Xbox live accounts being hacked?


Recommended Posts

Lets see

Hacked,

then locked out of Live for 30days, then wait 10days for refund to be processed, then wait 30days for it show up in bank. Fyi im now into my 38th day since MS completed there investigation and still no refund, despite them clearly telling me they are. Ive phoned 3 times now and all I get is "be patient".

Total and utter ****ing joke. Im off live after my 2 free months are up. MS your customer service is total ****!!

Now over 30days still no refund. Wtf are you playing at MS, wheres my money? There certainly quick to take it off you, but not give it back.

Raging now, totally raging!

Don't feed them. :laugh:

I will say this, though: Even if someone gains access to your Xbox Live profile, they don't have access to your credit card information besides the last four digits. So it's pretty much worthless on anything but Xbox Live, and it takes maybe 5 minutes to get your credit card company to remove those charges.

Yeah seems it just takes five minutes looking at the post above. He doesn't seem inconvenienced in the slightest because obviously MS have every person sorted fine and all credit has been refunded according to you.

Don't feed them. :laugh:

I will say this, though: Even if someone gains access to your Xbox Live profile, they don't have access to your credit card information besides the last four digits. So it's pretty much worthless on anything but Xbox Live, and it takes maybe 5 minutes to get your credit card company to remove those charges.

People are spending money on your credit card, yeah okay they can't go and buy a new washing machine at Best Buy, but hundreds of dollars on FIFA points or whatever, I think that can count as having access to your card to do damage.

I don't know where your 5 minutes comes from as it's MS refunding these charges and no one, not on here or NeoGAF has had any charges refunded that quickly. Most wait weeks.

Yeah seems it just takes five minutes looking at the post above. He doesn't seem inconvenienced in the slightest because obviously MS have every person sorted fine and all credit has been refunded according to you.

Yes, because one person is representative of the entire population, isn't it? By your logic, the other people in this thread who said it took no time at all to get refunded don't exist, huh? Every reputable credit card company in the world will take care of those charges in a matter of minutes. Do you have a credit card? Ever dealt with a situation similar to this? Because I have, and it is hardly a laborous process.

My goodness Playstation trolls are just chomping at the bit now that they have something to complain about in regards to the Xbox again. I guess we all should have expected the calm on this section of the forum wouldn't last. Get ready for floods of negative Xbox and Microsoft news posts yet again, I'm betting.

Yes, because one person is representative of the entire population, isn't it? By your logic, the other people in this thread who said it took no time at all to get refunded don't exist, huh? Every reputable credit card company in the world will take care of those charges in a matter of minutes. Do you have a credit card? Ever dealt with a situation similar to this? Because I have, and it is hardly a laborous process.

My goodness Playstation trolls are just chomping at the bit now that they have something to complain about in regards to the Xbox again. I guess we all should have expected the calm on this section of the forum wouldn't last. Get ready for floods of negative Xbox and Microsoft news posts yet again, I'm betting.

Do some reading, for someone acting so informed, you seem to know little

Topic 1

Topic 2

Topic 3

Topic 4

Lots of people can't get refunds until MS finish their investigation, usually around 28 days (one month). Even a case of after the investigation MS say no

So after 30 days I get a phone call saying that they will not recover my hijacked account due to violation of terms - apparently I used only the first letter of my name when I set up my account 6 years ago.

Gamertag - gone

All my Xbox live arcade games - gone

6 months of Xbox live prepaid - gone

Plus I think they said I'm responsible for the charges..

Stay classy Microsoft.

http://www.neogaf.co...7&postcount=737

So no, it's not just because of one person on Neowin we say such things. There's tens of examples, if not hundreds in the topics above.

Bleat on, I've even pointed out in both a MS thread and Sony thread that it's not been proven to be a 360 issue, it is however a MICROSOFT issue and they need to be proactive on it.

Yes the Sony network went down and caused an inconvenience to people that wanted to play online, and people possibly needing to cancel cards. No matter how you want to spin it, that is nothing to actual money being taken from peoples accounts. The MS issue in real world terms is a lot worse for people that the Sony one. We don't need to troll the proof is here in this thread. Feel free to go back to the Sony threads and find someone complaining of something more than having to cancel a card and not being able to play online. Then maybe I will believe that they are on a level ground. Till then accept that this is an MS issue and that they aren't the infallible company people want to believe.

