money.cnn.com - MasterCard wants to ditch the old-fashioned password and use selfies to approve online purchases.
The company announced it is launching new mobile technologies that will allow customers to authenticate their online purchases using selfies or fingerprints.
The technology will be rolled out by big banks in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and some European countries over the next few months.
People from around the world will be regularly using this authentication technology within five years, said Ajay Bhalla, president of enterprise security solutions at MasterCard (MA).
Bhalla said that using facial and fingerprint scans for purchases is safer than typed passwords since many customers foolishly use easy-to-guess codes.
Customers who want to try selfie authentication will have to download a special MasterCard app that will allow them to take a photo each time they make an online purchase. Their face (or fingerprint) will be scanned to prove that they -- not hackers or thieves -- are making a purchase.
The scan will verify that it's a legitimate selfie -- instead of a previously taken photo -- by requiring users to blink when they take their own photo.
The fingerprint authentication can be used on new smartphones, including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S.
MasterCard said it's also working on other ways to authenticate purchases, including monitoring a customer's heartbeat. Iris scans and voice recognition are also being explored.
Smile for your MasterCard authentication selfie!
MasterCard is not alone in introducing new technology to replace typed passwords.
HSBC (HSBC) announced last week that millions of account holders would soon be able to use their voice and fingerprints to access their money.
People who use HSBC's phone banking services will be able to register their voice with the company instead of using a regular password. Special voice biometrics technology will analyze a customer's voice when they call the bank. Even if customers get a cold, the technology should still work.
Customers with the latest iPhones -- which already boast fingerprint login technology -- will be able to access their accounts on their mobile phones using their fingerprint.

theguardian.com - The first day of the biggest trade show in smartphones has been and gone with a myriad of shiny new gadgets launched from Samsung, Sony, HP, LG, HTC and even Cat. Here's what's hot from Barcelona's Mobile World Congress.
1. Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge
Following up on the redesign of its primarily plastic smartphones into popular premium metal and glass slabs, Samsung's back with the even more curvy 5.1in Galaxy S7 and bigger 5.5in Galaxy S7 Edge.
They both bring back fan favourites of waterproofing and expandable storage with a microSD card slot. But possibly the most significant thing is that they have larger batteries, hopefully ending the eternal hunt for a power supply.
Samsung also launched a 360-degree camera and will start bundling its Gear VR headsets with the S7.
2. LG G5
Not to be outdone by its Korean rival, LG launched arguably one of the bravest flagship Android smartphones to date. Its new G5 has a metal body, 5.3in quad HD screen, fingerprint scanner on the back and runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow.
But unlike everything else the bottom of the phone is removable, exposing an expansion port and the battery. LG hopes consumers will buy into a modular design that allows them to add more battery, accessories and add-ons by slapping them into the bottom of the phone.
LG also had a slender and light virtual-reality headset, a robotic ball with cameras, IR blasters and a laser pointer built in and a 360-degree camera.
3. HP Elite X3
Computer manufacturer HP is having another stab at the smartphone game after failing with the Palm Pre and a few others.
The Elite X3 is being pitched as the do-it-all Windows 10 device. A dual-sim 6in phablet that slots into a dock to turn it into a Windows 10 PC of sorts, allowing users to connect to an external display, keyboard and mouse. Microsoft's Lumia smartphones will do something similar, but HP also showed off a "Mobile Extender" that connects to the X3 to turn it into a laptop.
The device has its own battery, a full keyboard, a 12.5in display and various ports.
It's all powered by Windows 10's Continuum feature, which provides a PC-like experience from a smartphone when connected to a keyboard, mouse and screen.
The idea isn't new - Motorola tried something very similar with its Atrix smartphones that slotted into a laptop accessory - and while it will be Windows 10 on the laptop or desktop, users will be limited to Windows Store apps. Desktop apps require x86 chips such as those made by Intel, not mobile chips such as the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 within the X3, no matter how powerful they are.
