Pokemon Go players selling their accounts for more than $100 on eBay

Gamers cash in on ‘Pokemon Go’ popularity, sell accounts on eBay

Mobile phenomenon Pokemon Go from the time it was launched on July 6 has taken the whole world by storm. Gamers who are addicted to this game have gone to the extent of using drones and different hacking methods to help speed up their progress in the game. While some gamers have gone beyond this…

Cashing on the popularity of Pokemon Go, there are some gamers who are making quite the profit from their hard earned work of catching and levelling their Pokemon collection. Now, almost two weeks after the game was released, marketplaces like eBay and Craigslist, as well as social sites like Facebook, have become flooded with players offering to sell their accounts featuring rare and high-level Pokemon for more than $100.

What is more astonishing is just how much these accounts are going for, with some even hitting a Buy It Now price tag of $499.99. Also, it is not surprising that some of these accounts have been picked up. There are plenty of Pokemon hunters who, despite their best tries, are unsuccessful in collecting these virtual creatures. This is most likely due to the fact of rural areas are rare with certain Pokemon compared to big cities, thus forcing them to buy accounts as it is currently the only way for them to get more types of Pokemon. There is also far less PokeStops, and because of the smaller number of players spread out over larger terrain, there are less lures being dropped.

For instance, accounts listed at level 14 were going for $100, while an account sitting at level 15 was selling for $175 on sites like eBay. On the other hand, there are also lesser bids for some of the lower-priced accounts, including $50 accounts listed at level 10. However, the developer behind the game, Niantic Labs has clearly said this is considered cheating.

It has noted under Niantic’s trainer’s guidelines on its site that you are not allowed to buy or sell accounts, and that gamers caught trying to login with a different Gmail address could be hit with a soft ban. If the development team Niantic cracks down on selling accounts or add in the ability to trade Pokemon in the future, the trade will likely dramatically decrease.

Currently, Pokemon Go is available in various countries around the world, with Niantic promising to have the game rolled out to other regions as soon as server problems are fixed. Pokemon Go is currently the top free and top grossing app on both Apple’s App Store and Google Play. According to research firm SensorTower, it has topped more than 20 million downloads worldwide.

The post Pokemon Go players selling their accounts for more than $100 on eBay appeared first on TechWorm.

Pokemon Go players selling their accounts for more than $100 on eBay
read more

Opera sells browser business to a Chinese tech group for $600 million

Group of Chinese buyers purchase Opera’s browser business for $600 million

Opera Software, makers of the well-known alternative web browser Opera, has reached an agreement to sell the mobile and desktop browser portion of its business to a Chinese consortium of technology companies for an estimated $600 million, after a previous $1.2 billion deal fell through the cracks.

However, the Norwegian company will keep its advertising and marketing business as well as its game-related apps and television operations, in a bid to escape a long regulatory holdup.

The lead investor among the buyers is Kunlun Tech Co., a Beijing-based company that operates the Brothersoft desktop app store and 1Mobile Android app market. Earlier this year, they also bought a majority stake in gay dating app Grindr as the business tries to expand outside of its staple, which is mobile game development. The other buyer named so far is Qihoo 360, who is known in China for its mobile app store and anti-virus software. Both companies are said to be trying to build themselves up to better compete with fellow Chinese corporate giants Alibaba and Tencent.

Beyond the Opera browsers for mobile and desktop platforms, Opera will sell its performance and privacy technology, as well as entire Opera’s tech licensing (outside of the Opera TV ecosystem). The deal also includes acquiring of Opera’s 29 percent stake in Chinese joint venture nHorizon, which also develops a browser. In addition, the Consortium has acquired the name “Opera.”

“According to what we know, it was because of Opera’s other services, and involves […] many users’ privacy. This would be extremely rigorously investigated during the U.S. government’s audit and probably would have delayed the entire acquisition process by six months to a year,” a spokeswoman said. “So we opted for a better method, and chose Opera’s core assets, namely the consumer business, as the target of the acquisition. That greatly accelerates the acquisition process.”

Nevertheless, the deal isn’t official yet except for the agreement, as it is important to receive an approval to seal it.

The post Opera sells browser business to a Chinese tech group for $600 million appeared first on TechWorm.

Opera sells browser business to a Chinese tech group for $600 million
read more

How to change your bored Facebook look into a new one with Facebook Flat Design

Change your bored Facebook look into a fresh one with this Google Chrome extension

Some of you may have been using Facebook day in day out and maybe bored with the same old drab Facebook look. Mark Zuckerberg and his team may not even be thinking of changing the age-old Facebook look but you can. If you are bored with how Facebook looks, this article will offer you an alternative.