Bleat on, I've even pointed out in both a MS thread and Sony thread that it's not been proven to be a 360 issue, it is however a MICROSOFT issue and they need to be proactive on it.

Yes the Sony network went down and caused an inconvenience to people that wanted to play online, and people possibly needing to cancel cards. No matter how you want to spin it, that is nothing to actual money being taken from peoples accounts. The MS issue in real world terms is a lot worse for people that the Sony one. We don't need to troll the proof is here in this thread. Feel free to go back to the Sony threads and find someone complaining of something more than having to cancel a card and not being able to play online. Then maybe I will believe that they are on a level ground. Till then accept that this is an MS issue and that they aren't the infallible company people want to believe.

I'm not spinning it in any way. I'm stating the facts. I guess you guys don't like facts anymore?

It takes minutes to get charges removed from your credit card. That is a fact. Every reputable credit card company in the world has a system in place to take care of fraudulent charges. That is a fact. Charges that are removed from your account are no longer responsible for your payment. That is a fact. Ergo, the "real world" impact that these charges have on users amounts to the time lost having to call your credit card company and get the charges removed. That is a fact. If your credit card company doesn't have these services available to you, then you must use a credit card company I've never heard of.

So, let me get this straight from you: your argument is that all that happened for users in the PSN hack was individuals had to call their credit card company and also weren't able to play online? So, let me ask you: how on earth is that any different from the situation at hand in this scenario? The only difference is the PSN hack impacted everyone. This impacts those who have had their accounts hijacked, from what we know. This is not to downplay the occurrences of people having their account hijacked, only to state the fact that it only impacts who it impacts. In the Sony case, that was every single user.

I never said nor implied this isn't a Microsoft issue, nor did I say or imply they are infallible. The fact that I posted above that I was removing my expired credit card information would imply as much, wouldn't it? Because if I thought they were infallible, I wouldn't be taking that action. Now stop jacking off to any negative Microsoft news and go back to the Sony section. You guys only show up here when there's negative news on Microsoft and seem to get your jollies by trolling users on Neowin that have Xbox 360's.

I'm not spinning it in any way. I'm stating the facts. I guess you guys don't like facts anymore?

It takes minutes to get charges removed from your credit card. That is a fact. Every reputable credit card company in the world has a system in place to take care of fraudulent charges. That is a fact. Charges that are removed from your account are no longer responsible for your payment. That is a fact. Ergo, the "real world" impact that these charges have on users amounts to the time lost having to call your credit card company and get the charges removed. That is a fact. If your credit card company doesn't have these services available to you, then you must use a credit card company I've never heard of.

So, let me get this straight from you: your argument is that all that happened for users in the PSN hack was individuals had to call their credit card company and also weren't able to play online? So, let me ask you: how on earth is that any different from the situation at hand in this scenario? The only difference is the PSN hack impacted everyone. This impacts those who have had their accounts hijacked, from what we know. This is not to downplay the occurrences of people having their account hijacked, only to state the fact that it only impacts who it impacts. In the Sony case, that was every single user.

I never said nor implied this isn't a Microsoft issue, nor did I say or imply they are infallible. The fact that I posted above that I was removing my expired credit card information would imply as much, wouldn't it? Because if I thought they were infallible, I wouldn't be taking that action. Now stop jacking off to any negative Microsoft news and go back to the Sony section. You guys only show up here when there's negative news on Microsoft and seem to get your jollies by trolling users on Neowin that have Xbox 360's.

How is it worse....

PSN hack - person has $100 in their bank account, it stayed in their bank account

360 hack - person had $100 in their bank account, it was spent on FIFA dlc....

And no, it does not take minutes to get charges removed from a credit card transaction. You may want to learn how the real world works. First, when someone claims a company has made fraudulent charges, the bank must verify with the company as well that it was not some auto pay, renewal, or whatever that was actually allowed. The customer must also normally go , in person, to a physical bank. It takes days, weeks, and sometimes a month for certain transactions to be reversed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chargeback

How is it worse....