4. Cat S60 thermal camera phone
Industrial machinery and clothing brand, Cat, has been making rugged Android smartphones for a couple of years, but its latest has a new trick up its sleeve.
The S60 features a built-in Flir thermal camera for checking temperatures, spotting hotspots and even finding people trapped in wreckages, according to the company.
It's also waterproof to 5m depth, designed to survive falls of up to 1.8m and certified to US military specifications for shock, heat, dust, salt and other conditions that ruin regular smartphones.
5. HTC Vive
HTC and Valve's long-awaited virtual reality headset, the Vive, finally has a price and release date. The Vive will cost $799 (£564), with pre-orders starting on 29 February, shipping in early April.
In competition with Facebook's Oculus Rift VR headset, which costs $599, HTC is pitching the Vive as the "complete VR solution" bundling it with two wireless VR controllers, head-tracking sensors and two VR titles. The Vive also has a camera built-in for enabling augmented reality experiences as well as VR, plus is has a phone built into it for making calls, sending messages and checking calendar invites.
It remains to be seen whether consumers, who will also have to either have or shell out for a very powerful computer to run either the Vive or the Oculus Rift, will be swayed by a gaming and computer accessory costing as much as a smartphone.
6. Sony Xperia Ear
Sony's Xperia Ear hopes to be more than just another Bluetooth headset. Photograph: Sony
Sony's trying to make Bluetooth headsets cool again (if they ever were). The Xperia Ear is a small earbud that does more than just make calls. It aims to put a digital assistant into your ear, allowing users to get the latest news, weather, social media updates and schedule information.
It responds to voice commands and can perform web searches or give directions, but does not use Android's built-in Google Now voice assistant, instead relying on Sony's own systems.
Other manufacturers have tried and failed to make tiny Bluetooth headsets more than just hands-free calling accessories, including Motorola with its Hint. But none have managed to overcome the stigma of wearing such a device in public or convince consumers they want such a thing.

gadgets.ndtv.com - Samsung again staked its claim on the smartphone crown this evening in Barcelona, unveiling its latest flagship smartphones - Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge.
With the company already having warned that 2016 will be tough, it will be looking to the devices to maintain its position at the high end - where many of its rivals have struggled.
In a statement, Samsung said the new devices offer "refined design, more advanced camera, streamlined software functionality and unparalleled connectivity to a galaxy of products, services and experiences".
Galaxy S7 has a 5.1-inch screen, while Galaxy S7 Edge is larger at 5.5-inches. A new addition is an "always-on display", offering access to important information with a "zero touch experience".
Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are said to offer "the first Dual Pixel camera on a smartphone", delivering brighter and sharper images, even in low light. This is also said to deliver a faster shutter speed and more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions.
Also on the spec sheet is fast wired and wireless charging, and a "hybrid SIM card tray", enabling users to insert a microSD card for additional storage and, in some markets, a second SIM.
The South Korean company also said that it had made "significant hardware and software updates" to optimise gaming performance.
"The powerful processor and bigger battery capacity ensure longer playing time, and the internal cooling system keeps the device from overheating," it noted in a statement.
Game Launcher, a new add-on for gamers, enables battery management and minimises notifications, and users can record their gaming or share screens to play with others.
Echoing a feature offered by some rivals, the new Galaxy line offers IP68 water and dust resistance.
The devices will be available from mid-March 2016.

gadgets.ndtv.com - Mobile World Congress doesn't kick off for another couple of days, but the 2016 mobile firsts are already rolling in. Cat's new S60 is the latest rugged flagship smartphone to bear the famed machinery brand, and it adds a pair of unique features: a Flir thermal imaging camera and the first waterproof rating to a depth of 5 meters for up to an hour.
What Cat has done is essentially absorb Flir's standalone thermal camera into the body of the phone. The S60 uses the same sensor and performs the same functions: it produces a live thermal image, measures surface temperatures, and can record both stills and video. The resolution is limited to VGA (640 x 480), which hints toward the fact that it's intended to primarily serve immediate and practical purposes. Cat's examples include search and rescue missions, where bodies might be obscured by smoke or foliage, and police checking tyre temperatures to verify claims. Electricians and farmers also present a substantial overlap between the people likely to be interested in owning a rugged smartphone and having the potential to benefit from thermal imaging.
