go Apple Watch application," writes 9to5Mac's Chance Miller.  Given that wearables have had a rough quarter barring the Apple Watch makes this move all the more perplexing.

Earlier in the week, Pokemon Go finally hit India on Android and iOS in partnership with Reliance Jio. This was followed by a festive update, allowing players to catch special edition Pikachu and Pokemon from games like Pokemon Gold and Silver.

While most of the original 151 Pokemon were present when Pokemon Go first hit, others such as Mewtwo, Zapdos, and Mew were unavailable. Some of these, such as Ditto could be caught from last month. It will be interesting to see how many more are added.

Source: Niantic

Pokemon Go Related Malware Found on Google Play, Says Kaspersky Lab

Pokemon Go has been in the spotlight for the majority of year 2016 and the augmented reality game seemingly doesn't like staying out of the news. Niantic recently announced that the game has been downloaded around 500 million times since its launch, but the latest reports suggest that the game has also received the unwanted attention of hackers.

Security software group Kaspersky Lab recently reported a Pokemon Go related malicious app on Google Play named 'Guide for Pokemon Go" that was capable of giving root access of Android smartphones to hackers. According to Google Play, the app had been downloaded over 500,000 times before being pulled.

However, only 6,000 out of around 500,000 devices have been affected as the malware doesn't get activated right away. It is important to note that India is among the locations where successful infection has taken place.

Kaspersky elaborates on the the activation delay, saying, "It waits for the user to install or uninstall another app, then checks to see if that app runs on a real device or on a virtual machine. If it turns out that it's dealing with a device, the Trojan will wait for a further two hours before starting its malicious activity."

According to Kaspersky Lab, its analysis of the app revealed that it included a 'malicious' piece of code that downloads rooting malware, which is capable of gaining access to core Android operating system. The company's software detect the Trojan as 'HEUR:Trojan.AndroidOS.Ztorg.ad.'

The company claims that there at least one more version of this app was also available through Google Play in July 2016. It further said that it has tracked at least nine other apps infected with this Trojan and available through Google Play "at different times since 2015."

It is recommended that users pay attention while downloading apps that are related to popular applications and games as hackers might take advantage of slight carelessness shown by you.

Source: Kaspersky Lab

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Apple September Event 2016: Everything Apple announced at today's event

At a packed Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, Apple announced its latest array of devices, including two new iPhones, an updated Apple Watch, a new set of wireless headphones called AirPods and a surprise from Nintendo onboard.

Here’s a quick rundown of everything that was announced at the Apple Event, and when you’ll be able to get a hold of it all, if you're into that kind of stuff:

iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus & announcements surrounding them...

Apple's first news of the event actually came from its Twitter feed, which announced the new iPhone 7 before it ever appeared on stage. On stage, Apple made much of the new design, with Jony Ive stressing that the device has been painstakingly perfected to be as clean and beautiful as possible, and on multiple occasions the new phone was called the best iPhone ever made. Obviously, we've heard this before. But that didn't mean the phone's official unveiling wasn't welcome.

Both the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 and 5.5-inch 7 Plus come in the usual array of colors, with the added additions of the super glossy Jet Black and the slightly more ordinary Black. They have a 25 percent brighter display, with a wider color gamut for better color management and reproduction. This time around, the antennas are built right into the chassis, getting rid of those ugly lines from the previous two versions of the phone. Internally, the new phones get stereo speakers and a brand new A10 Fusion chip. And, possibly most importantly, the devices are water- and dust-resistant.

The camera in standard sized iPhone 7 has been upgraded with optical image stabilization and a brighter f/1.8 lens that lets in 50 percent more light than the iPhone 6S' f/2.2 lens. Apple says the new 12-megapixel sensor, which has the same resolution as last year's phone, is 60 percent faster and 30 percent more efficient. It's coupled with a new image processing chip and quad-LED flash that produces 50 percent more light. Apple's Phil Schiller boasts that the new processing engine leverages machine learning and has "supercomputer performance." The front camera on the iPhone 7 has been bumped to 7 megapixels with automatic image stabilization for better selfies and video recording.

But the real upgrades were saved for the larger iPhone 7 Plus' dual camera system. The company says the new dual camera allows for true 2x optical zoom without loss of image quality. One of the lenses is equivalent to 28mm for wide angle shots (like a standard iPhone camera), while the other has a closer, 60mm equivalent lens. Switching between the two cameras is seamless in the iPhone 7 Plus' camera app — just tap the 1x or 2x button and the camera will switch automatically. You can zoom further, up to 10x, but beyond 2x is digital zoom that crops the photo. Apple has also developed a feature that uses both lenses to mimic a shallow depth of field, like what can be accomplished with a larger DSLR. This feature will be available via a software update later this year.

