The Simple Secret to Enjoying Meditation

Meditation is not easy.

Many people read about the benefits of meditating for 20 minutes each day and try to do just that, resulting in discouraging failure.

Meditating for 20 minutes the first time is like trying to bench 450lb on your first day at the gym. Or attempting a black diamond course your first day on skis.

It’s going to end in frustration and boredom, and will likely taint meditation for a long time. Meditation then feels like a difficult chore as opposed to something natural, centering and pleasurable.

Instead, shoot for just 30 seconds. Once you can go the whole time without your mind wandering, double the duration. Repeat.

When your mind does wander, don’t be down on yourself! Simply accept it and center your thoughts once more. Becoming frustrated about this will only set you back further.

You’ll work your way to 20 minutes in no time.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 hands-on: Intel inside

Samsung's newly-announced Galaxy Tab 3 10.1-inch tabletreached our grubby mitts, and we are pretty curious to examine the first Intel Atom-based Android slate from Sammy.

This is still a non-final unit, though you can't really tell from the chassis build - it is very light at 510g, and thin, at sub-8mm, plus it is compact and feels quite sturdy. Though a 10-incher should be meant to be held in landscape mode, here the side bezel is thinner than the top, where the Samsung logo is, and the bottom, which houses a physical home key, as well as capacitive navigational buttons. These touch keys can be inadvertently pressed very easily when the tablet is held in portrait orientation, though the tablet includes a sensor to turn them off in that situation if you wish.

The screen, at 1280x800 pixels and 145ppi, is pretty basic for today's tablet standards, indicating that Samsung didn't want to throw the kitchen sink in its first experiment with Intel and Android. It displays decent colors and good viewing angles, though, so the only gripe is about the comparatively low resolution. Well, depending on the price, as if this thing lands at rock bottom, or complaining bets are off.

TouchWiz Nature UX is what is gracing the tablet, with some of the gestures and eye-tracking features like Smart Stay that debuted with the Galaxy S4, but not all of them.

PayPal email error has confused users up in arms

A handful of PayPal users in Europe reported that they received an email from the online banking service saying that they won €500 that they could claim by logging into their account. It wasn’t a phishing attempt, but rather just an error on PayPal’s part that sent out a bunch of winning emails to users.

The emails were a part of a raffle drawing that PayPal actually plans to start sometime this summer, but it seems that when testing the platform, PayPal accidentally sent out winning emails to some users. Some of them logged into their accounts to claim the money, but found that €500 wasn’t waiting on them.

PayPal addressed the confusion by saying that the emails were sent out due to a technical error, saying that the raffle drawing as not taken place yet. It appears that PayPal was merely figuring out who would be eligible for the raffle, and it seem the emails went out those users on accident.

Of course, many users right away thought that it was a phishing attempt by a hacker who posed as PayPal, which would be the natural reaction to most users who are cautious about the internet. However, PayPal notes that it wasn’t a phishing attempt, but rather just a mistake on their part, officially dashing the hopes of many users who thought they’d just won €500.

Of course, PayPal hasn’t been all that popular amongst users the past couple of years. Last year, they updated their policy that would prevent users from suing unless they physically mailed in a letter to the company that would exempt them from the policy change — a rather blatant attempt to get users to dislike them.

VIA: The Next Web

Temple Run: Brave now in the Windows Phone Store

A Brave-movie themed version of Temple Run is now in the Windows Phone Store.

The version of the game was first released in June 2012 on iOS

In Temple Run: Brave, you play Merida, heroine of the Disney/Pixar movie, as she races, slides, jumps, turns and shoots across Scotland’s backcountry wilds—all in gorgeous visuals inspired by the film. This fun iteration of Imangi Studios’ original Temple Run also introduces archery: just tap a target to aim and fire, and earn extra coins with every bulls-eye. And if you can outrun Mordu, the demon bear, you’ll earn running glory.

The Brave-themed version costs $0.99, which is Windows Phone 8 only and requires 1GB of RAM, and can be found in the  Windows Phone Store here.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 spotted in golden brown

Officially announced only in a white color version, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 is going to be released around the world this month. And it seems that it will be sold in a “golden brown” version, too.

EVleaks has posted an image showing the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 in golden brown, unfortunately without providing any details on it. Still, just like the white edition, the golden brown Tab 3 7.0 should feature Android Jelly Bean, a 1024 x 600 pixels display, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, 1.3MP front-facing camera, 3MP rear camera, 1GB of RAM, dual-core 1.2GHz processor, 8GB / 16GB of internal memory, a 4,000 mAh battery, and MicroSD card support.