For those who want to change how your Facebook looks on your Google Chrome, You can try out this amazing chrome extension called Facebook Flat.

Facebook Flat not only gives your Facebook a new flat refreshing look but also removes all type of Facebook ads from your timeline. The Facebook Flat extension also comes with a lot of extra features like who viewed your profile which allows you to see who visited your Facebook profile.

The Facebook Flat extension is pleasing to eyes because it removes all distractions and gives you a clean look. Download Facebook Flat Extension in your Chrome Browser from Chrome Store.

The post How to change your bored Facebook look into a new one with Facebook Flat Design appeared first on TechWorm.

How to change your bored Facebook look into a new one with Facebook Flat Design
read more

Blizzard Entertainment urged to Remove Devi Portrayal from “Overwatch” Video Game

Blizzard’s sexual depiction of Hindu Goddess in ‘Óverwatch’ is just not right

After making all the right noises since its launch, Blizzard seems to have erred. Overwatch is in the news again and this time, it’s for depicting a Hindu Goddess as an in-game hero.

Hindus worldwide are urging Blizzard Entertainment to withdraw the Devi (Goddess) skin of Symmetra character in its Overwatch video game, calling it inappropriate. Skins are alternate appearances that players can apply to characters in video games.

The Universal Society of Hinduism has objected to a skin that Blizzard introduced for Overwatch’s Symmetra. The skin transforms Symmetra into something not unlike the Hindu Goddess Kali by giving her blue skin, vaguely Indian attire and a set of poses that vaguely resemble traditional depictions of Hindu Goddesses. The skin itself is titled Devi.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that in a video game set-up, the player controlled the movements of Devi, while in reality the devotees put the destinies of themselves in the hands of their goddesses.

Moreover, Devi and its movements depicted in Overwatch did not match with characterization of the goddesses in the scriptures, Rajan Zed noted.

Zed stated that Blizzard Entertainment needed to follow its own “core values” which included “lead responsibly” (As one of the world’s leading game companies, we’re committed to making ethical decisions), as in this case it was creating confusion in the minds of community about Devi by misrepresentation.

Rajan Zed indicated that reimagining Hindu scriptures, symbols, concepts and deities for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it created confusion. Controlling and manipulating Devi with a joystick/ button/keyboard/mouse was denigration. Devi was meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines and not to be reduced to just a “character” in a video game to be used in combat in the virtual battleground.

Zed further said that Hindus were for free speech as much as anybody else if not more. But faith was something sacred and attempts at belittling it hurt the devotees. Video game makers should be more sensitive while handling faith related subjects, as these games left lasting impact on the minds of highly impressionable children, teens and other young people, Zed added.

For those who know little about Hinduism, Devi, synonymous with Sakti, is applied to any of the many forms of Hindu goddess. Ancient Sanskrit text Devi Mahatmya described her supreme powers.

The post Blizzard Entertainment urged to Remove Devi Portrayal from “Overwatch” Video Game appeared first on TechWorm.

Blizzard Entertainment urged to Remove Devi Portrayal from “Overwatch” Video Game
read more

WhatsApp to get a new Font but you can use it right now with this hack

Here is how you can start using WhatsApps new ‘FixedSys’ font even before it is officially released

Are you bored with WhatsApp’s age old font? Don’t worry because WhatsApp is bringing an all new font to you in its next release. The font which looks pretty similar to Windows’ FixedSys is being rolled out in the next WhatsApp version v2.16.179 beta on Android.  FoneArena has reported that the feature is available on iOS beta as well.

The beta version is available on to those who have signed up for Google Play’s beta program. However, even if you have not signed up for Google Play’s beta program, here is a hack that will let you try the new WhatsApp font and surprise your friends.

To use the new font all you need to do is put three grave accent symbol (`) before and after a word or a sentence which you want to modify. However, it seems when it rolls out globally the font won’t need the symbols because it can’t be used with other formatting options like bold and italics.

For example: “`hi“` will show hi in the new font on WhatsApp.

The world’s most popular cross platform messaging App is doing all the right things to keep its users hooked 24×7 on WhatsApp. It had recently rolled out some new features to beta like ‘mentions’ and ‘group invite links’ that are still to reach stable versions. While mentions is a feature to grab your friends attention is a group chat similar to tagging a friend on Facebook, group invite link now lets you invite your friends to a WhatsApp group.

The post WhatsApp to get a new Font but you can use it right now with this hack appeared first on TechWorm.