PSN hack - person has $100 in their bank account, it stayed in their bank account

360 hack - person had $100 in their bank account, it was spent on FIFA dlc....

And no, it does not take minutes to get charges removed from a credit card transaction. You may want to learn how the real world works. First, when someone claims a company has made fraudulent charges, the bank must verify with the company as well that it was not some auto pay, renewal, or whatever that was actually allowed. The customer must also normally go , in person, to a physical bank. It takes days, weeks, and sometimes a month for certain transactions to be reversed.

http://en.wikipedia....wiki/Chargeback

I am have a American Express credit card(this one). All it took me to revert a charge* was a 5min phone call. Stop spewing bull****. I use this same card on my XBL account.

*I purchased something from India for delivery in India and it was not delivered for over a month(but I was charged the day I placed order). I called them and explained my case. I had the money back in my account the next day.

Honestly people, create stronger passwords ... and NEVER link your checking account to an online service such as XBox. Give them a credit card number and just pay that monthly. That why if it gets compromised, its the banks money being used/stolen, not your own cash. Sadly, I learned this the hard way about 4 and a half years ago with my PayPal account that was part of that huge company compromise.

I am have a American Express credit card(this one). All it took me to revert a charge* was a 5min phone call. Stop spewing bull****. I use this same card on my XBL account.

*I purchased something from India for delivery in India and it was not delivered for over a month(but I was charged the day I placed order). I called them and explained my case. I had the money back in my account the next day.

Don't bother responding to these clowns anymore. I'm not. If they want to start spreading some factually incorrect bull about how credit card companies work (let me repeat that: credit card companies; credit cards are not directly tied to your bank account -- they are a form of credit, hence the term "credit card"), let them. They get off on annoying people who actually own a 360. Don't give them the satisfaction.

Honestly people, create stronger passwords ... and NEVER link your checking account to an online service such as XBox. Give them a credit card number and just pay that monthly. That why if it gets compromised, its the banks money being used/stolen, not your own cash. Sadly, I learned this the hard way about 4 and a half years ago with my PayPal account that was part of that huge company compromise.

I agree with your suggestions of strong passwords, but Xbox Live accounts are linked to Microsoft Live IDs -- it's how they work. Also, it may not be related to password phishing but with some way of bypassing gamertag recovery (happened to an Xbox admin a few months ago via that method).

Why doesn't he just read NeoGAF? Takes like 5-10 minutes to look through those 4 topics. Downright ignoring them when you want to discuss/understand the card refunding process for those affected is downright stupid. There's a difference between a purchase you can prove you made which was not delivered (especially with parcel tracking/signatures on delivery), and purchases made in your name (has to be proven it wasn't you - hence Microsoft "30 day" investigation) you claim you haven't made.

Then there's the debit card issue - A lot of the UK use debit over Visa.

hmm claiming this is like the PSN hack is kinda like how lighting candles is like forest fires...

yeah...

I'd bet MS and EA will find some way to stop this, since it's obviously hurting both of them. I'd still guess crappy passwords that are never changed have something to do with it, too. So many people are clueless when it comes to online security and just assume it won't be an issue...until it is.

Did you even read my posts?!?!

Sure did. Also read the posts from users who have had their accounts hijacked who had it taken care of in minutes. You should have called your credit card company instead of repeatedly calling Microsoft.

Sure did. Also read the posts from users who have had their accounts hijacked who had it taken care of in minutes. You should have called your credit card company instead of repeatedly calling Microsoft.

And people that have used bank DEBIT cards should do what? Contact their bank where it then goes to fraud department ans isn't immediately refunded until after the enquiry is resolved all whilst being out of pocket for longer than five minutes. Not everyone has credit cards in fact most teenagers don't. They just have bank accounts and debit cards.

And people that have used bank DEBIT cards should do what? Contact their bank where it then goes to fraud department ans isn't immediately refunded until after the enquiry is resolved all whilst being out of pocket for longer than five minutes. Not everyone has credit cards in fact most teenagers don't. They just have bank accounts and debit cards.

Yup, that's what they should do, quite obviously. Which is why you shouldn't use debit cards to begin with, as fraud is rampant in almost every situation (both online and in-person with skimming devices). That's the inherent liability of debit cards. Anyone who uses a debit card should be well aware of that liability before they obtain one and use it. We've had discussions pertaining to that on Neowin a million times.