From what we’ve previously heard, the Galaxy Tab 3 7.0 8GB could cost as low as $199.99.

Earlier this week, Samsung announced two other new-generation tablets, the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1. Like the 7 inch version, these will be launched this month. Both will be more expensive than the Tab 3 7.0 – I assume prices for the Tab 3 8.0 will start at around $300. But we’ll see.

Get Next Launcher 3D Free Today With This Code (Usually $16)

A $16 Android launcher is a tough sell, but you can pick up a copy of Next Launcher 3D today for free. This alternative launcher is the work of the Go Launcher Dev Team, and the paid version has over 100,000 downloads, even at $16. Just a few keystrokes and you can have it for free, though. Even if the flashy UI isn't your speed, it's worth grabbing just to play around with.

  

  

Download the trial version of Next Launcher 3D to get started, and choose Get Free when the splash screen comes up. To unlock it, open the menu and go into preferences. Since this interface is going to take some getting used to, I'll just let you know the menu button is in the far right dock position. In preferences, scroll all the way down and tap on About Full Version. Choose the Activate option, and put in "nextlauncher3d" as the account, and "appoftheday" as the code (both without the quotes). The app should be unlocked and you can play around without worrying about the trial period expiring.

  

This unlock code is only valid today, and it won't tie the upgrade to your Google account permanently. So think about backing up the app using Helium or Titanium Backup if you want to be safe. Next Launcher also overrides the background image in all launchers when it's installed. You can change it back, but still a small annoyance. All the Go widget packs are installed separately, but they appear to all be free.

The Google Keyboard For Android Supports Text Expansion, Here's How To Use It

the newly minted availability of the Google Keyboard on the Play Store, it's time to call out this great little feature.

Here's how to set up text expansions:

1. Go to Settings -> Language & input -> tap on the settings icon for Google Keyboard. Keep in mind, if your phone has an OEM skin, things might be named differently or a little out of place.
   --OR--
   With the Google Keyboard already open on your screen, long-press the microphone button for the settings icon, then tap on Google Keyboard Settings.
2. Tap on Personal dictionary
3. Tap the '+' icon in the top right
4. Enter a long phrase and your shortcut text. Try using "AndroidPolice.com" and "ap"
5. If you have multiple languages set up, you may want to change the language dropdown to target all languages.
6. Hit the back button

OS 7 Confirmed: New Banners Up at Moscone West

It's been three days since Apple began enlivening Moscone West with Wwdc 2013 flags, and today the association has begun openly flaunting new signage alluding to the following emphasis of ios, ios 7. In a press discharge distributed in April, Apple said visionaries going to Wwdc might look into time to come of ios and Os X.

Utilizing an exceptionally straightforward layout contrasted with a year ago, Apple is basically truism "7″ on the flag that seems to be set up at Moscone West at this time. As per theory from the previous not many months, ios 7 will be a takeoff from past forms of the working framework regarding client interface outline. After a year ago revamping of the official group, Tim Cook himself affirmed at D11 that Jony Ive, now head of the Human Interface Group at Apple, has been taking a shot at another "look and feel" for ios. 

Apple WWDC 2013 Keynote Time Zones

Apple WWDC 2013 Keynote Time Zones

13:00 — New York, New York
10:00 — San Francisco, California
07:00 — Honolulu, Hawaii
03:00 (Tuesday) — Sydney, Australia
02:00 (Tuesday) — Tokyo, Japan
01:00 (Tuesday) — Shanghai, China
22:30 — New Delhi, India
21:00 — Moscow, Russia
19:00 — Rome, Italy
18:00 — London, England

Google reportedly working with Sony to release Xperia Z “Nexus Edition”

One's favorable luck; two's a pattern; three's a gathering.

Similarly as with the Samsung Galaxy S4 and Htc One, Google is apparently working with Sony to discharge a "Nexus Edition" form of the association's lead Xperia Z. Consistent with divide sources at Android Geeks and Android Central, a vanilla form of the Xperia Z has been in the works for quite a while, and Sony's close organization with the Android Open Source Project has made the move a smooth one.

In spite of the fact that it won't go at a bargain on June 26th like its Samsung and Htc partners, the Xperia Z will probably be started some an opportunity in July on the U.s. Play Store, with different markets set to take after. It gives the idea that the association may be holding up for the discharge of Android 4.3 preceding unleashing the 5-inch cell phone on the planet, which has been slated for a mid-June divulging.

