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Editor's Note: The following article is reprinted from Network World.
With BlackBerry on the decline, there's a battle heating up for enterprise smartphone users and so far Apple is winning in a big way.
According to the latest numbers released by mobile enterprise tech firm Good Technology, iOS devices accounted for around 80% of new activations on corporate networks in the first quarter of 2012, while Android-based devices accounted for just 20%. No other mobile platform, including Windows Mobile, registered enough activations in the quarter to crack Good's study, which tracked mobile device activations across thousands of companies that registered at least five activated mobile devices. Good also says that BlackBerry devices were not on the study since the company does not support the platform and thus "does not have insight" into BlackBerry activations.
The numbers in Apple's favor only grow starker when Good broke down activations for tablets in the enterprise: iPads accounted for a whopping 97.3% of enterprise tablet activations, while Android tablets accounted for just 2.7%. The financial services industry was by far the biggest consumer in the enterprise tablet market as it accounted for 40.8% of all iPad activations in the first quarter of 2012, followed by the business and professional services industry and the life sciences industry, which each accounted for just under 9.5% of iPad activations.
In terms of individual devices, the iPhone 4S was the most popular enterprise device on the quarter, accounting for 37% of all mobile device activations. The latest version of the iPhone was followed by the iPad 2 (17.7% of activations), the iPhone 4 (15.2% of activations) and the newest iPad (4.3% of activations). Good noted that the new iPad would likely have had a bigger impact on the enterprise market for the quarter if it had been released earlier than March, where it accounted for more than 12% of all device activations on the month.
The Motorola Droid, the Samsung Galaxy S II, the Google Nexus and the Sprint Evo 4G were the only Android devices to make the top 10 list of most-activated enterprise devices on the quarter and each of those devices accounted for less than 2% of all activations.
Apple has long been seen as the challenger to BlackBerry's claim as the top device for enterprise users. A report released late last year by iPass found that iPhones accounted for 45% of all mobile devices in the enterprise while BlackBerry devices accounted for 32.2%. That survey found that Android-based devices accounted for 21% of all devices used in the enterprise.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Kindle Fire has over 50% of the US Android tablet market share. I bet that annoys Google.
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Data released today by comScore shows that the Amazon Kindle Fire has garnered over 50-percent of the Android tablet market in the U.S. With a 54.4-percent share as of February 2012, it sits alone at the head of the pack by a large margin, with the second place Samsung Galaxy Tab almost 40-percent behind at 15.4-percent of the growing Android tablet market. While it looks to be bad news for Android OEMs, it comes as no surprise to us.
The Kindle Fire, like the leader of the overall tablet market the iPad, has one big thing going for it -- a unified "ecosystem" for content. We're mostly advanced users, who read blogs and forums to learn the different ways to use our devices and all the associated tricks that go along with, but for many they just want an easy way to purchase and consume content on their tablet. Amazon offers that in ways that Google does not, at least for folks in the U.S.
We're thinking Google aims to rectify that situation, at least in part, with the launch of the Google Play store, and a mystery tablet device of some sort this summer. Google I/O will be an exciting time, that's for sure.
Data released today by comScore shows that the Amazon Kindle Fire has garnered over 50-percent of the Android tablet market in the U.S. With a 54.4-percent share as of February 2012, it sits alone at the head of the pack by a large margin, with the second place Samsung Galaxy Tab almost 40-percent behind at 15.4-percent of the growing Android tablet market. While it looks to be bad news for Android OEMs, it comes as no surprise to us.
The Kindle Fire, like the leader of the overall tablet market the iPad, has one big thing going for it -- a unified "ecosystem" for content. We're mostly advanced users, who read blogs and forums to learn the different ways to use our devices and all the associated tricks that go along with, but for many they just want an easy way to purchase and consume content on their tablet. Amazon offers that in ways that Google does not, at least for folks in the U.S.
We're thinking Google aims to rectify that situation, at least in part, with the launch of the Google Play store, and a mystery tablet device of some sort this summer. Google I/O will be an exciting time, that's for sure.
Avast has a free anitvirus Malware for Mac
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If your worried about your Mac and feel the need Avast! is offering a free antivirus solution for the Mac. It's designed to combat the Flashback Trojan, says Jiri Sejtko, director of Avast Virus Lab operations.
The Flashback Trojan linked to the Mac botnet is a derivative of last year’s DevilRobber Mac OS X Trojan. The Avast Virus Lab now has 18 variants of this malware in its antivirus database.
Avast! Free Antivirus for Mac is currently in the late beta stage. It includes the latest avast! antivirus engine, three shields (Web, File, and Mail) and the WebRep reputation and anti-phishing plugin for Safari browser.
If your worried about your Mac and feel the need Avast! is offering a free antivirus solution for the Mac. It's designed to combat the Flashback Trojan, says Jiri Sejtko, director of Avast Virus Lab operations.
The Flashback Trojan linked to the Mac botnet is a derivative of last year’s DevilRobber Mac OS X Trojan. The Avast Virus Lab now has 18 variants of this malware in its antivirus database.
Avast! Free Antivirus for Mac is currently in the late beta stage. It includes the latest avast! antivirus engine, three shields (Web, File, and Mail) and the WebRep reputation and anti-phishing plugin for Safari browser.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Samsung announces 1.4GHz Exynos 4 Quad processor for 'next Galaxy smartphone'
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Samsung apparently couldn't wait for its big 'Next Galaxy' announcement on May 3rd to give us details on the chip that will power it. Dubbed the "Exynos 4 Quad," the chip will run at 1.4GHz per core and is based on the ARM Cortex A9. Samsung is touting the 32nm High-k Metal Gate technology, power management, and per-core dynamic voltage and frequency scaling. Most importantly for those waiting for the Galaxy SIII, Samsung has also let loose that it will be used on the next Galaxy smartphone:
Already in production, the Exynos 4 Quad is scheduled to be adopted first into Samsung’s next Galaxy smartphone that will officially be announced in May. Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad is also sampling to other major handset makers.
The Exynos 4 Quad will be pin-to-pin compatible with the Exynos 4 Dual, which Samsung believes will make it easier for manufacturers to make the switch on upcoming phones. It will be capable of full 30fps 1080p video playback and recording, includes an interface for HDMI 1.4 and also an embedded image signal processor interface. Samsung claims the chip will offer double the processor power of its 45nm predecessor while drawing 20 percent less power.
We exclusively revealed that the next Galaxy would have a quad-core processor with "superlative" benchmarks on April 18th and Samsung itself had teased the chip back in February — so it's not a shocker that the Galaxy SIII will have it. The only real question left is whether or not the LTE version (which we're assuming will be announced) will be powered by the chip.
Samsung also released a promotional video for the Exynos 4 Quad, and the company couldn't help but drop a quick reference to the Exynos 5 Dual at the beginning.
Samsung apparently couldn't wait for its big 'Next Galaxy' announcement on May 3rd to give us details on the chip that will power it. Dubbed the "Exynos 4 Quad," the chip will run at 1.4GHz per core and is based on the ARM Cortex A9. Samsung is touting the 32nm High-k Metal Gate technology, power management, and per-core dynamic voltage and frequency scaling. Most importantly for those waiting for the Galaxy SIII, Samsung has also let loose that it will be used on the next Galaxy smartphone:
Already in production, the Exynos 4 Quad is scheduled to be adopted first into Samsung’s next Galaxy smartphone that will officially be announced in May. Samsung’s Exynos 4 Quad is also sampling to other major handset makers.
The Exynos 4 Quad will be pin-to-pin compatible with the Exynos 4 Dual, which Samsung believes will make it easier for manufacturers to make the switch on upcoming phones. It will be capable of full 30fps 1080p video playback and recording, includes an interface for HDMI 1.4 and also an embedded image signal processor interface. Samsung claims the chip will offer double the processor power of its 45nm predecessor while drawing 20 percent less power.
We exclusively revealed that the next Galaxy would have a quad-core processor with "superlative" benchmarks on April 18th and Samsung itself had teased the chip back in February — so it's not a shocker that the Galaxy SIII will have it. The only real question left is whether or not the LTE version (which we're assuming will be announced) will be powered by the chip.
Samsung also released a promotional video for the Exynos 4 Quad, and the company couldn't help but drop a quick reference to the Exynos 5 Dual at the beginning.
Apple announces WWDC 2012 UPDATE : Sold Out in 2 hours
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Apple on Wednesday announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which will run from June 11 through June 15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center.
This year’s WWDC will focus on both iOS and OS X Mountain Lion, with more than 100 technical sessions led by Apple engineers, along with the annual Apple Design Awards. More than 1000 Apple engineers will be on hand, offering code-level assistance and other advice on developing for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
The company notes that it will post videos from all the technical sessions for free on the Apple Developer Website after WWDC concludes, so that developers who can’t attend can still benefit from those sessions.
Last year’s WWDC sold out in fewer than 12 hours, so developers may want to move quickly to register for this year’s event. The $1599 tickets are available at Apple’s developer website, with purchases limited to one per person and five per organization. Ticket purchasers need to be members of the iOS Developer Program, iOS Developer Enterprise Program, or Mac Developer Program.
Tickets for the event sold out about two hours after they first went on sale. That’s 10 hours faster than the $1,600 tickets sold out last year.
Apple on Wednesday announced the dates for its annual Worldwide Developers Conference, which will run from June 11 through June 15 at San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center.
This year’s WWDC will focus on both iOS and OS X Mountain Lion, with more than 100 technical sessions led by Apple engineers, along with the annual Apple Design Awards. More than 1000 Apple engineers will be on hand, offering code-level assistance and other advice on developing for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
The company notes that it will post videos from all the technical sessions for free on the Apple Developer Website after WWDC concludes, so that developers who can’t attend can still benefit from those sessions.
Last year’s WWDC sold out in fewer than 12 hours, so developers may want to move quickly to register for this year’s event. The $1599 tickets are available at Apple’s developer website, with purchases limited to one per person and five per organization. Ticket purchasers need to be members of the iOS Developer Program, iOS Developer Enterprise Program, or Mac Developer Program.
Tickets for the event sold out about two hours after they first went on sale. That’s 10 hours faster than the $1,600 tickets sold out last year.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Arturia Shipping the SPARK Vintage Drum Machines. Lots of lovely retro units. Yummy.
