What do think the future of smartphone security,Galaxy S5 finger scanner

Kris Carlon 2014-04-21T14:00:01Z21 hours ago

Kris Carlon Putting down roots in Berlin after six years of traveling is a major step for Kris Carlon, who has spent more time living out of a tent lately than sitting at a desk. Kris comes to the AndroidPIT Editorial Team via a lengthy period spent writing on art and culture in Australia and other places he has lived. He joined the Android community while resurfacing in civilization back in 2010 and has never looked back, using technology to replace his actual presence in other people's lives ever since.

My experience with the Galaxy S5 finger scanner has been patchy to say the least. When I first used the device at Mobile World Congress I found the scanning process quite clumsy and inaccurate and didn't think I'd actually use it. Then when we got a review unit I used it more and found it to be more accurate and didn't mind it so much. Then I tried to shoot this video and it all went pear-shaped. Here's how to use, and not use, the Galaxy S5 finger scanner.
Finger scanners are the must-have feature right now, but no one is doing it perfectly. / © AndroidPIT

First thing's first, the finger scanner feature is accessed in the S5's settings menu under Quick Settings. Tap that fingerprint icon to access the main scanner menu. Here you'll find your fingerprint registry, lock screen method and other features to enable your fingerprint to serve as your Samsung account verification or PayPal authorization. You can register up to three different fingerprints and they don't all need to be yours (if you share your phone with someone else regularly).

​

Link to Video

When registering your fingerprints you'll need to swipe your finger over the Home button several times to ensure your print has been registered. If you don't swipe over the whole Home button you will be prompted to do so. Also, if you do it too fast or too slow it won't register properly. I tried swiping sideways but the S5 is too smart to fall for that trick. Although you are meant to unlock with a downward swipe I did manage to fool the S5 into unlocking with an upward swipe. Just cos. Not that you'll see that in the video though (I used my thumb to trick it).
First off you need to register your fingerprints in your device. / © AndroidPITYou'll also be prompted to enable the finger scanner as the unlock method once you've registered your fingerprints (they only stay on your device, Samsung won't get ahold of your precious fingerprints). Once your prints are registered you can simply switch the scanner on and off like any other unlock method. Once these steps have been done, you can choose to use your fingerprints to unlock your device as well as verify your Samsung account or use PayPal services. Be careful with these features though if you have other people's prints registered as well.
Once your prints are registered, you can set finger scanner as an unlock setting like any other. / © AndroidPITQuick tip: try to register your fingerprints in natural ways – ie. the way you actually hold your S5. If you do the awkward down swipe with your pointer finger it's not likely to be a very familiar way to unlock your device. While you can't see it in the video, my recent experience with unlocking the device in a natural position has been quite good (although it hasn't for my fellow editors). But then as soon as we tried shooting the video it all went to hell. I'll assume it was the slightly awkward position I held it in whilst having our cameraman leaning over my shoulder, but it's really more accurate than it might appear.
Registered prints can be used for verification, and deregistered quickly and easily. / © AndroidPITIt's still far from perfect though, as the funny memes and GIFs all over the interwebs will attest. Just like the Apple TouchID scanner, the S5's scanner has been hacked already too. It's safe to say that the Galaxy S5 has done no better or worse of a job of a finger scanner than any other Android manufacturer, but sadly, all of the Android attempts fall way short of the intuitive and accurate Apple sensor. Yes I said it, but it's true. I suspect most Android owners with finger scanners no longer use them, whereas the TouchID sensor is a daily feature for most iPhone owners. No matter what the case, they are far from secure and shouldn't be relied on as a solid security feature.
Have you used a fingerprint scanner before? What do think the future of smartphone security will be?

Don’t forget to leave your feedback under and observe us on Twitter or grow to be our Facebook fan for all the most recent updates!

Posted by: http://androidframes.blogspot.com/

Writted by: totor

Gawker France Bans Work Email After 6 p.m. | Jalopnik Guy Doesn't Realize His Girlfriend Fell Off Hi

Gawker France Bans Work Email After 6 p.m. | Jalopnik Guy Doesn't Realize His Girlfriend Fell Off His Motorcycle | Jezebel Heads Up, Men: You Have No Secrets| KotakuThe 12 Best Games on PC | Kinja Popular Posts

Related

Best of Kinja

Playboy What My Day on a Porn Set Taught Me About Porn Marketed to Women | Crosstalk EVERYthing is bigger (and farther away) in Texas | Trinity… Read…

View the Original article

How to Pick a Handbag That Doesn't Suck

S

Handbags are awesome. Not only do they carry our essentials, they also pull together our look and easily upgrade our wardrobe. Unfortunately, it's hard to find ones that don't suck.