While Sony's water-and dustproof Xperia Z might not have accepted the warm gathering of its associates, its an incredible cell phone all the same. The 1080p screen is sharp and warm, exhibition is liquid, and the 13mp Polaroid is to a great degree responsive. Anyhow Sony likewise shackled its leader with fittings that has been superseded in both exhibition and thermal effectiveness by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 600 framework on-a-chip, and numerous audits discovered its general Polaroid quality and screen survey edges less than perfect.

Canada never got an opportunity to experience the Xperia Z, as the Xperia Zl sold by Rogers and Bell is somewhat stouter and fails to offer the waterproof fulfill of the universally sold model. In the event that such a model does exist, Sony might need to do without large portions of the programming upgrades it uses to advertise the apparatus, incorporating its custom Bravia Engine and the astounding Superior Auto mode in the Polaroid application.

The move likewise identifies with Google's duty to stock Android, as it might have four units available, incorporating the Nexus 4, running Aosp-based code. The Xperia Z might get upgrades straightforwardly from Google, months sooner than its bearer sold partners. 

GamePop Android Console Will Play iOS Games On TV

BlueStacks’ upcoming GamePop subscription-based Android game console will also let gamers play iOS games on their TV, thanks to its Looking Glass technology.

The Looking Glass technology translates mobile games for use on the TV, even iOS games. The technology gives developers an API that will let their iOS games run on the Android-based GamePop console. Looking Glass essentially emulates iOS, or at least all of the APIs of iOS on the Android console, which lets the games run without issue.

In an interview with The Verge BlueStacks CEO Rosen Sharma said the process to bring iOS games to GamePop is incredibly easy. “Literally all developers have to do is change their payments backend so it works with our subscription model and that’s it,” Sharma claimed. “They don’t have to do anything else to their games.”

Because the Looking Glass technology doesn’t use any of Apple’s code, Sharma believes Apple can’t sue his company for making iOS games run on the GamePop console.

BlueStacks already has a number of iPhone and Android developers signed on to support GamePop. Those studios include Subatomic Studios (makers of iOS classic Fieldrunners), Halfbrick (Jetpack Joyride, Fruit Ninja), Jawfish Games and Gameloft. The company also has plans to announce more iOS-first developers as the release of the console draws near.

The company also promises the popular iOS game Clash of Clans will work on the GamePop, and that it looks great on an HDTV thanks to the graphics made for the iPad‘s Retina Display.

Until the end of June interested gamers can get the GamePop console for free as long as they commit to a one-year subscription to the game service. In July users can pre-order the console for $129 and extra controllers for $20 each.

The subscription, which will give gamers unlimited access to hundreds of games, will cost $6.99. It’s like Netflix for games, but a bit cheaper.

BlueStacks hasn’t shown the controller for the GamePop console yet, but it promises that it won’t look like a rip-off of the Xbox 360 controller. Gamers who don’t want to buy a controller will also have the chance to control games through a special controller app for iOS and Android.

Nokia Lumia EOS Video Teases Optical Zoom

Leaked video of the Nokia Lumia EOS, the company’s follow up to the camera-centric Nokia 808 PureView, indicate that the device could have optical image focusing.

In the video titled “Sneak Peek: Nokia Lumia EOS PureView”, which leaked to the web this week on the YouTube social network, the camera lens of what’s asserted to be the Lumia EOS can be seen moving in a motion that’s identical to the way point and shoot cameras with optical image zoom behave.

The video also seems to indicate that the lens has a built-in cover for when the device’s camera functionality isn’t in use.

If the optical focusing is present in the Nokia Lumia EOS it would be a huge win for the company in more ways than one. While today’s top performing smartphones do have digital cameras that boast high pixel ranges like the Samsung’s Galaxy S4, and Apple’s iPhone 5, these devices rely on digital zooming which can ruin photos no matter what quality camera sensor is being used.

iRadio Reveal on Monday Likely as Apple Inks Last Minute Deal

Sony Music as of late marked a bargain with Apple, making it the final major music name to sign up for the supposed upcoming iradio administration.

The bargain with Sony Music, reported by All Things D implies that Apple now has manage every one of the three of the major music marks for its iradio music streaming administration. With every one of the three names seared on Apple can offer music from a number of the most famous groups and performers on the streaming administration.