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Arturia just announced the availability of its newly-developed SPARK Vintage Drum Machines software instrument. Thats 30 legends in the form of classic drum machines. High-quality samples mixed with virtual analog synthesis comes together and is based on Arturia’s advanced propriety TAE® (True Analog Emulation) technology. Captureing the unique electronic musical soul of the 30 classic drum machines.
The awesome Roland CR-78 which was popularized by artists like Marvin Gaye, Alicia Keys, Gary Numan, and John Foxx — and Korg Mini Pops 7 used on Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygene album. Then theres that prominent punch of Roland’s TR-series. These ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s units are available in a singular easy-to-use interface.
SPARK offers in-depth tweaking possibilities, including 14 high-quality effects (Multiband Compressor, Reverb, Bit Crusher, Multiband EQ, Chorus, Delay, Distortion, Phaser, Plate Reverb, Destroyer, Flanger, Space Pan, Limiter, and Sub Generator) and the live features of Arturia’s hardware SPARK Creative Drum Machine controller’s integrated software: XY Touch Pad, Beat Looper, Slicer, and Realtime automation on all parameters. SPARK’s Step Sequencer makes track creation a breeze, or make use of the more than 1300 pre-programmed patterns. 16 independent audio outputs and MIDI I/O permit the ultimate in DAW integration. This creative mix equals a must-have solution for the most demanding beat-makers.
Heres a list of features straight from their website.
Main Features
Complete list of units.
System Requirementa:
Mac version requires OS X 10.5 or higher and a 2 GHz Intel processor or faster. It can be run as a standalone unit, and in a compatible RTAS, VST (32/64-bit), or AU (32/64-bit) host application. An Internet connection is required to authorize the product.
SPARK Vintage Drum Machines is available to purchase from Arturia’s Online shop as boxed software for €119.00 / $129.00 or as a software download for €99.00 / $99.00.
Arturia just announced the availability of its newly-developed SPARK Vintage Drum Machines software instrument. Thats 30 legends in the form of classic drum machines. High-quality samples mixed with virtual analog synthesis comes together and is based on Arturia’s advanced propriety TAE® (True Analog Emulation) technology. Captureing the unique electronic musical soul of the 30 classic drum machines.
The awesome Roland CR-78 which was popularized by artists like Marvin Gaye, Alicia Keys, Gary Numan, and John Foxx — and Korg Mini Pops 7 used on Jean-Michel Jarre’s Oxygene album. Then theres that prominent punch of Roland’s TR-series. These ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s units are available in a singular easy-to-use interface.
SPARK offers in-depth tweaking possibilities, including 14 high-quality effects (Multiband Compressor, Reverb, Bit Crusher, Multiband EQ, Chorus, Delay, Distortion, Phaser, Plate Reverb, Destroyer, Flanger, Space Pan, Limiter, and Sub Generator) and the live features of Arturia’s hardware SPARK Creative Drum Machine controller’s integrated software: XY Touch Pad, Beat Looper, Slicer, and Realtime automation on all parameters. SPARK’s Step Sequencer makes track creation a breeze, or make use of the more than 1300 pre-programmed patterns. 16 independent audio outputs and MIDI I/O permit the ultimate in DAW integration. This creative mix equals a must-have solution for the most demanding beat-makers.
Heres a list of features straight from their website.
Main Features
- 30 legendary drum machines
- Easy workflow: one interface to learn, thirty drum machines to play
- Made for live performance: XY Pad, Beat Looper, Slicer, Real-time automation on all parameters
- 14 high quality effects: Multiband Compressor, Reverb, Bit crusher, Multiband EQ, Chorus, Delay, Distortion, Phaser, Plate reverb, Destroyer, Flanger, Space pan, Limiter, Sub generator
- SPARK’s Step Sequencer makes track creation a breeze
- Perfect integration: 16 independent audio outputs, midi I/O
- Unparalleled sound quality based on virtual analog synthesis (TAE) and high resolution sampling
- More than 1300 pre-programmed patterns
Complete list of units.
- TAE engine: Roland CR-78, Roland TR-808, Roland TR-606, Korg Mini Pops 7, Korg KPR-77, Ace Tone Rhythm Ace FR-2L, Yamaha MR-10, Maestro Rhythm King MKII, Boss DR-55, Casio VL Tone and SK-1, Simmons SDS V, Phatwerk, Micromatix
- Sample based and hybrid engines: EMU SP 12, Roland TR-909, Roland TR-707, Roland TR-727, Roland TR-626, Roland R8, EMU Drumulator, Oberheim DMX, Sequencial Circuits Drumtrax, Kawai R-100, LinnDrum, Linn 9000, Casio RZ1, Yamaha RX5, Pulsator, Dirty-909
System Requirementa:
Mac version requires OS X 10.5 or higher and a 2 GHz Intel processor or faster. It can be run as a standalone unit, and in a compatible RTAS, VST (32/64-bit), or AU (32/64-bit) host application. An Internet connection is required to authorize the product.
SPARK Vintage Drum Machines is available to purchase from Arturia’s Online shop as boxed software for €119.00 / $129.00 or as a software download for €99.00 / $99.00.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Windows 8 -The Trojan Horse of Smart Phones
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Today I was reading a few reports on how Nokia seems to be going down the tubes. Evidently It's burning it's cash reserves and it's quarterly reports are not looking good. People seem to think they are in trouble, heading down a dead end road and that choosing WIndow's Phone and hooking up with an exclusive deal with Microsoft (which effectively has shut out any deals to load Android on their smart phones) was a big mistake.
I have to agree thats on the surface of things it's not looking great for either Nokia or Windows phone in general. But we need to remember that Microsoft, tends to be slow at moving and is often late to the game. But Microsoft also has a long history of destroying the competition when they finally get there. I can't see them backing off here at all. Sure Android has stolen a lot of the low end market which has been Nokia's traditional cash cow. Things do change though. I predict a transition is happening in the current smartphone market from a 2 horse race to one with a solid third horse nipping at the others heals and who knows maybe eventually pushing up front with the current leaders . Nothing stays constant in Tech. The public , as Nokia has found this quarter, can turn their back very quickly on a company they are loyal too and head off in another direction.
So what am I seeing here? Its seems that there is a Trijan horse lurking in the wings. One that could, as all Trojan horses are suppose to, slide in the back door looking all innocent, but then release a surprise that can cause a real stir. Ok I here most of you saying that I am being ridiculous here. This isn't going to happen, Nokia is going down and Android is gonna finish them off in the next 12 months. That Windows phone is dead in the water. Sure the Lumina is a nice phone but even the European carriers are saying, "no thanks". Give us Android.
My predictions is based on the imminent release of Windows 8. Over the next 2 years I see it unfolding like this.
Windows 8 will be released. It will be shoved in the have of millions of PC users who will have no choose when they buy a new system. They are going to grumble and then over time get use to and dear I say even begin to like certain things about the Metro interface. Metro being whats basically on a Windows Smartphone will start to become very familiar to people and they will find it a lot easier to accept the different interface it presents. They will start to see that this is awesome on a smartphone and a tablet, a lot more than it is on their desktop system. So there is the trojan horse. The Windows 8 Metro interface which is the Windows smartphone interface which is the Nokia smartphone interface (amongst other smartphone manufacturers) It'll take time, but it will happen. Microsoft knows how to come from behind, it has a money the marketing and most of all the weight of Windows desktop OS behind it. Thats a huge weight and realm of influence.
Today I was reading a few reports on how Nokia seems to be going down the tubes. Evidently It's burning it's cash reserves and it's quarterly reports are not looking good. People seem to think they are in trouble, heading down a dead end road and that choosing WIndow's Phone and hooking up with an exclusive deal with Microsoft (which effectively has shut out any deals to load Android on their smart phones) was a big mistake.
I have to agree thats on the surface of things it's not looking great for either Nokia or Windows phone in general. But we need to remember that Microsoft, tends to be slow at moving and is often late to the game. But Microsoft also has a long history of destroying the competition when they finally get there. I can't see them backing off here at all. Sure Android has stolen a lot of the low end market which has been Nokia's traditional cash cow. Things do change though. I predict a transition is happening in the current smartphone market from a 2 horse race to one with a solid third horse nipping at the others heals and who knows maybe eventually pushing up front with the current leaders . Nothing stays constant in Tech. The public , as Nokia has found this quarter, can turn their back very quickly on a company they are loyal too and head off in another direction.
So what am I seeing here? Its seems that there is a Trijan horse lurking in the wings. One that could, as all Trojan horses are suppose to, slide in the back door looking all innocent, but then release a surprise that can cause a real stir. Ok I here most of you saying that I am being ridiculous here. This isn't going to happen, Nokia is going down and Android is gonna finish them off in the next 12 months. That Windows phone is dead in the water. Sure the Lumina is a nice phone but even the European carriers are saying, "no thanks". Give us Android.
My predictions is based on the imminent release of Windows 8. Over the next 2 years I see it unfolding like this.
Windows 8 will be released. It will be shoved in the have of millions of PC users who will have no choose when they buy a new system. They are going to grumble and then over time get use to and dear I say even begin to like certain things about the Metro interface. Metro being whats basically on a Windows Smartphone will start to become very familiar to people and they will find it a lot easier to accept the different interface it presents. They will start to see that this is awesome on a smartphone and a tablet, a lot more than it is on their desktop system. So there is the trojan horse. The Windows 8 Metro interface which is the Windows smartphone interface which is the Nokia smartphone interface (amongst other smartphone manufacturers) It'll take time, but it will happen. Microsoft knows how to come from behind, it has a money the marketing and most of all the weight of Windows desktop OS behind it. Thats a huge weight and realm of influence.
Adobe CS6 is here. Also a subscription-based Creative Cloud service (video)
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Adobe is introducing Creative Suite 6. It comes complete with 14 applications. Photoshop CS6 which which is an update that'll provide "near instant results" thanks to the Mercury Graphics Engine -- while Content-Aware Patch and Content-Aware Move are sure to please artists suffering from the "Surely you can fix this in post!" clientele backlash. Adobe Muse is happily entering the scene for the first time, described as a "radical tool that'll enables designers to create and publish HTML5 web sites without writing code." (We're still waiting for Flash to comment.)