Often, handbags aren't ergonomic or very functional even if they look nice. Conversely, sometimes the most functional handbags are the ugliest. Maybe that's why the average woman owns about 21 handbags and buys a new one every three months or so. Since handbags can cost a couple of hundred dollars, you want to make sure your investment is worth it.

So here's how to find the kinds of handbags that don't suck, by which we mean those that: won't kill your shoulders, fit you well, and have that happy marriage between great looks and practicality.

Style and Purpose

The first thing you should consider is when and how you'll use your next handbag. What will you carry in it? What outfits will you wear it with? How will you actually wear it? For example, if you're looking for an everyday bag for walking around the city, you might prefer a lightweight cross-body bag rather than a leather satchel with short handles. For work, you might choose a classic shoulder bag that's roomy enough, perhaps, to carry a small tablet or paperwork.

There are definitely lots of styles and materials to choose from, at least.

Handbag Fit for your Body Type

In addition to your handbag's purpose, you might want to choose a bag that flatters your body, much like you would choose any other fashion object. HSN has this guide to handbags for different body types:

The size of handbag should be proportionate to the person's body type

• Short and petite women appear taller with small handbags and shorter with large handbags
• Tall and slim women appear larger with small handbags and look best with midsize, large and oversized styles.

The shape of a handbag should be opposite of the person's body type

• Short women look taller carrying a long rectangular handbag
• Slim and tall women benefit from a round handbag

The length of a handbag – where the bottom hits the body – emphasizes that area

• Short handbags make busts appear larger, so choose styles with longer straps to avert attention
• Most women look good wearing handbags that hang to the mid-torso

They also suggest using handbags to balance out your figure. For example if you have a pear-shaped or triangle body type (waist and hips wider than your shoulders), a satchel handbag that falls between your waist and your hips could make your top area seem larger and balance out your figure. If you have a rectangle body type (shoulders, waist, and hips about the same width), a hobo or shoulder bag that falls at your waist could add slight curves.

When you try out a handbag at the store, be sure to check how it looks on you in a mirror so you choose one that compliments rather than clashes with your style.

Signs of Crappy vs. Quality Handbags

Everyone has different tastes and needs, but beyond style preferences, I think we can all agree we want a bag that will last more than a couple of years and that will serve its purpose, whether we're carrying just a few credit cards for a date night out or need to schlep around many gadgets for work.

Some signs of crappy handbags include:

• Useless pockets or too many compartments. They might seem like they'd be great for organization, but interior and exterior pockets often aren't big enough or could be too big that your stuff will just disappear forever into.
• Unreasonably heavy. A heavy handbag is a prescription for shoulder and back pain. The ideal weight of a handbag, according to a USDA study is under 2.2 pounds (meanwhile the average woman's handbag weighs 5.2 pounds).
• Poor straps. Adjustable straps are best for flexibility and fit, but if the straps aren't adjustable, make sure they're not too long or short for your body. Also avoid straps that are pencil thin; they'll cut into your shoulders more and aren't ergonomic.
• Low-quality materials. Leather bags should be soft and buttery, not plastic-like, stiff, or squeaky. Non-leather bags, such as canvas or fabric handbags, should be sturdy rather than thin (check if they've been coated for weather endurance). Also look at the interior lining, which shouldn't be flimsy, have tears in the corners, or loose.

Examine your handbag for:

• Stitching. The stitching and seaming should be consistent throughout, without any loose or stray threads. If the bag has a pattern, the print should also match at the seams. Also tug on any embellishments like hanging pulls or chains to make sure they aren't loose and won't fall off.
• Quality zippers and other hardware. One of the best signs of quality is how the zipper opens and closes—it should glide smoothly. Similarly, other closures like buttons or clasps should close neatly and easily.
• Connections for the straps. The seams where the straps meet the bag body are very important, since those are high pressure areas. Also, Real Simple advises us to stay away from bags with handles that aren't stitched along the edges of the straps and that are only glued, because those handles will eventually separate.
• Fewer seams and parts. The more parts (snaps, latches, buttons, etc.) there are to a handbag, the more ways your bag can break. Similarly, as Saddleback Leather explains, many pieces of leather stitched together into a sort of quilt means lots of seams—and a weaker bag.
• Other fine details. Sometimes it's the little touches that show off a quality handbag. Things like feet on the bottom of the bag so it doesn't get dirty when you put it down, a key fob on the inside of the bag, a comfortable zipper pull, and exterior pockets with magnetic closures.

Your handbags should be a thing of beauty and a source of joy for you. Invest in quality ones and they'll last you many seasons.

Photos by Apolinarias (Shutterstock), Adrian Niederhaeuser (Shutterstock), ShotHotspot.com.

View the Original article