Fruit still needs to make a bargain with Sony/atv, the music distributed arm of Sony for the administration. Those transactions are likely simpler than the ones Apple had with Sony Music as per the All Things D report.

The supposed iradio administration might make Apple the last entrance into the music streaming business. Unlike Spotify, Google Play Music All Access and Microsoft Xbox Music the supposed music streaming administration is supposedly built more in light of a radio administration than on-interest tracks.

Fruit's administration might give clients more access to on-interest music than administrations like Pandora, notwithstanding. The iradio administration will probably resemble a mixbetween Pandora and Spotify.

That mixwas as of late rebukes for the demanding transactions. Names and distributers allegedly lean toward the Spotify model to the Pandora model, which made it hard for Apple to make the bargains it required.

Fruit will probably flaunt the new iradio benefit at Wwdc on Monday as a component of ios 7. The association may not take off the administration one week from now, be that as it may. The presentation will probably only flaunt the administration to visionaries, with a launch nearing at some point later in the not so distant future.

Like Pandora, Apple likely won't charge for its iradio benefit, rather selecting a notice based framework. It's not clear if the association has an arrangement to offer a paid membership that will uproot the ads from the administration. Those portions will probably turn out closer to the administration's discharge. 

18 Thought-Provoking Questions

1. If you could make a 30 second speech to the entire world, what would you say?
2. If you were going to die at midnight, what would you be doing at 11:45pm?
3. How do you really KNOW anything for sure?
4. If you had all the money in the world but still had to have some kind of job, what would you choose to do?
5. When you’re 90 years old, what will matter most to you?
6. What do you regret most so far in life?
7. How can you apply the lesson you learned from that regret to your life TODAY?
8. What would you change if you were told with 100% certainty that God does not exist? Or if you don’t believe in God, that he does exist?
9. If you lost everything tomorrow, whose arms would you want to run into? Does that person know how much they mean to you?
10. Do you fear death? If so, do you have a good reason?
11. What would you change if you knew you were NEVER going to die?
12. If you were at heaven’s gates, and God asked “you why should I let you in?”, what would you say?
13. When will you be good enough for you? Is there some breaking point where you will accept everything about yourself?
14. Is the country you live in really the best fit for you?
15. What would people say about you at your funeral?
16. What small thing could you do to make someone’s day better?
17. (If you believe in god) would your relationship with god change it all if you were told with 100% certainty that he was actually a she?
18. What do you believe stands between you and complete happiness?

Advanced Meditation Guide

Basic instructions

Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight, the crown of your head ‘pulled upwards’ and your chin turned in a little towards your chest. If you feel any pain in the knees or in the back, sit a little bit higher on a cushion. It is of essential importance that you can relax deeper and deeper, and potentially even fall asleep while sitting. If this is not the case, choose to sit in a chair or to lie down on your back.

During the meditation, try to concentrate on the physical, bare, sensations of the breath. When you are new to meditation, focus on the area around the belly, sucking air in, pushing air out. Try to breathe into the belly, here are the most veins that take up oxygen and helps the parasympathetic nervous system to calm you down. In time, when you have developed a somewhat better concentration you can move to the sensations around the nostrils. The sensations here are harder to detect and thus you need to pay more attention. Keep in mind that everything else other than the bare sensations is a distraction. Feeling good? Go back to the sensation of the breath. Having a good thought? Go back. Making sounds on the rhythm of the breath? Then you are masking the true sensations of the moment, try to find how it actually feels so go back. You might want explicitly note every time you get distracted. So if you notice you are not on the breath anymore, label the moment  ’distraction’ and move your attention back to the object of meditation. Keep in mind, every time you notice you lost the object, you are making progress!

Start with 5 minutes twice a day. Move up once you feel like you could and wanted to do more. This can already happen after the first session. Move up to 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 minutes twice a day.