In related news, those who aren't up for paying $1,299 (and up) for one of the new suites can try something a bit different: monthly installments. That's coming courtesy of Creative Cloud, an quasi-new initiative designed to harness the power of cloud-based app distribution and streaming in a way that'll make CS6 more accessible than any of the packs that came before. You can tap into CS6's amenities over your broadband connection for $74.99 per month, while those who agree to an annual subscription can get in for $49.99 per month. To be clear, that provides unbridled access to any CS6 tool: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and AfterEffects, and the rest of the gang. If you're jonesing for Photoshop alone, that one will be available for $29.99 per month month (no contract) or $19.99 per month (annual agreement). There's no set release date just yet, but we're told to expect the new goods "within 30 days," and pre-orders seem to be a go. Head on down to the source links for more details on each individual aspect, and catch a promo video for the cloud-based subscription offering just after the break.
Adobe is introducing Creative Suite 6. It comes complete with 14 applications. Photoshop CS6 which which is an update that'll provide "near instant results" thanks to the Mercury Graphics Engine -- while Content-Aware Patch and Content-Aware Move are sure to please artists suffering from the "Surely you can fix this in post!" clientele backlash. Adobe Muse is happily entering the scene for the first time, described as a "radical tool that'll enables designers to create and publish HTML5 web sites without writing code." (We're still waiting for Flash to comment.)
In related news, those who aren't up for paying $1,299 (and up) for one of the new suites can try something a bit different: monthly installments. That's coming courtesy of Creative Cloud, an quasi-new initiative designed to harness the power of cloud-based app distribution and streaming in a way that'll make CS6 more accessible than any of the packs that came before. You can tap into CS6's amenities over your broadband connection for $74.99 per month, while those who agree to an annual subscription can get in for $49.99 per month. To be clear, that provides unbridled access to any CS6 tool: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and AfterEffects, and the rest of the gang. If you're jonesing for Photoshop alone, that one will be available for $29.99 per month month (no contract) or $19.99 per month (annual agreement). There's no set release date just yet, but we're told to expect the new goods "within 30 days," and pre-orders seem to be a go. Head on down to the source links for more details on each individual aspect, and catch a promo video for the cloud-based subscription offering just after the break.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Scientists Invent "Sonic Screwdriver" Will Doctor Who Claim Patent Rights?
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Part Tricorder and part lock-pick, Dr. Who's famous all-in-one device could handle any crisis—save deadlock seals. Now, researchers from Dundee University have replicated at least some of the screwdriver's functionality with a machine capable of lifting and turning suspended objects.
The Dundee device is able to raise and turn disks suspended in a water-filled tube. Granted that's not quite the same as picking a lock but does mark the first time an ultrasound device has been employed to both move and rotate objects. Previously ultrasound has only shown capable of pushing. However, the Dundee device is designed so that the momentum generated either forms a pushing beam or a rotating helix.
Dr. Mike MacDonald of the Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSAT) explained, "This experiment not only confirms a fundamental physics theory but also demonstrates a new level of control over ultrasound beams which can also be applied to non-invasive ultrasound surgery, targeted drug delivery and ultrasonic manipulation of cells."
Ultrasound devices are already employed in a variety of treatments however this added capability could prove extremely useful for cutting edge applications in targeted drug delivery and incisionless surgery. "The sonic screwdriver device is also part of the EU-funded nanoporation project where we are already starting to push the boundaries of what ultrasound can do in terms of targeted drug delivery and targeted cellular surgery," MacDonald continued. The team's findings will be printed in the American Physical Society's journal Physical Review Letters. [BBC - Image: The BBC]
Part Tricorder and part lock-pick, Dr. Who's famous all-in-one device could handle any crisis—save deadlock seals. Now, researchers from Dundee University have replicated at least some of the screwdriver's functionality with a machine capable of lifting and turning suspended objects.
The Dundee device is able to raise and turn disks suspended in a water-filled tube. Granted that's not quite the same as picking a lock but does mark the first time an ultrasound device has been employed to both move and rotate objects. Previously ultrasound has only shown capable of pushing. However, the Dundee device is designed so that the momentum generated either forms a pushing beam or a rotating helix.
Dr. Mike MacDonald of the Institute for Medical Science and Technology (IMSAT) explained, "This experiment not only confirms a fundamental physics theory but also demonstrates a new level of control over ultrasound beams which can also be applied to non-invasive ultrasound surgery, targeted drug delivery and ultrasonic manipulation of cells."
Ultrasound devices are already employed in a variety of treatments however this added capability could prove extremely useful for cutting edge applications in targeted drug delivery and incisionless surgery. "The sonic screwdriver device is also part of the EU-funded nanoporation project where we are already starting to push the boundaries of what ultrasound can do in terms of targeted drug delivery and targeted cellular surgery," MacDonald continued. The team's findings will be printed in the American Physical Society's journal Physical Review Letters. [BBC - Image: The BBC]
Thursday, April 19, 2012
aTV Flash black version 1.5, brings new features to your Apple TV
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I love my Apple TV especially running ATV Black so it's good to see Firecore are continually updating and refining their product. Inside v1.5, FireCore's added new features including NFS streaming, as well as things like extra transitions, subtle timing settings, more languages etc. The biggest enhancement is an all-new player, which promises a smoother playback regardless of the file type being used -- not to mention it's optimized for iOS 5. Of course, the refresh is gratis to those who've already shelled out the cash, and you can get to it by hitting the "Manage Extras" menu on Cupertino's miniature box. Not familiar with the ATV add ons then check the link out www.firecore.com
I love my Apple TV especially running ATV Black so it's good to see Firecore are continually updating and refining their product. Inside v1.5, FireCore's added new features including NFS streaming, as well as things like extra transitions, subtle timing settings, more languages etc. The biggest enhancement is an all-new player, which promises a smoother playback regardless of the file type being used -- not to mention it's optimized for iOS 5. Of course, the refresh is gratis to those who've already shelled out the cash, and you can get to it by hitting the "Manage Extras" menu on Cupertino's miniature box. Not familiar with the ATV add ons then check the link out www.firecore.com
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Google under a Federal Probe—Again.
www.tech-sanity.com
Google is in trouble again after its joke $25,000 fine for collecting private Wi-Fi information with its Street View cars they are being investigated again because Google was found to be bypassing security settings to store cookies on unwilling mobile Safari users' phones.
Google ignored the FCC's inquiry over the Street View fiasco, claiming total ignorance and promising it hadn't used any of the data in its products. That defense won't work a second time as any cookies that were stored would by default, factor into its search algorithm. And with this specific investigation, the results could be significant for Google, because each user that was affected—potentially millions—could count as a violation.
The investigation is ongoing, but apparently word on a decision could come within 30 days. The FTC will no doubt be going after Google hard this time, especially after the FCC was only able to pin down obstruction of justice.
Google has not been having a good run of things lately and has tarnished there, "Don't be Evil" mantra.
Google is in trouble again after its joke $25,000 fine for collecting private Wi-Fi information with its Street View cars they are being investigated again because Google was found to be bypassing security settings to store cookies on unwilling mobile Safari users' phones.
Google ignored the FCC's inquiry over the Street View fiasco, claiming total ignorance and promising it hadn't used any of the data in its products. That defense won't work a second time as any cookies that were stored would by default, factor into its search algorithm. And with this specific investigation, the results could be significant for Google, because each user that was affected—potentially millions—could count as a violation.
The investigation is ongoing, but apparently word on a decision could come within 30 days. The FTC will no doubt be going after Google hard this time, especially after the FCC was only able to pin down obstruction of justice.
Google has not been having a good run of things lately and has tarnished there, "Don't be Evil" mantra.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Microsoft Announces Windows 8 versions including an ARM version.
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Microsoft has just announced its full suite of Windows 8 editions, and the major news is that Windows on ARM processors will be officially called "Windows RT." It'll join Windows 8 and the newly-announced Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise, which add features like virtualization and encryption to Windows 8. As previously rumored, Windows Media Center will be a separate add-on to Windows 8 Pro. The split in names is notable: "Windows 8" is for x86 machines, while Windows RT will signify ARM processors and a distinctly different experience for consumers.
“WINDOWS RT IS A WHOLE NEW APPROACH FOR MICROSOFT
”
Specifically, Windows RT will not be sold separately, but only available pre-installed on new machines with ARM processors. That's a major change in the way Microsoft has traditionally sold Windows, and it underscores a more integrated approach to ARM-powered devices like tablets. Windows RT will also include the Office suite as we previously reported, but no other desktop apps can be installed on ARM machines — the focus instead will be on Metro apps built using the new WinRT development environment. Windows RT will also lack the traditional Windows Media Player and most of the enterprise features found in Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise.
It's an interesting move for Microsoft — the company is insistent that "all editions of Windows 8 offer a no-compromise experience," but by segmenting ARM devices off into Windows RT, it's able to dramatically limit the functionality of the desktop and restrict the final feature list. That's a major change in strategy and messaging from the past few months, but we'll have to see if Microsoft's plan is to build Windows RT into something that's more closely like Windows 8 — or something else entirely.
Microsoft has just announced its full suite of Windows 8 editions, and the major news is that Windows on ARM processors will be officially called "Windows RT." It'll join Windows 8 and the newly-announced Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Enterprise, which add features like virtualization and encryption to Windows 8. As previously rumored, Windows Media Center will be a separate add-on to Windows 8 Pro. The split in names is notable: "Windows 8" is for x86 machines, while Windows RT will signify ARM processors and a distinctly different experience for consumers.“WINDOWS RT IS A WHOLE NEW APPROACH FOR MICROSOFT
”
Specifically, Windows RT will not be sold separately, but only available pre-installed on new machines with ARM processors. That's a major change in the way Microsoft has traditionally sold Windows, and it underscores a more integrated approach to ARM-powered devices like tablets. Windows RT will also include the Office suite as we previously reported, but no other desktop apps can be installed on ARM machines — the focus instead will be on Metro apps built using the new WinRT development environment. Windows RT will also lack the traditional Windows Media Player and most of the enterprise features found in Windows 8 Pro and Enterprise.
It's an interesting move for Microsoft — the company is insistent that "all editions of Windows 8 offer a no-compromise experience," but by segmenting ARM devices off into Windows RT, it's able to dramatically limit the functionality of the desktop and restrict the final feature list. That's a major change in strategy and messaging from the past few months, but we'll have to see if Microsoft's plan is to build Windows RT into something that's more closely like Windows 8 — or something else entirely.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Samsung Galaxy S III event in London on May 3rd
www.tech-sanity.com
Samsung Mobile has just sent out the invite above to UK press, along with details of an event in London on May 3. It invites members of the press to "come and meet the next Galaxy." That'll be the Galaxy S III, then. Samsung says it plans on live streaming the event, which kicks off at 7pm local time (2pm EDT, 11am PDT), via its official Facebook page, too.