WhatsApp to get a new Font but you can use it right now with this hack
read more

iPhone 7, Plus, and Pro model photo leak reveals dual camera and other specs

Latest alleged leaks shows iPhone 7, Plus and Pro models

The news of an upcoming iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus to be released in September this year has been doing the rounds for the last few months along with its rumoured specifications.

However, in a latest photo leak obtained by renowned leaks website NowhereElse, which was first posted on Chinese social media website Weibo, shows that not two but three models are expected to be released in Apple’s 2016 iPhone 7 line-up. While the legitimacy of the leak is yet to be verified, there have been previous reports indicating that Apple could similarly introduce a third “Pro” model to the lineup in addition to the usual 4.7-inch model and larger 5.5-inch ‘Plus’ variant. This could be the biggest release Apple’s ever had all at once.

The leaked photos indicate that there are basic upgrades in the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus with camera enhancements. Also, there is a bigger device, one with two lenses in one camera array. A device that’s meant to reflect the giant power of the iPad Pro, a device made to take the place of the mobile PC.

The photos also included a shot of the back of the devices that shows “S” markings on each phone. The next iPhone isn’t expected to be an “S” year iPhone, as Apple typically introduces those minor updates every other year.

As for differentiators between the models, an image of the back of the devices shows an iPad-like Smart Connector and dual-camera system, both previously rumoured for iPhone 7, only present on the Pro model.

The iPhone 7 will move the antenna lines that are traditionally positioned horizontally on the back of the smartphone. Now, the antennae on the new iPhone will appear on the top and bottom sides of the casing where they are less noticeable. There are also rumours of somewhat controversial removal of the 3.5mm headphone jack. However, the Plus model sports a dual-camera setup.

As the origin of the source is unknown, it is important to take this one with a pinch of salt. However, the details do line up with previous reports, which say the new iPhone would feature a dual speaker and larger camera lens. The reports also have said that aside from the new features, the iPhone 7 would resemble the iPhone 6S externally.

Watch this space for more news on iPhone 7 leak and related details.

The post iPhone 7, Plus, and Pro model photo leak reveals dual camera and other specs appeared first on TechWorm.

iPhone 7, Plus, and Pro model photo leak reveals dual camera and other specs
read more

Google used this woman’s name on all its Docs templates

Do you know what happens when Google uses your name in its Docs templates?

For the last two years, Casey Baumer has been dealing with confused and angry messages. Thanks to Google, who included her name on all its Docs templates to make it easy for users to create resumes, school essays, brochures, and newsletters. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a nightmare for Baumer.

The name “Casey Baumer” was used by Google as the randomly generated dummy name across all of its templates in the app as an example so that people could see how the document would be formatted; the idea is to replace her name, (obviously) fake address and other details with your own when you create your own documents.

It all started almost two years ago when Baumer got her first message about Google Docs.

A friend called and asked her, “‘Uhh, did you know your name is the Google Docs name?’ And I had no idea what she was talking about,” the 20-something food stylist tells Business Insider.

However, it did not take her much to find it out.

According to a Google spokesperson, in the spirit of creativity, the company decided to use “Casey Baumer” instead of like John Smith or Jane. However, the decision ironically backfired, as the real Casey Baumer started receiving dozens of irate or confused messages.

After that initial phone call, Baumer started hearing more and more about her “alter ego” from friends and acquaintances.

Occasionally, it was kind of funny, so she tried to overlook it or would respond by explaining the situation. However, about a year ago, things really went out of hand when she discovered a landmine of messages in her “Other” inbox on Facebook from people demanding to know how she hacked into their accounts to create documents or secretly communicating with their significant others.

“If you actually look at the documents, instead of just reading the name, it’s clear that none of it’s real,” Baumer says. Google user a filler text, called “lorem ipsum,” for the bulk of the documents, so it’s just gibberish. “But people clearly don’t really read it!”

The continuous bombardment of messages became annoying and eerie. Someone even started writing a fictional story about her.

She doubted whether Google had actually Googled the name before it used hers and wished it had.

While some of the messages made Baumer laugh, the cases where people appeared to be extremely mad made her scratchy. Baumer said she is now tired of explaining the mix-up and posted a couple of status updates on Facebook to try and get Google’s attention.

Luckily, her most recent status caught the attention of the company. A spokesperson said the company’s in the process of updating its template names.

That comes as huge relief for Baumer.

Source: Independent

The post Google used this woman’s name on all its Docs templates appeared first on TechWorm.

Google used this woman’s name on all its Docs templates
read more