As serious and niche as the Cat S60 may be, the novelty of its thermal camera lends it a newfound measure of mainstream appeal. I tried out a prototype S60 in London this week, and I was quickly overcome by the desire to take it home and scan everything in my house. Exactly how cold are those drafty corners? Does my zebra plushie actually have a heart? Formula 1 engineers use thermal imaging to help them optimize the power systems of the world's most advanced vehicles and there's now a phone that can do the same at the tap of a button. That's special.
What isn't special about the S60? Pretty much everything else. This Android Marshmallow smartphone runs on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 617 processor, includes LTE support, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage, and comes with a 13-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front-facing camera. If you close off the microphone and earpiece openings using the two yellow notches on its front, the S60 can be taken down to a depth of 5 meters - otherwise its waterproofing is limited to 2 meters - though that doesn't seem like a huge advantage over the typical 1.5-meter rating for waterproof phones. The battery weighs in at a generous 3,800mAh, however the 4.7-inch display only offers an unsatisfying 720p resolution. At least it's bright, reaching a peak brightness in excess of 500 nits, and it supports input with both wet and gloved fingers.
The Gorilla Glass 4 protection up front has been appropriately ramped up for the S60: it's 1mm thick, more than double the typical 0.4mm layer. The surrounding frame is made out of aluminum and the rear is built out of a toughened plastic composite, which only looks like carbon fiber. Bullitt, the company manufacturing this phone under the Cat brand, says it drop-tests the phone from a height of 1.8 meters 26 times - to make sure that every face and corner can withstand crashing against concrete without injuring the internals. So the S60 is no less rugged than any Cat phone that's come before, but now it adds thermal imaging to its list of core capabilities.
The Cat S60 goes on sale at the end of May at a price of $599 / euro649. Judged on the core specs alone, that's obviously a high price to pay, but when you consider that Flir's thermal imaging dongle for the iPhone costs $249 just by itself, having it integrated into a supremely rugged phone might just prove its value for some people.

gadgets.ndtv.com - Considered a luxury not too long ago, smartphones have reached a point that they can now be considered a commodity. But on Wednesday, things will reach a whole new level.
As part of its attempt to connect every Indian, local smartphone manufacturer Ringing Bells 'with immense support' from the India government will launch an affordable smartphone called the Freedom 251 on Wednesday. The Freedom 251, touted as India's cheapest smartphone -and likely the most affordable smartphone in the world as well - will sport a price tag below Rs. 500 (approximately $7).
The Indian smartphone manufacturer said that it will reveal the exact retail price of the handset and other details like its specifications at the launch event. The manufacturer added the launch event will see the presence of a number of top Indian government officials including Shri Manohar Parrikkar, Union Minister of Defence and Shri Murali Manohar Joshi, Hon'ble Member of Parliament.
Ringing Bells says that the smartphone is in line with India Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to connect every Indian and enrich their lives. The company also asserts that its smartphone is built to meet the goals of Make In India, the government's project to entice multinational as well as domestic players to manufacturer their products in India.
The purpose behind the Freedom 251 reminds us of Aakash tablet, also known as Datawind Ubislate 7+, which was promoted by the Indian government to provide college students with affordable computing and Internet-browsing machines. The tablet was launched in India in 2011, and was sold at a price point of under Rs. 3,000. The project, before closing last year, further decreased the price of the device and it was being made available to students across the country at a price of under Rs. 2,500.
With making a smartphone available at a price under Rs. 500, the Freedom 251 has the potential to significantly improve the lifestyle of people in the country with a low income. It will be interesting to see whether or not Ringing Bells is able to manufacture and sell this device at a large scale.
Ringing Bells made headlines earlier this month when it launched the Smart 101, a 4G capable smartphone at a price point of Rs. 2,999 (approximately $44). It sports a 5-inch display, a 1.3GHz quad-core SoC, 1GB of RAM, and 8GB of inbuilt storage which can be expanded using a microSD card (32GB).

