Nokia introduces MIKA, a digital assistant for engineers and telecom operators

The Nokia brand has been building a fair amount of heat in the weeks leading up to Mobile World Congress. The world’s biggest phone show is set to see the once-beloved brand’s big return to the smartphone space it once so unceremoniously left behind.

Of course, that’s the HMD version, the Nokia name being licensed out by a local company formed from ex-pats of the tech giant. The true Nokia has been chugging along with a focus on bigger, industrial and enterprise projects. So, when that Nokia announces that it’s got a new digital assistant to show the world, you know it’s not going to be debuting its own take on Siri.

That said, the company does have a nice, adorable name picked out for the project. MIKA stands for “Multi-purpose Intuitive Knowledge Assistant,” letting engineers and telecom operators access information through voice commands. The system is powered by the company’s cognitive services platform, using “augmented intelligence with automated learning to provide access to an extensive range of tools, documents and data sources.”

Essentially the system is designed to offer quick answers to engineer questions, based on experience drawn from other networks – so, it’s not entirely unlike Siri or Alexa, but it’ll provide answers to engineering questions, instead of turning on a smart lightbulb or checking the local weather.

Facebook Out With a More Safer Login Key

No one wants to hand over their account to a hacker. Today, Facebook is adding a new feature that will help protect users from getting their accounts compromised.

Facebook users can now use a security key to authenticate their identity during the login process. If you use a security key, hackers won’t be able to get into your Facebook account, even if they have your username and password.

Security keys are a form of two-factor authentication — an optional extra layer of security that helps you prove your identity when you log in.

During a typical two-factor authentication process, the user enters their username and password, then the site they’re logging in to responds by texting them verification code. The user enters the verification code, proving that he or she is the proper user of the account, and not a hacker logging in with a stolen password.

But this method has its downfalls. A determined attacker can reset the SIM for the user’s phone and intercept the SMS messages, as we saw in the targeted hack of the activist DeRay Mckesson last summer.

Security keys solve this problem by cutting out the need to transmit the verification code to the user. Keys like those manufactured by Yubico fit into a USB port and can generate a one-time code at the tap of a finger — and, unlike SMS, these codes can’t be captured without physical access to the security key itself. In addition to being more secure, security keys make the login process with two-factor authentication feel a bit faster and more seamless because you don’t have to sit around waiting for the text message to be delivered. Conveniently, security keys still work even when text messages don’t, so you don’t lose access to your accounts just because you don’t have cell service.

If you already use a security key to log into your accounts on Google or Dropbox, you don’t need a new one. You can use the same key across all your accounts.

Brad Hill, a security engineer at Facebook, says it was easy for the company to roll out the feature because it was already used in-house by the engineering staff for logging in to internal systems. It was simply a matter of extending the feature to Facebook’s users.

“We don’t consider two-factor a mandatory thing,” Hill explains. “We see account security as our responsibility regardless of technologies you choose to use. For people who want to stay in control, this would be a good choice for someone who wants to stay ahead of even the most advanced attacks.”

Unfortunately, there’s not a great way to integrate security keys with most mobile devices yet. When logging into their Facebook accounts on mobile, most users will still have to go through the regular old two-factor SMS process (Facebook also lets users generate their verification code through the Facebook app). Users with NFC-capable Android devices and the latest versions of Chrome and Google Authenticator can use an NFC-capable key to verify their identity on the Facebook mobile website.

The challenge of using a security key with a mobile device is one Hill expects to see addressed in the future. Although access is currently limited to certain Android users, Hill says he anticipates more APIs on the Android platform that will support security keys — and that other platforms will follow suit.

Ready to activate your security key? Go to Security Settings in your account and click “Add Key.” (Note: This will only work if you’re using the Chrome or Opera browser.)

Keyboard comeback: BlackBerry Mercury coming

Following the release of the DTEK50 and DTEK60, BlackBerry's next step in its Android-making venture - colloquially named BlackBerry Mercury - is on the horizon.

The news broke via a newly activated Twitter account for the security-minded phone maker. Its only tweet thus far teases something "distinctly different" coming on February 25, two days before MWC 2017 opens its doors but during the period when many companies announce their wares for the show.

The shadowy figure in the tease looks an awful lot like the Nougat-powered BlackBerry Mercury, which we got our hands on during this month's CES 2017 and is expected to release during Q1.

The Mercury also brings back the BlackBerry Classic's physical keyboard - something fans of the company's trademark clickety-clack have missed since the under-performing BlackBerry Priv.

In addition to learning the handset's official name, price, and release date, we hope to see the BlackBerry Mercury in action during MWC 2017 and get some hands-on time with that tactile keyboard for ourselves.

That said, if there's one thing that will likely disappoint us, it's the name. The last two handsets released in BlackBerry's Android line somehow went from the cool codenames Neon and Argon to the painfully unmarketable DTEK50 and DTEK60.

Samsung finally Explains Exploding Note 7 Battery.

After two bungled recalls — and three months after Samsung killed production of the fire-starting Galaxy Note 7 smartphone — the South Korean company is now ready to explain what went wrong.

The company said at a news conference Monday morning in South Korea that two separate problems with its lithium-ion batteries were to blame for the fires, which led to two unprecedented recalls of the smartphone.

DJ Koh, president of mobile at Samsung, said that during the aftermath, the company worked to replicate the incidents and "complete a detailed analysis," according to a translator at the news conference.

In the case of the first battery, Samsung pointed to a design flaw in the upper right corner that, in some cases, caused the positive and negative tabs to break down, resulting in a short circuit.

The second battery, which came from another manufacturer, was apparently faulty because of a welding defect that could cause the battery to catch fire, it said.