Samsung Mobile has just sent out the invite above to UK press, along with details of an event in London on May 3. It invites members of the press to "come and meet the next Galaxy." That'll be the Galaxy S III, then. Samsung says it plans on live streaming the event, which kicks off at 7pm local time (2pm EDT, 11am PDT), via its official Facebook page, too.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Apple looking to build 'unibody' earbuds through ultrasonic bonding
www.tech-sanity.com
I had to re post this article when I read it
I was pinching myself and checking the date wondering with a title like this if it wasn't April Fools day still!
I had to re post this article when I read it
I was pinching myself and checking the date wondering with a title like this if it wasn't April Fools day still!
| By using a process known as ultrasonic bonding, Apple could create new iPhone and iPod earbuds that would have a seamless, more aesthetically pleasing "unibody" appearance. |
Headsets and earbuds include a number of different components — such as cables, a jack, a microphone, and the headphones — all of which must be pieced together. The result, Apple believes, can be "abrupt and aesthetically displeasing." The company could resolve this with new headsets featuring a range of components that would "seamlessly integrate" with one another, as described in a new |
| patent application |
| discovered by |
| AppleInsider |
| . The filing, entitled "Ultrasonically Welded Structures and Methods for Making the Same," describes how different components could be welded together for a seamless look. Apple describes the new headphones as having an appearance that they were constructed as "a seamless unibody structure," even though the earbuds may include two different component pieces welded together. Combining two different elements in this way may form a weld ring that can be cut, sanded, polished and cleaned. This allows the headphone to appear to be one piece, even though it may actually be a number of connected pieces. |
Apple's desire to build a better set of earbuds was also detailed in a |
| separate application |
| published this week, entitled "Curved Plastic Object and Systems and Methods for Deburring the Same." It describes building curved plastic objects in the shape of a cap or grill of a headphone or earbud. The filing notes that holes are needed in earbuds to allow sound to travel, but the creation of those holes can result in remnants in or around them that degrade both the appearance of the device and the acoustic properties of the headphones. The solution presented in that application is a tool for "deburring" a curved plastic object. The tool could be coated in an abrasive material and would conform to the shape of the curved object, then polish it by vibrating while in contact with the plastic surface. |
Both the inner and outer surfaces would be both "deburred" and polished, ensuring that no remnants remain in the holes or on any surface of the headphones. The ultrasonic welding patent application is credited to Jeff Hayashida, Jonathan Aase, Rico Zorkendorfer, and Evans M. Hankey. Both Hayashida and Aase are also credited with the curved plastic patent application. |
Why Android Tablets suck for average Joes.
I just went to a a friends place who bought an Acer Tablet about 4 months ago. I do all her IT work. She has 3 PC's in the house ranging from XP, Vista and Windows 7 based systems. She's just bought a macbook air as well. She's not that great with technology but does ok for an average person. She cam edit her movies and get them transferred to DVD for her family and other tasks. Now to the point of why Android tablets tend to suck for the average Joe. You and I are probably pretty tech savvy. We probably know our way around most systems and find most things second nature. I myself find that if I haven't used a program or some new system, that I can figure it out pretty quickly and get things up and running in a very short space of time. So this Acer 500 tablet she's been struggling with it for months. Half the time she has no idea how she gets stuff on or off it. In some ways it is more confusing than the PC's she says she uses. It's just not familiar for her and therefore anti intuitive. I am not that versed in Tablets from Acer though I have used Android on a lot of phones, I have fixed PC's for a living and am very up on Mac's and IOS devices. So she calls me up and asks me to figure out how to put a few video clips onto her Acer "iPad" as she calls it, from her new Mac. After stuffing about for half an hour I thought I better go and google some info on this device. I managed to install a file browser, Astro, to be precise and see the contents of the Tablet but it just wasn't showing up on the Mac at all as a device. After my search I discovered that if I was trying to connect to a Windows system with this Tablet I'd need to install a specific USB driver before Windows would be able to see it a s a USB device On a Mac I had to install a little program called AndroidFileTransfer before it would show up. Then and only then would it be visible and work. So tablets are suppose to be for brain dead newbies who are completely computer illiterate. I have never bought any USB device that I needed to install a driver or program before it would show up and work. Thats just counter intuitive for these people. At least the iPad comes with iTunes which is preinstalled and just works nicely.
Manufacterers are going to have to get the idea that Tablets need to be more like a toaster than PC if you are going to get the average numb nut to use them and have a pleasant experience. Apple has done a great job of doing this with the iPad. Ok maybe your a tech head and want all this crazy stuff in a tablet and thats fine and I am not debating that or coming at it from our angle but as I said, the average Joe finds this is very unfamiliar. I mean try dragging a file into somewhere with Astrofile browser on a tablet It is so clunky its not funny. Anyway rant over. I feel better now. I just wish people would stick to iPads when they are not the tech savvy.
Manufacterers are going to have to get the idea that Tablets need to be more like a toaster than PC if you are going to get the average numb nut to use them and have a pleasant experience. Apple has done a great job of doing this with the iPad. Ok maybe your a tech head and want all this crazy stuff in a tablet and thats fine and I am not debating that or coming at it from our angle but as I said, the average Joe finds this is very unfamiliar. I mean try dragging a file into somewhere with Astrofile browser on a tablet It is so clunky its not funny. Anyway rant over. I feel better now. I just wish people would stick to iPads when they are not the tech savvy.
Apple asking for ID security questions to increase security in IOS
www.tech-sanity.com
Apple is now prompting iOS users to create three security questions to improve account security in IOS. The additional measure is now a standard practice, and further protect your credit card information which is associated with your iTunes account We got asked for them yesterday when setting up a new account in iTunes desktop, and The Next Web has seen them pop-up on the iPhone as well.
Apple is now prompting iOS users to create three security questions to improve account security in IOS. The additional measure is now a standard practice, and further protect your credit card information which is associated with your iTunes account We got asked for them yesterday when setting up a new account in iTunes desktop, and The Next Web has seen them pop-up on the iPhone as well.
Apple updates OS X Java to remove Flashback malware
www.tech-sanity.com
Apple has issued an update to Java for OS X that removes the Flashback malware which infected some 600,000 Macs worldwide. The number of Macs infected with the Flashback malware has plummeted in the last few days, antivirus vendor Symantec said today. As of Wednesday, Symantec estimated that approximately 270,000 Macs were infected with Flashback, down from a peak of more than 600,000 systems on April 6 and with this release from Apple no doubt this will be all but dead in a few days. Apple's recommending that OS X 10.6 users turn off Java in browsers entirely if they don't need it, but it's a little smarter in Lion: the update turns off support for automatically executing Java applets in Safari by default, and is pretty aggressive about it — if you turn automatic execution back on and don't use any applets for an "extended" period of time, the system will turn the permissions back off again. The update is available now in Software Update .
Apple has issued an update to Java for OS X that removes the Flashback malware which infected some 600,000 Macs worldwide. The number of Macs infected with the Flashback malware has plummeted in the last few days, antivirus vendor Symantec said today. As of Wednesday, Symantec estimated that approximately 270,000 Macs were infected with Flashback, down from a peak of more than 600,000 systems on April 6 and with this release from Apple no doubt this will be all but dead in a few days. Apple's recommending that OS X 10.6 users turn off Java in browsers entirely if they don't need it, but it's a little smarter in Lion: the update turns off support for automatically executing Java applets in Safari by default, and is pretty aggressive about it — if you turn automatic execution back on and don't use any applets for an "extended" period of time, the system will turn the permissions back off again. The update is available now in Software Update .
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Video of iPad's being Assembled at Foxconn Factory In China
www.tech-sanity.com
Rob Schmitz got to visit Foxconn's factory where Apple's manufacturing iPads in China.
He Says. "The first misconception I had about Foxconn’s Longhua facility in the city of Shenzhen was that I’ve always called it a ‘factory’ -- technically, it is. But after you enter the gates and walk around, you quickly realize that it’s also a city -- 240,000 people work here. Nearly 50,000 of them live on campus in shared dorm rooms".
There’s a main drag lined on both sides with fast-food restaurants, banks, cafes, grocery stores, a wedding photo shop, and an automated library. There are basketball courts, tennis courts, a gym, two enormous swimming pools, and a bright green astroturf soccer stadium smack-dab in the middle of campus. There’s a radio station -- Voice of Foxconn -- and a television news station. Longhua even has its own fire department, located right on main street.
This is not what comes to mind when you think “Chinese factory.”
Heres the video
Mac Flux Web Design Software Updated to version 4.
www.tech-sanity.com
Grab a demo copy from http://www.theescapers.com/ and have a play. There are screencast to check out too.
Grab the quick start PDF its easy to follow and steps you through building a whole website.
Great news if your into web design, the highly successful Flux WYSIWYG web design software just got a major update to version 4
theescapers just released version 4 today with some great new features.
Flux is an advanced HTML5 Web Design application, capable of creating stunning sites from scratch. Flux isn't a template based solution, though it does have a few templates, it's a creative design environment. Flux has comprehensive support for HTML and CSS, including Image Maps, CSS Gradients, custom fonts, and almost everything else. What makes Flux stand out for me is the WYSIWYG interface which is unlike anything else I've seen. You don't need to know code at all but at the same time the code is all there for you to use if you want. You can import existing sites and it immediately shows in Flux as a beautiful WYSIWYG interface.
Heres whats new in version 4.
New in Version 4
Embedded Inspector
FreeCode
All New FTP
Gradients
Image Maps
AutoComplete
What You See Is What You Get
Flux has an amazing WYSIWYG rendering engine, which means you can drag, stretch, and move objects like a you can in a DTP application, and your webpages will look exactly how you intended.*Flux will generate all the code for you, with no unneccesary tags.
Size, position, even margins and padding can be altered with handles on the elements themselves. If the properties are stored in external CSS stylesheets, these are automaticaly updated.
*On standards compliant web browsers
Code
If you’d rather type your code, you can do that too. The objects you create in the Code Editor will appear on the page as soon as you stop typing, they can then be edited using the WYSIWYG display.
Flux doesn’t make a distinction between typed code, or objects created by Flux, you can create anyway you like, and Flux will understand.