Life In Two Words

50 Life Secrets and Tips

1. Memorize something everyday.Not only will this leave your brain sharp and your memory functioning, you will also have a huge library of quotes to bust out at any moment. Poetry, sayings and philosophies are your best options.
2. Constantly try to reduce your attachment to possessions.Those who are heavy-set with material desires will have a lot of trouble when their things are taken away from them or lost. Possessions do end up owning you, not the other way around. Become a person of minimal needs and you will be much more content.
3. Develop an endless curiosity about this world.Become an explorer and view the world as your jungle. Stop and observe all of the little things as completely unique events. Try new things. Get out of your comfort zone and try to experience as many different environments and sensations as possible. This world has so much to offer, so why not take advantage of it?
4. Remember people’s namesso that they feel appreciated and for your own future benefit when you want something from that person. To do this, say their name back to them when they introduce themselves. Then repeat the name in your head a number of times until you are sure you have it. Continue to use their name in conversation as much as possible to remove any chance of forgetting it. If you’re still having trouble, make up a rhyme about their name: “Dan the Man” or “Natalie flatters me.”
5. Get fit!It’s ridiculous to think that we have one body, one sole means of functioning, and people are too lazy to take care of themselves. Fit bodies lead to better health, confidence and more success with romantic endeavors. I’d say those are 3 very good reasons to get in shape.
6. Learn to focus only on the present.The past is unchangeable so it is futile to reflect on it unless you are making sure you do not repeat past mistakes. The future is but a result of your actions today. So learn from the past to do better in the present so that you can succeed in the future.
7. Even more specifically, live in THIS moment.Even 10 minutes ago is the past. If you live purely in this moment you will always be happy because there is nothing wrong in this split-second.
8. Smile more often.Whenever you get a grin on your face, your brain is releasing serotonin, the happy hormone. Smiling is the natural way to force yourself to be happy. Many people even smile for five minutes straight in the morning to get themselves in a great mood for the day. It is a very powerful tool that is utilized less and less as we grow older and need happiness more than ever. Just remember that while happiness leads to smiles, smiles also lead to happiness.
9. Drink water.Hydration is tremendously important for overall health. Soda has absolutely ZERO nutritional content; it’s like pouring a punch of sugar and syrup into your cup. Instead, fill it with life-replenishing water. It may taste plain at first if you’re coming off of a heavy soda-drinking streak, but you’ll soon find yourself addicted to it. 10 glasses per day is optimal, how many have you been getting lately?
10. Don’t take life so seriously!Learn to laugh at the little things and this whole “existence” thing will be a whole lot easier. Be amused by your mistakes and failures and be thankful that you learned your lesson and won’t mess up like that again. And most importantly do things that you enjoy! Life is not strictly business, it can be mixed with pleasure.
11. Think positive thoughts.When you find yourself thinking a negative thought, stop it immediately by any means necessary. Slap yourself in the face, yell something positive at the top of your lungs or jump up and down. Do whatever it takes to get back to a positive mindset as such is essential for continual happiness and success.
12. Read books.No explanation needed.
13. Get in the sun.Superman was completely re-energized when he flew out to space and soaked in some rays and you can do the same right outside your front door (if you live in a constantly dreary place, my apologies). The sun feels amazing: your entire body will be coursing with warmth and life.
14. Help others.I’ll just give you a plethora of reasons why this is a MUST
    • Helping people has a ripple effect. If you help someone they will feel more obliged to help someone else, and so on. Pay it forward
    • You grow by giving and helping others. It can change you in ways you never expected
    • Your relationship with that person will become stronger
    • It’s the most fulfilling thing you can do on this planet. It not only feels amazing physically, you also feel like a good person
    • You might be able to call in a favor later when you need some help
    • Karma (if you believe in it)
    • Because there are more people in this world than just you

The batteries of the future

For ZDFinfo and mission WISO plus have the two embark on a quest to Taiwan after the upcoming technologies in terms of battery technology. In modern smartphones , it is not only on processor performance or resolution of the display - the best device brings us nothing if the battery makes the vault after a few hours. There are now no pure mobile phones more times, but micro-computer and pretty all-rounder.

The manufacturers are approaching the same problem from several sides. Thus, the new processor generations are characterized in that they not only provide better performance, but there are also more energy efficient than their predecessors. But even with the battery itself is recognized. As you can see in the video concepts for ultra-thin batteries that are not only very easy but also very flexible. They are thus predestined to be accommodated, for example, in cases, are likely in the future but also play an important role when it comes to wearable computing - ie batteries that are in smartwatch, Smartglasses or even clothing.

Not only such a battery is characterized in that it is thin, light and flexible, they are also less sensitive than the batteries and the batteries we currently use. In the clip you can see how Sasha added these batteries without leak or something that they quit the service. In little more than two minutes you Sascha granted an insight into what is brought in this regard, particularly in Asia on the way, as always staged by Taiwan reporters Klaus Bardenhagen :

Sony Xperia Z – New Update Improves Photo Quality, Brings White Balance

Good news for all the Sony Xperia Z owners out there. Today a new software update (v10.1.1.A.1.307) has started rolling out in some parts of the world (Hong Kong, Belgium and Spain have been confirmed so far).