Do some reading, for someone acting so informed, you seem to know little

Topic 1

Topic 2

Topic 3

Topic 4

Lots of people can't get refunds until MS finish their investigation, usually around 28 days (one month). Even a case of after the investigation MS say no

http://www.neogaf.co...7&postcount=737

So no, it's not just because of one person on Neowin we say such things. There's tens of examples, if not hundreds in the topics above.

from when did you turn a fan of ToS violation? which you were a big disapprover when it matters PSN? If that guy violated ToS, then why should anyone care?

Yup, that's what they should do, quite obviously. Which is why you shouldn't use debit cards to begin with, as fraud is rampant in almost every situation (both online and in-person with skimming devices). That's the inherent liability of debit cards. Anyone who uses a debit card should be well aware of that liability before they obtain one and use it. We've had discussions pertaining to that on Neowin a million times.

I'm not disagreeing that there is a risk to them, but you then have to realise that teenagers do use them and they will end up out of pocket for the time frame that it takes to be sorted. Good or bad, they still don't have their own money because of products bought fraudulently from the Microsoft store. Yup there are safer ways out there like buying point cards etc etc, but some people just like the convenience of a bank card. So whilst those using credit cards do have their money refunded swiftly with minimal fuss, that's not the case for everyone.

I'm not disagreeing that there is a risk to them, but you then have to realise that teenagers do use them and they will end up out of pocket for the time frame that it takes to be sorted. Good or bad, they still don't have their own money because of products bought fraudulently from the Microsoft store. Yup there are safer ways out there like buying point cards etc etc, but some people just like the convenience of a bank card. So whilst those using credit cards do have their money refunded swiftly with minimal fuss, that's not the case for everyone.

That's not Microsoft's fault, which is what you fail to realize. That's the inherent risk of how debit cards work, for better or worse. Microsoft can't change how the banking industry operates debit cards.

Does it suck for those who choose to use debit cards? Yup, sure. Just like any form of debit card fraud does. I'm not entirely sure what you think I'm arguing.

That's not Microsoft's fault, which is what you fail to realize. That's the inherent risk of how debit cards work, for better or worse. Microsoft can't change how the banking industry operates debit cards.

Does it suck for those who choose to use debit cards? Yup, sure. Just like any form of debit card fraud does. I'm not entirely sure what you think I'm arguing.

You were claiming that everyone got their money back easily all I was doing was pointing out that it's not that way for everyone. Whether this hack/scam is done via the 360 or the web it is still something that is clearly linked to Microsoft and something they need to acknowledge and deal with. This is why I believe the current problem is worse than what happened to PSN as no one was actually out of pocket. Sucks either way though tbh.

You were claiming that everyone got their money back easily all I was doing was pointing out that it's not that way for everyone. Whether this hack/scam is done via the 360 or the web it is still something that is clearly linked to Microsoft and something they need to acknowledge and deal with. This is why I believe the current problem is worse than what happened to PSN as no one was actually out of pocket. Sucks either way though tbh.