The Flux Code Editor has syntax highlighting for HTML and CSS, auto-completion and line numbering.
FreeCode allows you to type any code you want, yet Flux still understands and allows you to use WYSIWYG controls or handcoding.
Grab a demo copy from http://www.theescapers.com/ and have a play. There are screencast to check out too.
Grab the quick start PDF its easy to follow and steps you through building a whole website.
Grab a demo copy from http://www.theescapers.com/ and have a play. There are screencast to check out too.
Grab the quick start PDF its easy to follow and steps you through building a whole website.
Great news if your into web design, the highly successful Flux WYSIWYG web design software just got a major update to version 4
theescapers just released version 4 today with some great new features.
Flux is an advanced HTML5 Web Design application, capable of creating stunning sites from scratch. Flux isn't a template based solution, though it does have a few templates, it's a creative design environment. Flux has comprehensive support for HTML and CSS, including Image Maps, CSS Gradients, custom fonts, and almost everything else. What makes Flux stand out for me is the WYSIWYG interface which is unlike anything else I've seen. You don't need to know code at all but at the same time the code is all there for you to use if you want. You can import existing sites and it immediately shows in Flux as a beautiful WYSIWYG interface.
Heres whats new in version 4.
New in Version 4
Embedded Inspector| Do everything from a single window. |
FreeCode| FreeCode allows you to code however you want, but still allows you to make changes visually. |
All New FTP| FTP and SFTP completely re-written, rock solid and dependable. |
Gradients| A graphical CSS gradient editor makes this complex area simple, and you can easily export the gradients as images for backwards compatibility. |
Image Maps| Full support for MAP and AREA tags, complex polygons can be easily manipulated. |
AutoComplete| AutoComplete knows your code, completing tags, colors, even image paths. |
Flux has an amazing WYSIWYG rendering engine, which means you can drag, stretch, and move objects like a you can in a DTP application, and your webpages will look exactly how you intended.*Flux will generate all the code for you, with no unneccesary tags.
Size, position, even margins and padding can be altered with handles on the elements themselves. If the properties are stored in external CSS stylesheets, these are automaticaly updated.
*On standards compliant web browsers
Code
If you’d rather type your code, you can do that too. The objects you create in the Code Editor will appear on the page as soon as you stop typing, they can then be edited using the WYSIWYG display.
Flux doesn’t make a distinction between typed code, or objects created by Flux, you can create anyway you like, and Flux will understand.
The Flux Code Editor has syntax highlighting for HTML and CSS, auto-completion and line numbering.
FreeCode allows you to type any code you want, yet Flux still understands and allows you to use WYSIWYG controls or handcoding.
Grab a demo copy from http://www.theescapers.com/ and have a play. There are screencast to check out too.
Grab the quick start PDF its easy to follow and steps you through building a whole website.
Court Says Computer Code Is Not "Property" Appeals Court Rules Computer Code Is Not "Property"
www.tech-sanity.com
Heres an interesting article from Gizmodo :
Sergey Aleynikov, an ex-Goldman-Sachs programmer, spent a year in prison for downloading source code of the firm's high-speed trading software before his sentence was overturned in February. Today, the court explained why—downloading computer code doesn't constitute stealing under the National Stolen Property Act.
The 2nd Circuit Appeals Court ruled that since computer code cannot be physically obtained, it doesn't fit the legal description of a stolen good. "Because Aleynikov did not ‘assume physical control' over anything when he took the source code, and because he did not thereby ‘deprive [Goldman] of its use,' Aleynikov did not violate the [National Stolen Property Act]," the court wrote in its decision.
In addition, the Appeals Court struck down charges against Aleynikov of violating the Electronic Espionage Act since the software was never destined for foreign markets. Specifically, the judges wrote, "Because the HFT system was not designed to enter or pass in commerce, or to make something that does, Aleynikov's theft of source code relating to that system was not an offense under the EEA."
The court was quick to point out that this decision should not be interpreted for all cases of electronic theft, however the legal recognition that code isn't physical property (which people have been saying for years) is sure to make this case a focal point in future MPAA/RIAA wranglings.
Heres an interesting article from Gizmodo :
Sergey Aleynikov, an ex-Goldman-Sachs programmer, spent a year in prison for downloading source code of the firm's high-speed trading software before his sentence was overturned in February. Today, the court explained why—downloading computer code doesn't constitute stealing under the National Stolen Property Act.
The 2nd Circuit Appeals Court ruled that since computer code cannot be physically obtained, it doesn't fit the legal description of a stolen good. "Because Aleynikov did not ‘assume physical control' over anything when he took the source code, and because he did not thereby ‘deprive [Goldman] of its use,' Aleynikov did not violate the [National Stolen Property Act]," the court wrote in its decision.
In addition, the Appeals Court struck down charges against Aleynikov of violating the Electronic Espionage Act since the software was never destined for foreign markets. Specifically, the judges wrote, "Because the HFT system was not designed to enter or pass in commerce, or to make something that does, Aleynikov's theft of source code relating to that system was not an offense under the EEA."
The court was quick to point out that this decision should not be interpreted for all cases of electronic theft, however the legal recognition that code isn't physical property (which people have been saying for years) is sure to make this case a focal point in future MPAA/RIAA wranglings.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Toshiba’s 13-Inch Excite Tablet a massive 13"
www.tech-sanity.com
When Toshiba announced its 13-inch Excite tablet Tuesday, the company made an argument that one size does not fit all when it comes to touchscreen devices. But who will actually use such a large slab of mobile computing?
“The Excite 13 is what we see as a home tablet,” Jared Leavitt, a Toshiba spokesman, told Wired. “The larger size makes it an ideal kitchen tablet. You can watch how-to videos while you’re cooking, or look up recipes. And then later, you can bring it into the living room to watch videos with the kids, or to look at family photos with friends.”
Thankfully, Toshiba is shipping the Excite 13, which runs on Google’s Android 4.0 operating system, with a stand that will relieve owners from having to hold, or prop up, the large device themselves. And despite being bigger than pretty much every other competing tablet on the market, the Excite 13 is fairly thin and light for its size, Leavitt said, noting that it will weigh 2.2 pounds and measure 0.4 inches thick.
“What this comes down to is that it’s not the specific technology in a tablet that makes it exciting. It’s the user experience.” — Jared Spool
Nonetheless, anyone who’s watching the tablet market has to wonder why Toshiba is releasing a tablet behemoth in a world enamored with smaller devices. After all, the first tablet to gain any widespread consumer adoption other than Apple’s iPad is the 7-inch Kindle Fire. And looking forward, the hottest rumors focus on an iPad mini and a 7-inch tablet that would be Google’s next flagship mobile device. In short: Small is in, and big isn’t even part of the conversation.
Jared Spool, the CEO of User Interface Engineering, a usability research firm, agrees that Toshiba is thinking about tablet design in a way that its rivals aren’t. But Spool doesn’t agree that the world needs, or wants, a 13-inch tablet.
“This is the sort of typical maneuver of just adding another feature without improving the actual user experience,” Spool told Wired. “It’s just bigger, and it’s not clear to me that anyone is asking for bigger. You can only get the iPad in one size and nobody is saying, ‘Gee, it just feels a little too small to me.’”
But while there seems to be no consumer demand for larger tablets, the use case of watching movies as a group, or flipping through photos with loved ones on the couch, on a 13-inch slate isn’t too hard to imagine, says Jakob Nielsen, principal at the Nielsen Norman Group, a usability research firm.
“If a small group of people is trying to use the tablet together, sitting on the couch and consuming content, this size makes sense,” Nielsen told Wired. “But I do think [the Excite 13] might be a bit of overreach. I don’t think that people only need one computer. Nowadays, most people have two computers, between a laptop and a smartphone. But where this Toshiba tablet fits in — between those devices and the TV — I’m not sure. It’s not likely to be a big success.”
Spool also predicts that the Excite 13 will be neither an iPad killer, nor a top-selling Android tablet.
“These types of enhancements are knee-jerk reactions from companies who are trying to ‘out feature’ other companies,” he said. “But what this comes down to is that it’s not the specific technology in a tablet that makes it exciting. It’s the user experience. And there’s just a lot less to do on an Android tablet than an iPad. And what there is to do is much clumsier because the screen sizes and specs for Android tablets are all over the place. A 13-inch screen and a bunch of top specs do nothing to change that.”
Among the other specs the Excite 13 touts are a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear facing camera, and four rear-mounted speakers to blast audio from the tablet’s aluminum back. The tablet also sports a 1,600×900 screen resolution, a micro-USB port, a micro-HDMI port and a full-size SD card slot.
The Excite 13 sits at the top of a revamped tablet line for Toshiba, in terms of both price and screen size with a price tag of $649.99 for the 32GB model, and $749.99 for the 64GB model, when it hits stores in early June.
For those looking for a more traditionally sized tablet that still packs a quad-core punch, Toshiba will also ship in June a 7.7-inch version of the Excite (known as the Excite 7) at $499.99 for 16GB of storage and $579.99 for 32GB. A 10-inch Excite, dubbed the Excite 10, will ship in May for $449.99 with 16 GB of storage and $529.99 for the 32GB. The Excite range of tablets replaces Toshiba’s old line of Thrive slates, which were offered in both a 7-inch and 10-inch model.
In case you’re wondering why is the Excite 7 more expensive than the Excite 10, Leavitt explained: “Smaller is harder to do.”
When Toshiba announced its 13-inch Excite tablet Tuesday, the company made an argument that one size does not fit all when it comes to touchscreen devices. But who will actually use such a large slab of mobile computing?
“The Excite 13 is what we see as a home tablet,” Jared Leavitt, a Toshiba spokesman, told Wired. “The larger size makes it an ideal kitchen tablet. You can watch how-to videos while you’re cooking, or look up recipes. And then later, you can bring it into the living room to watch videos with the kids, or to look at family photos with friends.”
Thankfully, Toshiba is shipping the Excite 13, which runs on Google’s Android 4.0 operating system, with a stand that will relieve owners from having to hold, or prop up, the large device themselves. And despite being bigger than pretty much every other competing tablet on the market, the Excite 13 is fairly thin and light for its size, Leavitt said, noting that it will weigh 2.2 pounds and measure 0.4 inches thick.