Apple announced that, in removing the 3.5mm jack, the included headphones will work over Apple's Lightning standard. That means you won't be able to connect your favorite headphones to the next iPhone without an adapter (which will be included in the box, of course). Phil Schiller argued that Lightning is already an excellent audio standard, and that the team behind it is showing "courage" by making the shift.

Apple developed its own standard to allow wireless headphones to connect to the new iPhones seamlessly. Using its own W1 chip, Apple designed AirPods — or EarPods without wires — that connect to the iPhone without needing to pair like you would with Bluetooth. Beats has also developed two new headphones running on the W1 chip. The AirPods will set users back $159, and they'll have to wait until late October to buy them. The new Beats headphones will also be out this fall, and range from $149 to $299.

One of the iPhone's most iconic features is gone: the clicky physical button at the bottom of the phone. In the iPhone 7, the Home button is still there, but it's no the longer mechanical one. Instead, like Apple's new MacBook trackpads, the iPhone will provide touch feedback with the Taptic Engine. It's supposed to deliver similarly satisfying feedback, with custom notification buzzes for things like messages and calls. Will it actually be as satisfying? Time will tell...

Apple Watch Series 2

After releasing its first smartwatch last year, Apple is back with what it calls the Apple Watch Series 2. It has all the requisite specs bumps: it has the brightest screen Apple's ever shipped — supposedly twice as bright as the last Watch — and its new S2 chip has a dual-core processor that's supposed to be 50 percent faster than its predecessor. On the outside, its got the same square shape and side buttons, but it now comes in white ceramic along with aluminum and stainless steel. It also includes some snappy-looking new bands, including a custom design from Hermès, and there's a Nike watch model that's aimed specifically at guilting runners into regular exercise.

The Series 2 watches will start at $369, and just like Apple has done for iPhones and iPads, it's keeping the original Watch around as a cheaper alternative. The Series One line, as it's being called now, will be upgraded with the same S2 chip and sold for $269. Preorders will start September 9th, with the watches coming in late October. And watchOS 3, which was announced earlier this year, will be coming to current Watch owners on September 13th.

Apple Pay expands

Apple Pay is coming to Japan in October; in addition to NFC technology, it will utilize a different technology in known as FeliCa. Developed by Sony, FeliCa supports payments for mass transit systems in Japan. The iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2 will integrate FeliCa technology, Tim Cook said. Apple Pay will also come to New Zealand in October, and Russia later this fall.

Nintendo has some announcements too...

A new Super Mario for iOS

Pokemon Go isn't going to be Nintendo's only big mobile game this year. Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto took the stage today to announce Super Mario Run — a new installment in Nintendo's long-running series. It looks a lot like the 2D platformer we're all familiar with, but it draws some mechanics from mobile endless runner games, and Miyamoto noted that you can play it one-handed on the subway. There's also a multiplayer mode of sorts, where players compete to collect coins on a map. The game is coming out by the holidays, and at least for now, it’s only on iOS.

Pokemon Go for Apple Watch?

Did you think Super Mario Run was the end of today's Nintendo news? Nope, the company also announced an Apple Watch version of mobile game and social phenomenon Pokemon Go. Granted, there's already a Pokemon Go wearable that will let you catch pokemon and visit pokestops. And the Watch OS app is more about spotting pokemon than catching them; So, you're are still supposed to be pulling out your phone from time to time.

But the app gives wearers visual feedback that Nintendo's simple watchband can't. And it makes Pokemon Go's egg-hatching feature, which encourages players to go out for walks, more convenient and accurate. Hopefully, there'll be no more strolling around awkwardly with your phone in hand ,at least when the app launches later this year.

iOS 10 comes out next week

iOS 10 is officially coming out on September 13th, bringing the next major iOS update to users after spending the summer in beta. This release represents one of the biggest iOS has ever seen. 

It means particularly big things for Siri, which has gotten smart enough to handle image searches and handle transcribing voicemails. But iOS 10 shows Apple becoming much more open, with Siri and iMessage now opening up to developers. Users will also see more widgets and better notifications, and Apple has extended Continuity to include Universal Clipboard, which lets you copy text and images on your phone and paste them on your Mac.

macOS Sierra comes out September 20th

While it didn't make an appearance at the keynote, macOS's next update, Sierra, will officially launch on September 20th. With that release, the old OS X nomenclature will finally be put to rest. 