And you all were claiming it was a major hassle to get your money back. That's not true for the overwhelming majority of users. This is why I believe the PSN hack was worse as everyone faced having their data stolen.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • ...but you're Johnny, from Australia?    
    • Glow 26.9 by Razvan Serea Glow provides detailed reporting on every hardware component in your computer, saving you valuable time typically spent searching for CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and other stats. With Glow, all the information is conveniently presented in one clean interface, allowing you to easily access and review the comprehensive hardware details of your system. Glow provides detailed information on various system aspects, including OS, motherboard, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, network, battery, drivers, and services. The well-organized format ensures easy access to the required information. You can export all the gathered data to a plain text file, facilitating sharing with others for troubleshooting purposes. No installation needed. Just decompress the archive, launch the executable, and access computer-related information. Glow runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit versions. Glow 26.9 changelog: New Features The processor hardware detection engine has been significantly enhanced beyond traditional Intel and AMD architectures. Native support is now available for modern platforms such as Apple Silicon (M-Series) and the newly introduced NVIDIA Spark. In addition, all ARM-based processors can now be accurately distinguished between ARM32 and ARM64 architectures, providing precise hardware reporting. This marks a major milestone for Glow's hardware detection capabilities. The RAM manufacturer identification algorithm has been expanded. JEDEC vendor codes for popular brands such as Patriot, PNY, Team Group, GeIL, Lexar (Longsys), and Asgard/Gloway have been integrated into the database. This significantly reduces the likelihood of incorrect or "Unknown Manufacturer" results and improves overall hardware detection accuracy. New Public IP Address and Internet Service Provider (ISP) features have been added to the Network section. To ensure reliability, this information is retrieved from the trusted service ipwho.is. When Hiding Mode is enabled, no requests are sent and these features remain hidden, as they may expose sensitive information. The search engine used in the Installed Drivers, Installed Services, and Installed Applications sections has been enhanced. You can now perform more flexible and accurate searches using initials, partial matches, and loosely arranged character sequences. The TS Preloader loading bar has been rebuilt using our modern TS Custom Controls graphics library, developed entirely in-house. As a result of this infrastructure upgrade, the loading bar now features smooth rendering and rounded corners that align with the visual style of Windows 11. [TS Updater] A new validation algorithm has been added to check whether the target application is currently running before the update process begins. Bug Fixes Resolved a condition that could prevent TS Preloader from shutting down safely during rare application crash scenarios. Fixed a text alignment issue in the Network section affecting the display of DNS addresses. Alignment is now rendered correctly. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue that could prevent the updated application's executable "*.exe" file from being located after the update process. [TS Updater] Fixed a bug that could leave outdated "*.sha256" files in the application directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed a rare issue that could cause subfolders to be moved into the root directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue during the first launch that could cause flickering and a temporary white window appearance due to Windows Defender interactions. Changes A small improvement has been made to the internet connectivity detection algorithm. Connectivity checks are now performed in the background with minimal impact on the user interface thread. The keyboard shortcuts in the top menu have been reorganized and simplified to provide a consistent experience across all Türkaysoft applications and to avoid potential conflicts with standard Windows shortcuts. The TS Preloader splash image has been updated with a Türkiye-themed stadium design to celebrate Türkiye's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—its first appearance in 24 years. Congratulations, Türkiye! The TS Custom Controls module has been updated to version 26.6, delivering improved stability and a more polished visual appearance. [TS Updater] The application icon has been redesigned to provide a more modern and refined look. Note: Always unzip the program before using it. Otherwise you may get an error. Download: Glow 26.9 | 1.8 MB (Open Source) Links: Glow Homepage | Screenshot | Github Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • DWARF mini review: the world's smallest smart telescope for night and day sky captures by Steven Parker DWARFLAB reached out to me asking if I was interested in checking out the DWARF mini, which is a portable astronomy telescope designed for amateur astronomers. Why do I say it's for amateurs? Well, for starters, it's not what you'd call "high end"; it's more of a professional-grade starting