latimes.com - Visa Inc. took a significant stake in mobile-payments company Square Inc. prior to its initial public offering, according to a regulatory filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The global credit card and financial services firm acquired some 4.19 million Class B shares in 2011 that do not publicly trade. It has the right to convert 3.52 million of them to Class A shares, the filing by Visa said.
FOR THE RECORD
9:01 a.m.: Earlier versions of this article said Visa had taken a new stake in Square Inc., according to a Square regulatory filing. Visa took the stake in 2011 and disclosed it Thursday.
If it were to do so, Visa would have a 10% stake in the company, smaller only than the 12.4% stake now held by Capital Research and Management Co., the huge mutual fund company based in Los Angeles, according to financial data provider FactSet.
Shares of Square were up 41 cents, or 4.8%, to $9.03 in afternoon trading on Wall Street.
Gil Luria, managing director at Wedbush Securities, said the disclosure could mean that Visa plans to sell its shares.
"Visa is not in the business of owning publicly-traded companies," he said. "Clearly, they're not interested in owning Square, either."
In 2011, Visa wanted a hand in guiding Square's mobile-payment technology, while the stake lent credibility to the young company, Luria said.
Visa's initial interest in Square was a matter of "keeping your friends close and keeping your enemies closer," he added.
The San Francisco-based Square has struggled in the stock market since its November initial public offering at $9 a share. Shares rose 45% on their first day of trading but have since slid back.
Square makes a plastic device that allows mobile phones to accept credit card payments. It generates the vast majority of its revenue from retailers, restaurants and other businesses that pay the company a fee to process payments.
Mobile financial transactions are a fast growing business, but concerns over worldwide economic growth and the valuations of tech companies have cut into stock valuations.
Prior to its IPO, Square reported that its losses rose to $154 million in 2014 on $850 million in revenue. In 2013, its losses totaled $105 million on $552 million in revenue.
Square is headed by Jack Dorsey, who also serves as Twitter Inc.'s chief executive.

elearnja.org - Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, says an announcement will be made shortly regarding the next phase of the Tablets In School programme.
He said the pilot phase has been a tremendous success at the primary level, noting that many students are reading a lot better as a result.
Speaking at the opening of the Flanker Resource Centre in St. James on January 29, Mr. Paulwell said that he, as well as Minister of Education, Hon. Rev. Ronald Thwaites, are of the view that the initiative "can only further enhance the country's educational system."
"We are currently doing an evaluation and proper analysis of the programme but are encouraged with what we have seen so far, especially at the primary level. We are amazed at the improvement in the reading ability of the (students). This is good because if you are leaving primary school and cannot read then this is a big problem," he noted.
Minister Paulwell indicated that some modification will be done to the programme before the next phase begins to ensure that the tablets are used solely for educational purposes, and to enable more children, who were not a part of the pilot "to also get a chance to improve on their literacy."
He informed that 25,000 tablets were distributed during the pilot phase, which got underway in 2014. Of the total, 185 were stolen, and 90 have since been recovered by the police.
"In this regard we want to thank the security forces for the tremendous job they have done in recovering these tablets," Mr. Paulwell said.
"We have put into these devices, special trafficking features where if you steal them then once they are turned on we can find you anywhere you are. We have actually tracked one all the way to Russia. I guess that student didn't realise that the tablet should have been returned once you leave school," he said.
Mr. Paulwell said tablet computers are good tools to put in the hands of young people where they can improve their skills in information technology, which would put them on par with their counterparts in South Korea, Japan, China and other technologically-savvy countries.
"The main thing is that this is a viable programme that is good for Jamaica," the Minister said.
"We have to develop our people, our human resources to build a better Jamaica. We have the talent pool here to deliver. We simply have to provide the tools and create the proper environment... for our young people to show their worth...to show their true mettle. This is what building a country is all about. It is all about giving our people the opportunity to succeed," he contended.