Of course, that's not the biggest change to come. With Sierra, Siri will come to the Mac, letting you access things like files and email with voice commands. Even more important: the combination of a more mature iCloud and improved Continuity means storing files and moving work back and forth between your Mac and iPhone could be easier and better than ever,well, in theory, at least.

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Niantic introduces ‘Buddy Pokemon’ system for players in Pokémon GO

Pokemon Go creator Niantic Labs, recently announced the introduction of 'Buddy Pokemon' in the game. A user will have the ability to pick one of their favourite Pokemon from their collection to become their buddy. A buddy pokemon will appear alongside you avatar on your profile screen, and will help open new in-game rewards and experiences.

Among other things, you will receive candy for walking together with your Buddy Pokemon. This will be an easier way to collect candies to evolve your Pokemon. Every pokemon has its own unique candy. The player has the ability to change the Buddy Pokemon any time they want.

Most of Niantic's updates have been focused on bug fixes, and to combat bots. The company last month banned third-party app makers from providing users the ability to find pokemon on their maps. The company claimed that this was causing undue strain on their servers, which were already overwhelmed by the sheer number of users logging on to them to play.

Just last month, Niantic blocked accounts that were getting unauthorized access to the game's servers. This includes accounts that were involved in data scraping operations, and had bots active. The company claimed that such operations on the servers act similar to a DDoS (Denial of Service) attack. The last update of the game was v1.5.0 for iOS and 0.35.0 for Android.

The augmented reality game was an instant hit when it was launched in July this year, and became one of the most played mobile games in a very short duration. According to an Axiom Capital Management report on Bloomberg, the daily active users on the game have seen a decline from near 45 million around mid July to 30 million around mid August.

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Apple to make billions from Pokémon GO

Apple Inc stands to earn something around $3 billion in revenue from the Pokemon GO craze in the next one to two years as gamers buy "PokeCoins" from its app store, brokerage Needham & Co said. Pokemon Go, the augmented reality game from Japan’s Nintendo Co Ltd, can be downloaded for free but iPhone users can use PokeCoins to buy additional features. A pack of 100 PokeCoins costs 99 cents in Apple's app store, but the price can go up as much as $99.99 for a pack of 14,500.

"We believe Apple keeps 30 percent of Pokemon Go’s revenue spent on iOS devices, suggesting upside to earnings," Needham analyst Laura Martin wrote in a client note on Wednesday. Pokemon Go had 21 million active users in the United States alone as of July 18 – less than two weeks after going live. The game, which has been rolled out in 35 countries, is also available on Android devices.

Martin said Pokemon Go's ratio of paid users to total users was 10 times that of Candy Crush, the hit game from King Digital that generated more than $1 billion of revenue in both 2013 and 2014. Users in the United States are spending far more time playing the game than they are using Facebook or WhatsApp, according to app analytics firm Sensor Tower.

Electronics retailers have also seen a bump in sales of mobile chargers and charging cases since the launch of the game. Up to Tuesday's close, Apple's shares had gained 5 percent in market value, or about $25 billion, since the launch of the game in the United States on June 6. Nintendo's stock has nearly doubled.

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Niantic aiming for rollout of Pokemon GO to 200 markets soon

The head of the developer behind Nintendo Co Ltd’s Pokemon GO said he wanted to launch the smash-hit mobile game in roughly 200 countries and regions "relatively soon" and was working on bolstering server capacity to enable the wider rollout. The game, which marries a classic 20-year old franchise with augmented reality, has taken the world by storm despite having been launched in only five countries – the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Germany.

"Why limit it?" John Hanke, chief executive of Niantic, which developed Pokemon GO jointly with Nintendo affiliate Pokemon Company, said in an interview with Reuters on Friday. He declined to go into a detailed time-frame for further rollouts but noted that the company's first location-based augmented reality game Ingress had taken a month or two to reach that number of markets.

His comments helped Nintendo shares on Friday surge another 10 percent, setting a record in daily trading volume for an individual stock on the Tokyo bourse. The shares have climbed 86 percent in just over a week, adding $17 billion in market value. He confirmed that the game would soon be coming to Japan and that he expects "ultimately to launch" the game in South Korea, where Google's mapping functions are restricted due to security issues with North Korea. Hanke said Niantic, which was spun off from Google last year, is working on the mapping issue. "There are solutions to that," he said.