“What this comes down to is that it’s not the specific technology in a tablet that makes it exciting. It’s the user experience.” — Jared Spool
Nonetheless, anyone who’s watching the tablet market has to wonder why Toshiba is releasing a tablet behemoth in a world enamored with smaller devices. After all, the first tablet to gain any widespread consumer adoption other than Apple’s iPad is the 7-inch Kindle Fire. And looking forward, the hottest rumors focus on an iPad mini and a 7-inch tablet that would be Google’s next flagship mobile device. In short: Small is in, and big isn’t even part of the conversation.
Jared Spool, the CEO of User Interface Engineering, a usability research firm, agrees that Toshiba is thinking about tablet design in a way that its rivals aren’t. But Spool doesn’t agree that the world needs, or wants, a 13-inch tablet.
“This is the sort of typical maneuver of just adding another feature without improving the actual user experience,” Spool told Wired. “It’s just bigger, and it’s not clear to me that anyone is asking for bigger. You can only get the iPad in one size and nobody is saying, ‘Gee, it just feels a little too small to me.’”
But while there seems to be no consumer demand for larger tablets, the use case of watching movies as a group, or flipping through photos with loved ones on the couch, on a 13-inch slate isn’t too hard to imagine, says Jakob Nielsen, principal at the Nielsen Norman Group, a usability research firm.
“If a small group of people is trying to use the tablet together, sitting on the couch and consuming content, this size makes sense,” Nielsen told Wired. “But I do think [the Excite 13] might be a bit of overreach. I don’t think that people only need one computer. Nowadays, most people have two computers, between a laptop and a smartphone. But where this Toshiba tablet fits in — between those devices and the TV — I’m not sure. It’s not likely to be a big success.”
Spool also predicts that the Excite 13 will be neither an iPad killer, nor a top-selling Android tablet.
“These types of enhancements are knee-jerk reactions from companies who are trying to ‘out feature’ other companies,” he said. “But what this comes down to is that it’s not the specific technology in a tablet that makes it exciting. It’s the user experience. And there’s just a lot less to do on an Android tablet than an iPad. And what there is to do is much clumsier because the screen sizes and specs for Android tablets are all over the place. A 13-inch screen and a bunch of top specs do nothing to change that.”
Among the other specs the Excite 13 touts are a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5-megapixel rear facing camera, and four rear-mounted speakers to blast audio from the tablet’s aluminum back. The tablet also sports a 1,600×900 screen resolution, a micro-USB port, a micro-HDMI port and a full-size SD card slot.
The Excite 13 sits at the top of a revamped tablet line for Toshiba, in terms of both price and screen size with a price tag of $649.99 for the 32GB model, and $749.99 for the 64GB model, when it hits stores in early June.
For those looking for a more traditionally sized tablet that still packs a quad-core punch, Toshiba will also ship in June a 7.7-inch version of the Excite (known as the Excite 7) at $499.99 for 16GB of storage and $579.99 for 32GB. A 10-inch Excite, dubbed the Excite 10, will ship in May for $449.99 with 16 GB of storage and $529.99 for the 32GB. The Excite range of tablets replaces Toshiba’s old line of Thrive slates, which were offered in both a 7-inch and 10-inch model.
In case you’re wondering why is the Excite 7 more expensive than the Excite 10, Leavitt explained: “Smaller is harder to do.”
Microsoft ends XP patches in 2014
www.tech-sanity.com
Five years after its release, the largely forgotten Windows Vista is moving out of the "mainstream" support period. Starting today, consumers will still get security updates for free, but everyone without a commercial support contract will need to pay for bug fixes or other patches. In April 2017, this "extended" support will also end, and both consumer and commercial users will be on their own, without security or other updates (although security fixes may be offered in special cases.)
That final cutoff date is approaching rather sooner for Windows XP users, who now have two years to upgrade to a new OS before extended support cuts off. XP stayed in mainstream support for several years longer than Vista, which got only the minimum five years. That's only indirectly because of XP's popularity, though: Microsoft tailors its support period based on how long it's been since the latest version of Windows was released, and there was a significant gap between XP and Vista. Microsoft has more information on its lifecycle page.
Five years after its release, the largely forgotten Windows Vista is moving out of the "mainstream" support period. Starting today, consumers will still get security updates for free, but everyone without a commercial support contract will need to pay for bug fixes or other patches. In April 2017, this "extended" support will also end, and both consumer and commercial users will be on their own, without security or other updates (although security fixes may be offered in special cases.)
That final cutoff date is approaching rather sooner for Windows XP users, who now have two years to upgrade to a new OS before extended support cuts off. XP stayed in mainstream support for several years longer than Vista, which got only the minimum five years. That's only indirectly because of XP's popularity, though: Microsoft tailors its support period based on how long it's been since the latest version of Windows was released, and there was a significant gap between XP and Vista. Microsoft has more information on its lifecycle page.
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Samsung's flexible AMOLED displays. 'Youm'
www.tech-sanity.com
Samsung's upcoming flexible AMOLED displays now have a name: "Youm." The branding comes from a new page on the Korean Samsung Mobile Display website, which offers little else other than the new name. The company has entered an application to the US Patent and Trademark Office for Youm, and the logo below is included in the filing. Other than the name, Samsung's site offers a quick comparison between the new technology, LCD, and OLED. The only difference between the standard OLED and its flexible counterpart is the use of film instead of glass, which the company claims makes the display "thinner, lighter, and unbreakable." A name certainly means we're one step closer to seeing these displays hit the market, but Samsung's estimate of a 2012 release is just that — an estimate — and its Liquavista electrowetting displays have already been slated for a 2013 debut. If you can't wait that long, LG's flexible e-paper displays are already in production and are set to be available in Europe as soon as this month.
Samsung's upcoming flexible AMOLED displays now have a name: "Youm." The branding comes from a new page on the Korean Samsung Mobile Display website, which offers little else other than the new name. The company has entered an application to the US Patent and Trademark Office for Youm, and the logo below is included in the filing. Other than the name, Samsung's site offers a quick comparison between the new technology, LCD, and OLED. The only difference between the standard OLED and its flexible counterpart is the use of film instead of glass, which the company claims makes the display "thinner, lighter, and unbreakable." A name certainly means we're one step closer to seeing these displays hit the market, but Samsung's estimate of a 2012 release is just that — an estimate — and its Liquavista electrowetting displays have already been slated for a 2013 debut. If you can't wait that long, LG's flexible e-paper displays are already in production and are set to be available in Europe as soon as this month.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Time Warner to bring live video to Android 4 ICS users finally.
www.tech-sanity.com
A product manager for Time Warner cable has announced that the company expects to finally bring a live video app to Android before Memorial Day, but the app will be limited to Android 4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS) due to it being "the only version of the Android OS that allows us the security and stability necessary to distribute video over our private network." The cable giant created a live video app for iOS early last year.
Saying that developing a live video product for Android is like "tweezing one's eyebrows while using a disco ball as a mirror," author Jeff Simmermon admitted that the challenge of coding the product for a wide range of devices did not compare favorably to iOS saying it was "much easier" to develop a live video app on Apple's platform. He pointed out the advantage that iOS is made by the same company that manufactures the hardware, making it easy to make the experience consistent across devices.
The post expresses some frustration with the fragmentation aspects of Android, cautioning users that "it's up to the device manufacturer or sometimes the data carrier when or if ICS will be deployed" to their devices. He gave an example that a Motorola device user on Verizon might get an update at one point, while a Samsung owner on AT&T may get the ICS upgrade in a very different timeframe. "We're going to get there," Simmermon said, "but it's going to happen one facet at a time."
Android 4.0 is thus far only on just under three percent of all Android devices, and while some devices are still awaiting updates, the majority -- particularly those running on the 2.x version of Android -- will likely never be updated, as carriers and manufacturers have a strong incentive to keep newer updates for newer devices, both to ensure the best experience as well as providing an inducement for users to keep upgrading hardware.
Simmermon's reference to "security and stability" likely refers to the digital rights management that makes live streaming possible on mobile devices, suggesting that earlier versions of Android will not be considered for future expansion of any video apps. Users whose devices came with or have been upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich will, however, be able to watch live video over a Wi-Fi and perhaps an LTE connection (the company didn't specify) with "no problem at all" when the app is released, sometime in the coming month or two.
Time Warner has an existing, free TWC TV app for Android that doesn't handle live video but does offer a program guide, DVR management, set-top box tuning and program searching.
A product manager for Time Warner cable has announced that the company expects to finally bring a live video app to Android before Memorial Day, but the app will be limited to Android 4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS) due to it being "the only version of the Android OS that allows us the security and stability necessary to distribute video over our private network." The cable giant created a live video app for iOS early last year.
Saying that developing a live video product for Android is like "tweezing one's eyebrows while using a disco ball as a mirror," author Jeff Simmermon admitted that the challenge of coding the product for a wide range of devices did not compare favorably to iOS saying it was "much easier" to develop a live video app on Apple's platform. He pointed out the advantage that iOS is made by the same company that manufactures the hardware, making it easy to make the experience consistent across devices.
The post expresses some frustration with the fragmentation aspects of Android, cautioning users that "it's up to the device manufacturer or sometimes the data carrier when or if ICS will be deployed" to their devices. He gave an example that a Motorola device user on Verizon might get an update at one point, while a Samsung owner on AT&T may get the ICS upgrade in a very different timeframe. "We're going to get there," Simmermon said, "but it's going to happen one facet at a time."
Android 4.0 is thus far only on just under three percent of all Android devices, and while some devices are still awaiting updates, the majority -- particularly those running on the 2.x version of Android -- will likely never be updated, as carriers and manufacturers have a strong incentive to keep newer updates for newer devices, both to ensure the best experience as well as providing an inducement for users to keep upgrading hardware.
Simmermon's reference to "security and stability" likely refers to the digital rights management that makes live streaming possible on mobile devices, suggesting that earlier versions of Android will not be considered for future expansion of any video apps. Users whose devices came with or have been upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich will, however, be able to watch live video over a Wi-Fi and perhaps an LTE connection (the company didn't specify) with "no problem at all" when the app is released, sometime in the coming month or two.
Time Warner has an existing, free TWC TV app for Android that doesn't handle live video but does offer a program guide, DVR management, set-top box tuning and program searching.