point for amateurs serious about capturing what's up there in our night and day skies. A typical amateur astronomer is most likely thousands of dollars deep into the hobby, and I will make no claims that this DWARF mini (at a fraction of the cost) could replace it all, okay? Well, if you read on, it will be clearer what I am trying to convey. Disclosure: DWARFLAB provided a free sample without any editorial input or review pre-approval. I have always been interested in looking up and observing the night sky. I see satellites crossing the sky above my garden most nights, and I am always looking at the moon. Yeah, I have a 200MP camera on my phone, but at 200X zoom, AI takes over and makes the pretty moon pictures that I snap, the DWARF mini does not, you get an actual true picture of what you can barely see with the naked eye. Before we start, let's share the highlights of the DWARF mini in bite-sized format: Pocket-Sized & Ultra-Lightweight Weighing just 1.85 lbs (840g), the DWARF mini easily fits into a backpack or large pocket. Its all-in-one, compact design makes it the ultimate grab-and-go digital telescope for hiking, camping, or traveling to dark-sky locations. Intuitive App Control & Built-in Sky Atlas Go from unboxing to your first shot in just 3 minutes! The DWARFLAB App provides a seamless experience with an interactive star map. Simply select your target and start exploring without the steep learning curve of traditional setups. Auto GOTO & 360° Pivot Freedom Enjoy pinpoint automated tracking with full 360° rotation. Powered by a high-sensitivity Sony IMX662 sensor (1/2.8-inch, 2.9μm pixels), it captures amazing, low-noise astro details, bringing faint nebulas and star clusters to life with stunning clarity. Pro-Level EQ Mode & Long Exposure Unlock advanced deep-space imaging with Equatorial (EQ) Mode. Supporting impressive single-frame exposures up to 90 seconds and featuring built-in light pollution filters, it easily cuts through city glow to reveal intricate celestial structures. Smart Cloud Processing & All-Ages Fun Effortlessly enhance your raw data with integrated cloud processing for professional-grade results. Perfect for beginners, kids, and adults, this telescope makes exploring and sharing the wonders of the universe an exciting, family-friendly adventure. The packaging is a pretty minimal affair with the outer box opening like a flap to reveal the plastic mould of the DWARF mini sitting in it. Below, the Sun filter, charging cable, cleaning cloth, and documentation can be found. DWARFLAB also provided a Mini Hydraulic Tripod ($89.99), and I highly recommend getting it if you plan on purchasing the DWARF mini, as it fully supports the motorized tracking feature of the telescope; plus, at 840g, the weight of the telescope, you will need a tripod that supports more than the weight of a smartphone anyway. What's in the box DWARF Mini Smart Telescope × 1 Sun Filter x 1 Type-C to Type-C Cord x 1 Cleaning Cloth x 1 User Guide With that out of the way, here are the full specs: DWARF mini Dimensions (DWH): 60.70 mm x 100.38 × 183.61 (2.39" x 3.95" x 7.23") Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) Aperture diameter: 30 mm (telephoto), 3.4 mm (wide angle) Image Sensor: SONY IMX662 1/2.8" (Telephoto) OmniVision OS02K10 1/2.8" (Wide-angle) Focal length: 150 mm (telephoto), 6.7 mm (wide-angle) Equivalent focal length: 1016 mm (telephoto), 45 mm (wide-angle) Shutter Speed: Tele - 1/10000-90s, Wide - 1/10000-30s Maximum exposure time: 90s (telephoto & wide-angle), Both in EQ mode Rotation range: Lens: 225°, Base: 360° Effective Pixels: 2.07M Maximum Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Telephoto & Wide-angle) Built-in filters: Astro, Dark, Duo-Band (Telephoto), Astro (Wide-angle) Output: JPG, FITS, TIFF, MP4 Shooting Mode: Photos, Videos, Astronomy, Burst Shooting, Time-lapse Photography Storage: 64 GB Battery: Built-in 7000 mAh, supports external USB charging Charging Port: Type-C NPU: 1 TOPS Features: WiFi, NFC NFC One-Touch Connection Astronomy Post-Processing/Appointment Shooting/Astronomy Mosaic Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 15m (open environment) Color: Black Compatibility: iOS & Android smartphones/tablets Warranty: 2-years (24-months) MSRP: $399 Design Charge port On/off button Lens On the DWARF mini itself, it is a pretty minimal affair. On one side, there is a Type-C USB port to charge the non-removable 7000 mAh battery, and on the other side, a large button to power on or off the telescope. The button is flanked by an LED that is green when connected via the DWARFLAB app, or lights up red when being powered off. Below the button, there are four LEDs that indicate battery power. The DWARF mini does not have any sharp edges as all sides are rounded off; it has a good heft to it, but the weight of it feels quite balanced in the hand, so it isn't top or bottom-heavy. On the front there is the DWARFLAB logo which is quite small and there are no other markings on it. The tripod offers full 360° rotation of the motorized base, which allows for tracking for the time-lapse mode, but also for the 90-second captures of nearer objects in the sky, such as the Sun or the moon. Usage To get started, simply power on the DWARF mini and open the DWARFLAB app, tap on Connect, and it will scan for the DWARF mini over the Wi-Fi network. The device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth for discovery, so