The news comes as Samsung is preparing to reveal its fourth-quarter earnings results Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET, which will cover the period that was arguably the most blemished in Samsung's history.

The Galaxy Note 7 launched Aug. 19 in markets including the United States, with the company touting its iris security scanner as one of its standout features. However, the flagship phone soon turned into a serious fire hazard that was blamed for a number of fires and injuries. 

Snapchat's Major redesign, with the Universal Search Bar has today hit the ioS store

Snapchat’s major redesign, which introduces a universal search bar to the top of the app, among other features, has today hit iOS. The refreshed user interface was first announced earlier this month, but was only available to Android users at the time with a promise that it would reach iPhone users “soon.”

The app has long been criticized for being too hard to navigate – something that gave it a bit of “secret club” status among its core demographic of young adults. After all, if the grown-ups can’t figure out how to use the app’s complicated swipe-gestures to move around and find its features, maybe they’ll just stay away.

While this has helped to contribute to the app’s coolness factor, it’s maybe not as good a look for a company that now wants to cater to brands and advertisers, grow its revenue, and potentially IPO in the year ahead

With the new search bar, Snapchat aims to make it easier for its users to find friends, groups, Discover publishers and Our Stories. By tapping into the Search box, a new overlay appears, letting you quickly access friends’ messages or stories through its “Quick Chat” suggestions, connect with your group chats, flip through a list of new friends, add others, or find friends in your contacts.

You can also tap and hold someone’s card to see their mini profile, as well as tap your Bitmoji to the left of the search bar to jump to your own full profile. Here, you’ll notice your profile includes your “Best Friends” (frequent contacts), too.

wants. (Before, users had to pick which Our Story they were authorizing.)

Whether these new features actually make Snapchat easier for newcomers is debatable. The search bar is fairly obvious, and opens the door for search ads in the future, but other features assume a level of familiarity with the app. Snapchat hasn’t really changed its core navigation of using swipes and gestures, but has rather created a way to access shortcuts that take users to its various features and sections.

The update comes at a time when Instagram has fairly successfully copied one of Snapchat’s most powerful features, as its own Instagram Stories have hit 150 million daily users, the same as Snapchat. The hope is that this update will keep Snapchat’s users engaged with the feature it helped pioneer.

So far, Twitter users noticing the update are reporting mixed feelings. Some apparently like the update, while others call it “weird” or “ugly.” Others still, say they’re unsure or confused. This is likely good news for Snapchat, as any new feature will see some griping, but there isn’t yet any major backlash about the changes.

Snapchat’s new version is available in the current iOS update, out now on the App Store.

5 Ways on How to Market on Twitter Like a King.

Here are 5 ways for you to start using Twitter to market your business.

1. Use Twitter Lists

Twitter lists are very powerful.

As your following grows, using the list feature is crucial. Twitter lists are a way for you to group Twitter users together. You may choose to create your lists or subscribe to others lists or both.

If you’re unsure how to create a Twitter list you can learn how right now.  Quick tip on naming your Twitter list, be creative. List can show up in Google Search so name your list for keywords pertinent to your business or service.

With lists you’ll want to do 2 things:

– add people to a list. They call it Social Media for a reason. People like to be included and will appreciate the recognition of being added to a list.

– follow other people’s Twitter lists (particularly your competitors).

Following other lists is an excellent way to do market research and gather information rapidly.

2. Use Twitter Search

Use the Twitter search tool regularly.

The search function on Twitter is one of the most powerful features of Twitter.

Using the Twitter search function, you’re able to search Twitter in real time for no conversations going on around:

Location (City, State or even Zip-Code)

Keywords

Phrases

Hashtags

Dates

User Accounts

With 500 million tweets sent every day, it’s certain that your prospects are on Twitter asking questions, making comments or asking for help – help that you could give to maximize your visibility while providing value at the same time.  With Twitter advanced search, you can zero in on live conversations and engage with people in real-time.

Examples:

Realtors can find conversations about people looking to move locally.

Gyms can find conversations about people looking to work out.

Restaurants can join in on conversations of people looking to eat out.

Website designers can find people looking for a new website.

Lawyers can find people who have just in an accident are in need of legal help.

Use your imagination and jump on Twitter Advanced Search today!

3. Trend is your Friend

Similar to Google Plus Explore or LinkedIn Pulse, Twitter tells you what conversations are trending live on Twitter currently.  These trending topics are located on the left side of your Twitter profile.Consider either joining in on a valuable trending discussion to stay active in the feed or consider using some of the trending Hashtags in your Tweets.  Doing so will get you massively engaged with others and if it’s a hashtag around your niche, you can build amazing relationships.

4) Follow the Who’s Who

Find the top influencers in your local area or niche.  These are the important people to follow and engage with. This will further expose your Twitter account, build your followers faster, and more importantly, help your brand. You can use an excellent free tool like Topsy to find the influencers in your business niche.

5) Engage, Engage, Engage

We’ve saved the most obvious and best, for last.  Engage with your followers regularly.  Remember Twitter is moving fast and unless you’re out engaging, you won’t benefit

from this amazing Social Media platform.

Make sure to regularly reach out and engage with:

Influencers

Those Retweeting you

Those favoriting your Tweets

New Followers

Consider using Commun.it to better manage your Twitter relationships.

This free tool allows you to manage profiles, find your most engaged followers, build and manage your relationships, as well as many other great features.

Conclusion

These 5 tips will help you become the King or Queen of Twitter and they’re easy to implement.

Use Twitter Lists

Use Twitter Search

Trend is your Friend

Follow the Who’s Who

Engage, Engage, Engage

the real magic for creating business happens when you consistently implement these 5 strategies on how to market on Twitter like a king.