Category: Linkblog

Apple has finally made two-step verification available in Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Spain. Enabling this feature will greatly improve the security for your Apple ID.

Apple doesn’t use an authenticator app like Authy or Google Authenticator to send their 4 digit codes to iOS devices. The code is either send directly to your iOS device or alternatively you can add a phone number that will receive a SMS containing the code. Additonally you get a recovery key in case you aren’t able to access any of your devices or forget your password.

Once Apple requires a code to authenticate yourself you can then decide on what registered device you want that code to show up. A few seconds later you get the code and you just have to enter it on your screen.

You can enable two-step verification for your account on Apple’s My Apple ID page. From there go to Password and Security.

Additional information about two-step verification can be found in Apple’s Frequently asked questions about two-step verification for Apple ID.

Ben Thompson — The Deal That Makes No Sense:

Moreover, the fact Steve Ballmer is stepping down makes a deal of this magnitude hugely problematic. Guy English has already characterized Ballmer’s disastrous reorganization as a straitjacket for the next CEO; adding on a mobile phone business that Microsoft probably should abandon is like attaching an anchor to said straitjacket and tossing the patient into the ocean. It will be that much more difficult for the next CEO to look at Windows Phone rationally.

MG Siegler – Microsoft to acquire Nokia’€™s… (Basically Nokia):

8) It’s actually a pretty decent use of overseas cash, which would otherwise be taxed if repatriated

and

9) Lighting the money on fire would have also saved it from being taxed.

Regarding 9) Does it?

Sharif Sakr for Engadget quoting UK provider EE:

“Following customer feedback, Facebook has decided to focus on adding new customization features to Facebook Home over the coming months. [..]”

That’s one way to say “nobody is buying it in the US, so why bother elsewhere?”.

Jim O’Leary on the Twitter blog:

This is a form of two-factor authentication. When you sign in to twitter.com, there’s a second check to make sure it’s really you. You’ll be asked to register a verified phone number and a confirmed email address.

In general this is awesome news and definitely a step into the right direction. The biggest issue though: Because it is currently only based on SMS, it doesn’t work everywhere.

And to add a little insult to injury: while trying to add your phone number, it shows a list of carriers – in my case in Germany, it’s E-Plus, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone. But despite showing the carriers, I personally can confirm, that O2 doesn’t work. And I’ve heard that Vodafone or T-Mobile don’t work either. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t work with E-Plus.

I’m surprised that Twitter didn’t launch with support for Google Authenticator, and as such, also with compatibility for other TOTP apps.

Bogdan Petrovan for AndroidAuthority.com:

Amidst a flurry of negative reports, a glimmer of hope for HTC – the One is selling relatively good, moving five million units since launch.

Not as bad as one might have thought, even though the company’s disarray certainly doesn’t sound to good for the company.

(via The Verge)

Tom Phillips for Eurogamer:

In a watershed moment for Nintendo: the Japanese developer has released its first paid-for iOS app.

A version of the existing 3DS Pokédex app is now available for iPhone, iPad and iPhone devices (thanks, Serebii).

Initially just for release in Japan, the download also comes with in-app purchases.

Granted it’s just a Pokémon encyclopaedia, but nonetheless an interesting development.