Unfortunately, the update is not accompanied by a changelog, but this didn’t hold back users from downloading and installing it and then trying to figure out what has been changed/improved.

If you’re curious to find out what the latest Sony Xperia Z update brings to the table, join us after the break.

According to E-Price, the update brings the White Balance screen calibration software (Sony Xperia ZL owners know what I’m talking about) and enhances camera speed and photo quality.

For those of you not up to date with what White Balance can do, it’s a Sony app which allows you to separately adjust Sony Xperia Z display’s hue, white balance, and color sturation.

The White Balance App

Like mentioned above, the update also improves the camera speed and quality.

If you’ll take a look at the images below, you’ll notice that, after applying the 10.1.1.A.1.307 firmware update, the Xperia Z takes sharper photos.

NOTE: Bear in mind that the photos have not been taken at the same time (the author says that around an hour has passed) so the difference in brightness is not related to applying the new update.

Before (click on the pics for larger versions):

After (click the thumbnails for larger pics):

We’ve heard reports that the update is being rolled out either OTA or via Sony PC Companion. So in case you haven’t received the notification yet, try firing up the software and see if 10.1.1.A.1.307 is available.

Have you managed to install the new Sony Xperia Z update? Are you pleased by the camera quality bump? Have you noticed any other changes? Let us know in the comments section.

Source: E-Price 

upcoming BlackBerry Z5 leak

We do hope to see more Blackberry telephones divulged throughout not long from now. The Blackberry A10 we've caught wind of yesterday could be one of the aforementioned apparatuses and a different one could be the Z5, which you can see here.

It is said that this Z5 (or however Blackberry winds up calling it) will be a mid-extent gadget, trying for people who can't manage (or don't need to pay a premium for) the Z10. It will have a 4-inch screen, double center processor (timed at 1.2ghz?), 5-megapixel Polaroid, 1gb of Ram, and 8 or 16 Gb of inherent space.

At the minute, its misty when the Canadian association will start the Z5. We surmise that will happen in the following not many months and meanwhile we'll keep our ears in the city, keeping an eye out for any Blackberry news…

Look at few supplemental shots of the Blackberry Z5 from the display underneath.

Kaspersky Researchers Discover Most Advanced Android Malware

A new piece of Android malware has been discovered by security researchers at Kaspersky Labs. That by itself wouldn't be big news, but this Trojan does things no other malicious app has done. It exploits multiple vulnerabilities, blocks uninstall attempts, attempts to gain root access, and can execute a host of remote commands. Backdoor.AndroidOS.Obad.a, as it has been dubbed, is the most sophisticated piece of Android malware ever seen.

  

There are two previously unknown Android vulnerabilities exploited by Obad. The malware installer contains a modified AndroidManifest.xml file, which is a part of every Android apps. The first big vulnerability is in the processing of this file by the system – it shouldn't be processed at all, but the app installs just fine. Once Obad is on a device it uses a second Android exploit to gain extended Administrator access. The Android Administrator feature allows apps to read notifications and perform other advanced operations (a lot of security apps use it). When this command is executed, Obad can not be unsinstalled and it doesn't even show up in the list of Administrator-approved apps.

When it is in place, Obad starts probing the system and checking for internet and root access. It slurps up data and reaches out to its command and control servers. Here is the full list of command functions described by Kaspersky:

• Send text message. Parameters contain number and text. Replies are deleted.
• PING.
• Receive account balance via USSD.
• Act as proxy (send specified data to specified address, and communicate the response).
• Connect to specified address (clicker).
• Download a file from the server and install it.
• Send a list of applications installed on the smartphone to the server.
• Send information about an installed application specified by the C&C server.
• Send the user’s contact data to the server.
• Remote Shell. Executes commands in the console, as specified by the cybercriminal.
• Send a file to all detected Bluetooth devices.

When it arrives on a device most of the package is encrypted, and some of the most important components are not decrypted until it gains internet access. This makes analysis and detection much more difficult. The Trojan doesn't even have an interface – it works entirely in background mode. The level of sophistication and new exploits in this one piece of malware looks more like a Windows virus than other Android Trojan. Backdoor.AndroidOS.Obad.a is still very limited in scope, but it is floating around alternative app stores and fishy websites.

[Kaspersky SecureList, via Security Ledger]