Soon To Launch OS X "HackStore" Could Bring Cydia Experience To Mac
www.tech-sanity.com
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Soon To Launch OS X "HackStore" Could Bring Cydia Experience To Mac
www.tech-sanity.com
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Soon To Launch OS X "HackStore" Could Bring Cydia Experience To Mac
www.tech-sanity.com
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Jay Freeman (a.k.a. @saurik) from the Jailbreak scene for IOS devices such as the iPhone and iPad was working on a Cydia Store for Mac 10 months ago but it has never emerged. Cult of Mac recently shared an article about Andrey Fedotov, a Russian programmer based in the United States, for a while now, he’s been working on an application called the “HackStore,” a Mac App Store-type OS X application for non-MAS apps. Could this be the Cydia for Mac app we’ve been waiting for?
It certainly sounds like this is the case. Fedotov argues that countless OS X applications will find a home in his HackStore, due to the limits Apple imposes on its Mac App Store ecosystem. Cult of Mac explains:
The HackStore (Andrey is open to name suggestions) will be a place for hosting content like third-party tweaks and programs, or to link directly to other developers’ websites. With the HackStore, power users will be able to easily browse and discover all the great apps that wouldn’t make it into the Mac App Store.
A user login won’t be required initially for downloading apps from the HackStore, but there will be a sidebar on the home page for developers to create an account and upload their packages. Everything will be free, but Andrey hopes to work with devs and offer paid apps and tweaks in the future.
The HackStore app itself is structured almost exactly like the Mac App Store. Everything users expect is already there: top charts, categories, featured content, search, promotional banners, and so on.
When you click an app, you’ll be able to read a description, look at screenshots, see user ratings and leave a review.
Sounds great, right? Here are a couple of screenshots:
iExplorer
Plex
Hopefully, the HackStore will be available in the coming months. As always, we’ll follow this story and update you if there are any more developments. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the HackStore in the comments.
Wednesday, April 04, 2012
Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone Review
www.tech-sanity.com
Microsoft and Nokia have teamed up in the hope of offering an appealing third choice in the smartphone market. Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to attract either buyers or app developers. But on April 8, Nokia and AT&T will begin selling the first high-end, 4G LTE, Windows Phone model released in the U.S., the Lumia 900.
The Lumia 900 looks rather different from other smartphones. It’s a solid, sturdy, single slab of rounded blue plastic—yes, blue—with a large, thin, bright screen that appears to lie on top, instead of being inset. (For the less adventurous, it also comes in black, and, in a few weeks, white.)
Plus, for an unspecified “limited time,” it costs just $100, half the typical $200 price of most other top-of-the-line competitors. That price requires a two-year AT&T contract whose fees start at $80 a month for a very minimal amount of data and voice minutes, plus unlimited texting. (It’s $60 without the texting plan.)
I’ve been testing the Lumia 900 and found that it provides the best home yet for the attractive Windows Phone software, but still doesn’t measure up to rival smartphones.
The screen is a roomy 4.3 inches—much larger than the iPhone’s—but the phone itself, while larger than an iPhone, isn’t as big and bulky as some recent Android models. I found it comfortable in the hand and the pocket.
When on an LTE network, the phone delivered download speeds of between 10 and 15 megabits per second in my tests, faster than most home Internet connections. Voice calls were clear and reliable, and the rear camera delivers 8 megapixel resolution.
Also, the Lumia 900 features the three biggest advantages of the Windows Phone platform—a handsome, distinctive, tile-based user interface; a mobile version of Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming network; and a mobile version of genuine Microsoft Office, which allows you to edit documents and share them with PCs and Macs, or store them in the cloud.
But, overall, I consider the Lumia 900 a mixed bag. Unless you are a big Windows Phone fan, or don’t want to spend more than $100 upfront, I can’t recommend the Lumia 900 over the iPhone 4S, or a first-rate Android phone like Samsung’s Galaxy S II series.
I was underwhelmed by the battery life, the browser, and the quality of its photos.
Plus, the Windows Phone platform has only a fraction of the third-party apps available for its rivals—about 70,000, versus nearly 600,000 for the iPhone and more than 450,000 for Android.
It also has a weaker content ecosystem. For instance, there is no way to buy TV shows or movies directly from the phone, and far fewer magazine and newspaper apps are available.
And if LTE—which I consider the only true 4G network in the U.S.—matters to you, bear in mind that AT&T offers that service in just 31 markets, versus 203 for Verizon. In most places, the Lumia, like other AT&T phones, including the AT&T version of the iPhone, delivers a slower version of 4G, which is really just a souped-up version of 3G.
The Windows Phone software itself on this new phone hasn’t changed. Instead of multiple pages of icons, as on iPhone and Android, it offers a scroll of tiles that show information. And it still has “hubs” that combine information like contacts and social-media updates for people you know.
Still, despite its flaws, including the likelihood of a lot of scrolling to get to apps, it remains a refreshing change from the dominant competitors.
My biggest problem was with the Web browser, a mobile version of Internet Explorer.
Back in January, when I tested the same browser on an entry-level Nokia Windows Phone, it worked fine on both the cellular network and on my Wi-Fi network. But the Lumia 900 stalled frequently when rendering websites on my fast, home Wi-Fi network, though the phone did fine on LTE.
To make sure my Wi-Fi wasn’t faulty, I tried some of the same sites, in the same spot, on an iPhone, an Android phone and even an older Samsung Windows Phone. All worked perfectly. Nokia had no explanation for this problem.
I found that, in light use, the battery lasted through a typical day. But in heavier use, including lots of email usage and Web browsing, streaming a one-hour TV show via Netflix, and conducting an hour-long phone call, the battery drained more quickly and was almost gone by late in the afternoon. This was especially true if I was using LTE much of the time.
While the Lumia 900’s processor is single-core, not the common dual-core found on other high-end phones, I found the phone worked smoothly and quickly, and played videos fine.
The screen resolution of 800 by 480 is lower than the iPhone’s, and I found the display generally less sharp than the Apple’s. The screen visibility was a bit better outdoors than most other phones I’ve tested, but not dramatically so.
The camera, despite having the same resolution as the new iPhone, took notably worse pictures of the same scenes in my tests. To my eye, colors were oversaturated, and details were less sharp.
There were a few other issues. The Mac version of Microsoft’s Windows Phone syncing software wouldn’t recognize the Lumia 900, though the PC version did. The on-off button isn’t labeled, or easily distinguishable, from the dedicated camera button.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a $100, high-end smartphone, or are a Windows Phone fan who has been waiting for better hardware, the Lumia 900 is worth considering. But the phone had just too many drawbacks in my tests to best its chief competitors.
Microsoft and Nokia have teamed up in the hope of offering an appealing third choice in the smartphone market. Microsoft’s Windows Phone operating system has struggled to attract either buyers or app developers. But on April 8, Nokia and AT&T will begin selling the first high-end, 4G LTE, Windows Phone model released in the U.S., the Lumia 900.
The Lumia 900 looks rather different from other smartphones. It’s a solid, sturdy, single slab of rounded blue plastic—yes, blue—with a large, thin, bright screen that appears to lie on top, instead of being inset. (For the less adventurous, it also comes in black, and, in a few weeks, white.)
Plus, for an unspecified “limited time,” it costs just $100, half the typical $200 price of most other top-of-the-line competitors. That price requires a two-year AT&T contract whose fees start at $80 a month for a very minimal amount of data and voice minutes, plus unlimited texting. (It’s $60 without the texting plan.)
I’ve been testing the Lumia 900 and found that it provides the best home yet for the attractive Windows Phone software, but still doesn’t measure up to rival smartphones.
The screen is a roomy 4.3 inches—much larger than the iPhone’s—but the phone itself, while larger than an iPhone, isn’t as big and bulky as some recent Android models. I found it comfortable in the hand and the pocket.
When on an LTE network, the phone delivered download speeds of between 10 and 15 megabits per second in my tests, faster than most home Internet connections. Voice calls were clear and reliable, and the rear camera delivers 8 megapixel resolution.
Also, the Lumia 900 features the three biggest advantages of the Windows Phone platform—a handsome, distinctive, tile-based user interface; a mobile version of Microsoft’s Xbox Live gaming network; and a mobile version of genuine Microsoft Office, which allows you to edit documents and share them with PCs and Macs, or store them in the cloud.
But, overall, I consider the Lumia 900 a mixed bag. Unless you are a big Windows Phone fan, or don’t want to spend more than $100 upfront, I can’t recommend the Lumia 900 over the iPhone 4S, or a first-rate Android phone like Samsung’s Galaxy S II series.
I was underwhelmed by the battery life, the browser, and the quality of its photos.
Plus, the Windows Phone platform has only a fraction of the third-party apps available for its rivals—about 70,000, versus nearly 600,000 for the iPhone and more than 450,000 for Android.
It also has a weaker content ecosystem. For instance, there is no way to buy TV shows or movies directly from the phone, and far fewer magazine and newspaper apps are available.
And if LTE—which I consider the only true 4G network in the U.S.—matters to you, bear in mind that AT&T offers that service in just 31 markets, versus 203 for Verizon. In most places, the Lumia, like other AT&T phones, including the AT&T version of the iPhone, delivers a slower version of 4G, which is really just a souped-up version of 3G.
The Windows Phone software itself on this new phone hasn’t changed. Instead of multiple pages of icons, as on iPhone and Android, it offers a scroll of tiles that show information. And it still has “hubs” that combine information like contacts and social-media updates for people you know.
Still, despite its flaws, including the likelihood of a lot of scrolling to get to apps, it remains a refreshing change from the dominant competitors.
My biggest problem was with the Web browser, a mobile version of Internet Explorer.
Back in January, when I tested the same browser on an entry-level Nokia Windows Phone, it worked fine on both the cellular network and on my Wi-Fi network. But the Lumia 900 stalled frequently when rendering websites on my fast, home Wi-Fi network, though the phone did fine on LTE.
To make sure my Wi-Fi wasn’t faulty, I tried some of the same sites, in the same spot, on an iPhone, an Android phone and even an older Samsung Windows Phone. All worked perfectly. Nokia had no explanation for this problem.
I found that, in light use, the battery lasted through a typical day. But in heavier use, including lots of email usage and Web browsing, streaming a one-hour TV show via Netflix, and conducting an hour-long phone call, the battery drained more quickly and was almost gone by late in the afternoon. This was especially true if I was using LTE much of the time.
While the Lumia 900’s processor is single-core, not the common dual-core found on other high-end phones, I found the phone worked smoothly and quickly, and played videos fine.
The screen resolution of 800 by 480 is lower than the iPhone’s, and I found the display generally less sharp than the Apple’s. The screen visibility was a bit better outdoors than most other phones I’ve tested, but not dramatically so.