connection issues were minimal in my experience with it. As previously noted in the specs, the DWARF mini will stay connected with a phone or tablet up to 15 meters in an open environment, such as a backyard. Lighting status Powering on: The green circular light will rotate and breathe in turn Powering off: The red circular light is gradually extinguished Connecting: Green light strip rotating Connected: Green light strip solid/always on 4 lights 1= 0-25%, 2= 25-50%, 3= 50-75%, 4= 75-100% battery power To view the full lighting status, such as tracking mode and connection failure, you can check the user guide on the official DWARFLAB page. DWARFLAB app Above, you can see the steps undertaken to connect the DWARFLAB app to my Galaxy S26 Ultra. Weirdly, I got an alert that a firmware update failed to get uploaded to the DWARF mini the first time, but upon retrying, it worked. Then place the DWARF mini outside, make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to it, and then head back inside, because you can manage it from the comfort of your home. Simply enter the Atlas tab in the app and search for what you want to capture, and then tap on the camera icon; the DWARF mini will then attempt to track the object and give you a live view right on your connected device. Results I've had the DWARF mini since April, but even though my garden is south-facing, I had a lot of trouble trying to capture a good image of the moon. In the end, it was possible after I took it with me on a trip to my parents in Southend, UK, at the end of May. Here is a capture of the moon, resulting from 20 stacked images over a 90-second exposure. What you are seeing here is not AI-assisted. A good example of what I mean is the latest flagships with their 200MP cameras claiming to capture things like closeups of the moon, and while they are not as good as the above example on the DWARF mini, the resulting image on smartphones is actually AI-assisted above 30X zoom. Here is an example of a similar shot at the moon at 200X zoom using an HONOR Magic8 Pro. The difference is clear. Next, here we have a shot of the daytime moon. Here is a shot of Arcturus, the red giant star, which is the fourth brightest in the night sky. As previously mentioned, it could be a bit clearer, but clouds passing in front of it muddied the shot a bit. The Sun The DWARF mini also ships with a sun filter, meaning you can take great shots of the sun as well. Tracking Sun Resulting (stacked) shot Live zoom The pictures themselves are limited to Full HD, and some of the examples actually came out in HD (1280x720), but this is because the standard telescopic result is in 720p while "Wide" is in 1080p. Above you can see how in the app the Sun is tracked, the resulting capture, and Live zoom. I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this telescope; I found several examples online of shots of the Milky Way, among others, such as nebulae and galaxies. All of this requires patience and knowledge, although if you know what you are looking for, simply enter it in the Atlas tab in the DWARFLAB app, tap the camera icon, and the telescope will attempt to track it. Conclusion The good The DWARF mini definitely places itself in a price point that makes astrology accessible to anyone looking to get started in the hobby. Say you want to have a closer look at the moon, simply enter it in the Atlas, and the Live view also lets you zoom in and snap pictures. The bad Some issues I came across while operating the DWARF mini were that it sometimes failed to connect unless I held my smartphone right next to it, and finding and tracking sometimes took several attempts to get it calibrated. I discovered that it helped if I sort of positioned and pointed the telescope in the general area it was supposed to detect, but this obviously wouldn't work with objects you can't see with the naked eye; more testing is required for that. Another bit of advice is to ensure that the lens is clean. While making the examples of live zooming on the sun, I discovered that the telescope lens and sun filter were not completely clean, and only after cleaning with a microfiber cloth was I able to get a decent shot of the sun. Where to buy and a coupon Okay, $399 is not cheap for a side hobby, but nor is a $1,500 smartphone flagship that you'll most likely have for a couple of years. This is a one-time entrance into astrology, and it won't become obsolete in one year like a smartphone. It's a thumbs up from me. The DWARF mini is available to buy right now in the U.S. and U.K. at the links below. DWARF mini for $399 on the official site DWARF mini for $399 on Amazon U.S. Use the NEOWIN5OFF coupon code for an additional 5% off at checkout (expires June 21) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
    • Adobe Acrobat Reader Dis Continued
    • The name, you mean? If so, it's actually the objects common name. There's another one called NGC 7293 which is also known as Helix Nebula (because we're looking at a helix structure top down) but other times also known as the Eye of God. You'll understand when you see it
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      X-No-file earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      504
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      270
    3. 3
      Skyfrog
      75
    4. 4
      +Edouard
      75
    5. 5
      FloatingFatMan
      70
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!