South Korea is the world's fourth-biggest gaming market after China, the United States and Japan, according to Amsterdam-based research firm Newzoo. But he was more reserved about prospects for a launch in China, saying only that there are regulations that have to be considered. Hanke said the company is considering introducing a sponsorship scheme similar to one it has with Ingress, which designates sponsors’ stores and vending machines as spots in the game.

Sponsors pay per customer visit, providing a revenue stream in addition to in-app purchases. Niantic currently has eight corporate sponsors for Ingress globally, including SoftBank Group Corp (9984.T), and the number is likely to be similar for Pokemon GO, he said.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, Brazilian Rio de Janeiro mayor Mayor Eduardo Paes shared his hopes that the game would arrive in the country ahead of the 2016 Olympics games which will be hosted there.

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Pokemon Go APK Could Hijack Your Phone: How to Check If It's Genuine

Until Pokemon Go makes it way to countries outside of Australia, New Zealand, and the US, a vast majority of eager fans have little choice but to resort to obtaining the game through unofficial means, which means downloading the APK file. It's something we've outlined in this handy guide for Android users.

In the event you've obtained Pokemon Go through other sites, there's a chance it might not be the right APK. According to security software company Proofpoint, a malicious version of the game has been uploaded to various APK download sites.

"This specific APK was modified to include the malicious remote access tool (RAT) called DroidJack (also known as SandroRAT), which would virtually give an attacker full control over a victim's phone. The DroidJack RAT has been described in the past, including by Symantec and Kaspersky. Although we have not observed this malicious APK in the wild, it was uploaded to a malicious file repository service at 09:19:27 UTC on July 7, 2016, less than 72 hours after the game was officially released in New Zealand and Australia," the firm said.

This means that there's chance that the Pokemon Go APK you downloaded is a fake, and could give anonymous individuals complete access to your phone. Here's how you can tell if the Pokemon Go APK you've downloaded is RAT-free.

Method 1:

The Secure Hash Algorithm or SHA is a string of characters unique to specific data. It's a way to check if a file has been altered or not by acting like a signature for a text or data file.

• To calculate the SHA-256 hash of your Pokemon Go APK this is what you need to do:
• Obtain Hash Droid from the Play Store.
• Select Hash A File.
• Under Select a hash function, choose SHA-256.
• Choose the Pokemon Go APK from your Download folder.
• Hit Calculate.
• If safe you should get: 8bf2b0865bef06906cd854492dece202482c04ce9c5e881e02d2b6235661ab67

At the time of posting this, no updated versions of Pokemon Go have been released so it is safe to assume any other SHA-256 hash belongs to a malicious APK.

As per Proofpoint, the SHA-256 of one of the malicious APKs is 15db22fd7d961f4d4bd96052024d353b3ff4bd135835d2644d94d74c925af3c4

Method 2:

• On your Android device go to Settings -> Apps -> Pokemon Go
• View the Permissions section.
• Here's what it should be asking permission for:

And here's what one of the malicious Pokemon Go APK asks for:

As you can see, it would ask for access to your call logs, record audio, check your browsing history, and even send messages and make calls on your behalf. Scary.

Hopefully Niantic and The Pokemon Company rectify this by making Pokemon Go available to all regions soon. Till then though I'd advise caution prior to downloading.

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Pokemon Go International Release Delayed - Here's Why?

While Pokemon Go is officially available in Australia, New Zealand, and the US, it's yet to make its way to other nations such as India and Japan. This has resulted in a slew of fans the world over to sideload the game. Well, at least on Android.

The impact of these players, in addition to those in countries where Pokemon Go is available, is that the game has been unplayable for a vast number of people due to its servers unable to deal with the load. So much so that developer Niantic who made Pokemon Go along with Nintendo and The Pokemon Company is delaying its release in other markets till this is fixed.

"We thought the game would be popular, but it obviously struck a nerve," Niantic CEO John Hanke said to Business Insider, stating that the launch in other countries has been "paused until we're comfortable". Despite the rabid interest the franchise has generated over the years, something Niantic is aware of, it has been caught by surprise.

Earlier this week, the game was discovered on Australia and New Zealand app stores. Usually, most developers use these markets to test out certain aspects of the game such as microtransaction prices and certain design elements. We've seen that with titles from other big name publishers like Rovio and EA. Chances are, the same applies here. The US launch seems like a knee-jerk reaction and server overloads seem like a result of this. The fact that the game is easily accessible on Android for those not in the aforementioned markets simply compounds matters.