The camera, despite having the same resolution as the new iPhone, took notably worse pictures of the same scenes in my tests. To my eye, colors were oversaturated, and details were less sharp.
There were a few other issues. The Mac version of Microsoft’s Windows Phone syncing software wouldn’t recognize the Lumia 900, though the PC version did. The on-off button isn’t labeled, or easily distinguishable, from the dedicated camera button.
Bottom line: If you’re looking for a $100, high-end smartphone, or are a Windows Phone fan who has been waiting for better hardware, the Lumia 900 is worth considering. But the phone had just too many drawbacks in my tests to best its chief competitors.
EU Regulators Open Two Antitrust Cases Against Motorola.
www.tech-sanity.com
Our previous article on Google found guilty and now Motorola (who of course is being bought by Google) being probed. Not a good week by the looks of things. On Tuesday, the European Commission opened two antitrust cases against Motorola Mobility for possible patent abuses, following complaints by Apple and Microsoft.
“… The commission will investigate … whether by seeking and enforcing injunctions against Apple’s and Microsoft’s flagship products such as iPhone, iPad, Windows and Xbox on the basis of patents it had declared essential to produce standard-compliant products, Motorola has failed to honor its irrevocable commitments made to standard setting organizations,” the Commission said in a statement.
Also subject to the Commission’s probe: Allegations by both Apple and Microsoft that Motorola has refused to license standards-essential patents on the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms by both the Commission and standard-setting organizations.
Apple complains that Motorola has demanded from it “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold for the standards-essential patents used in the device. And Microsoft says Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies argue that those rates are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry. More to the point, they don’t seem fair or reasonable. But they do seem to run contrary to the principles of FRAND licensing commitments by which Motorola is expected to abide.
So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their worldwide annual income if it finds them guilty of antitrust violations. It can also force them to change their business practices. In other words, the potential consequences here are quite serious, not just for Motorola, but also for Google, which is acquiring it.
“If and when Google closes the deal, it will effectively buy itself into two more EU antitrust investigations,” FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller observes. “It’s time for some people in Mountain View to realize that a multi-front war against competition authorities, on three continents in parallel, is a war that they won’t be able to win.”
Google, for its part, is steeling itself for the double probe.
“We haven’t finalized our acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but will work with the European Commission to answer any questions they might have,” a company spokeswoman told us “We have longstanding concerns about patent abuses, including lawsuits and royalty demands targeting the Android ecosystem.”
Good luck.
Our previous article on Google found guilty and now Motorola (who of course is being bought by Google) being probed. Not a good week by the looks of things. On Tuesday, the European Commission opened two antitrust cases against Motorola Mobility for possible patent abuses, following complaints by Apple and Microsoft.
“… The commission will investigate … whether by seeking and enforcing injunctions against Apple’s and Microsoft’s flagship products such as iPhone, iPad, Windows and Xbox on the basis of patents it had declared essential to produce standard-compliant products, Motorola has failed to honor its irrevocable commitments made to standard setting organizations,” the Commission said in a statement.
Also subject to the Commission’s probe: Allegations by both Apple and Microsoft that Motorola has refused to license standards-essential patents on the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms by both the Commission and standard-setting organizations.
Apple complains that Motorola has demanded from it “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold for the standards-essential patents used in the device. And Microsoft says Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies argue that those rates are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry. More to the point, they don’t seem fair or reasonable. But they do seem to run contrary to the principles of FRAND licensing commitments by which Motorola is expected to abide.
So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their worldwide annual income if it finds them guilty of antitrust violations. It can also force them to change their business practices. In other words, the potential consequences here are quite serious, not just for Motorola, but also for Google, which is acquiring it.
“If and when Google closes the deal, it will effectively buy itself into two more EU antitrust investigations,” FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller observes. “It’s time for some people in Mountain View to realize that a multi-front war against competition authorities, on three continents in parallel, is a war that they won’t be able to win.”
Google, for its part, is steeling itself for the double probe.
“We haven’t finalized our acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but will work with the European Commission to answer any questions they might have,” a company spokeswoman told us “We have longstanding concerns about patent abuses, including lawsuits and royalty demands targeting the Android ecosystem.”
Good luck.
Google found guilty!
www.tech-sanity.com
An Australian court has ruled that Google misled its users in the country by showing "misleading and deceptive" advertisements with its search results. The decision overturns an earlier ruling on the issue following an appeal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Google was found guilty of displaying advertisements for competitors of the company searched for — for example, a search for Harvey World Travel returned ads for STA Travel with the query included in the headline. The court ruled that this was likely to mislead customers into believing that there was an association between the two companies, and ordered Google to set up a compliance program so that it doesn't make the same infringement in future.
The ACCC's legal action was intended to make Google responsible for its content, and while the cited examples of misleading advertisements were all from a few years back, the ruling sets a potentially important precedent for the future in how Google returns its results. The company, for its part, tells Bloomberg that it has changed the way it displays search results in recent years and is examining its legal options.
An Australian court has ruled that Google misled its users in the country by showing "misleading and deceptive" advertisements with its search results. The decision overturns an earlier ruling on the issue following an appeal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Google was found guilty of displaying advertisements for competitors of the company searched for — for example, a search for Harvey World Travel returned ads for STA Travel with the query included in the headline. The court ruled that this was likely to mislead customers into believing that there was an association between the two companies, and ordered Google to set up a compliance program so that it doesn't make the same infringement in future.
The ACCC's legal action was intended to make Google responsible for its content, and while the cited examples of misleading advertisements were all from a few years back, the ruling sets a potentially important precedent for the future in how Google returns its results. The company, for its part, tells Bloomberg that it has changed the way it displays search results in recent years and is examining its legal options.
Tuesday, April 03, 2012
European Commission looking closely at Motorola
www.tech-sanity.com
Spurred to action by complaints by both Microsoft and Apple, the European Commission is mulling whether to open an investigation into Motorola Mobility’s handling of standards-essential patents.
“I am considering whether we need to investigate these complaints formally to help bring more clarity into this area of competition control,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said during a recent speech in Washington, D.C.
At issue here are the complaints made by Microsoft and Apple that the royalty rates Motorola is demanding from them for its standards-essential patents run contrary to the “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing terms (FRAND) by which it is expected to abide. From Apple, Motorola has asked for “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold. And from Microsoft, Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies insist that those rates are vastly inflated, and claim the reason for that is to improperly hamstring them.
Almunia seems to think there may be some merit to those allegations; enough to sound off about them in public, anyway.
“The holders of standard-essential patents have considerable market power,” he said. “This market power can be used to harm competition; in some cases, the holders of standard-essential patents can effectively hold up the entire industry with the threat of banning the products of competitors from the market. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to use antitrust enforcement to prevent such hold-up by patent holders.”
A somber warning to Motorola and its soon-to-be owner Google, which says it’s just fine with its acquisition’s patent tactics.
Spurred to action by complaints by both Microsoft and Apple, the European Commission is mulling whether to open an investigation into Motorola Mobility’s handling of standards-essential patents.
“I am considering whether we need to investigate these complaints formally to help bring more clarity into this area of competition control,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said during a recent speech in Washington, D.C.
At issue here are the complaints made by Microsoft and Apple that the royalty rates Motorola is demanding from them for its standards-essential patents run contrary to the “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing terms (FRAND) by which it is expected to abide. From Apple, Motorola has asked for “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold. And from Microsoft, Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies insist that those rates are vastly inflated, and claim the reason for that is to improperly hamstring them.
Almunia seems to think there may be some merit to those allegations; enough to sound off about them in public, anyway.
“The holders of standard-essential patents have considerable market power,” he said. “This market power can be used to harm competition; in some cases, the holders of standard-essential patents can effectively hold up the entire industry with the threat of banning the products of competitors from the market. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to use antitrust enforcement to prevent such hold-up by patent holders.”
A somber warning to Motorola and its soon-to-be owner Google, which says it’s just fine with its acquisition’s patent tactics.
Monday, April 02, 2012
Hackers Steal Account Details From 1.5 Million US Credit Cards
www.tech-sanity.com
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Over the weekend, Global Payments—a massive international credit-card processor—announced that it suffered a security breach. Hackers managed to acquire customer information from up to 1.5 million accounts across North America.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the news came to light when Visa withdrew from using the company's services as a result of the problem. Though card and account information was exported from the the servers of Global Payment, it's currently thought that the criminals didn't obtain card-holder names, addresses or Social Security numbers.
A spokesperson from Global Payments told the Wall Street Journal that "[b]ased on the forensic analysis to date, network monitoring and additional security measures, the company believes that this incident is contained."
The move by Visa to stop using the services of Global Payment is a big one: it's a rare occurrence in the industry, so signals a complete lack of trust. It's not yet clear whether others will follow suit. As of Friday, banks were taking extra care to monitor accounts for suspicious activity. [Wall Street Journal]
HTC One X review
www.tech-sanity.com
Don't call it a comeback. HTC certainly was in the running for King of Mobile World Congress 2012 (an award that would be way cooler if it existed) with the new HTC One line, and the HTC One X specifically. When you stop and think about it, however, it's also a logical progression.
HTC started 2011 with the eventually disappointing Verizon ThunderBolt, which was thick, heavy and a battery hog — due in no small part to its LTE radio. The prevailing winds started to shift later in the year, however, with the likes of the Sensation and Amaze 4G, and you started to get a sense (pardon the pun) that the Taiwanese manufacturer was starting to regain its footing. (That shift was further indicated by the likes of the Windows Phone HTC Titan line.)
And that brings us to 2012 and the HTC One X, the pinnacle of the trio of Android smartphones that make up the HTC One line. (The others are the HTC One S and HTC One V.) There actually are two versions of the One X — the GSM version with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and another with a dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor and an LTE radio for 4G data.
The HTC One X review that follows is of the international quad-core version. We'll follow up with AT&T dual-core, LTE version of the One X when it becomes available.
A great camera, equally great display, and all the power of NVIDIA Tegra 3 that we've come to expect. Sense 4 meshes nicely with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Free 25GB of online storage thrown in via Dropbox. Impressive design and build quality. Battery life is pretty good.
That said, the non-removable battery and lack of microSD card may be a sticking point for some. The 4.7-inch phone may be too large for small hands. The protruding camera lens can be easily scratched and isn't easily replaceable.
The leader of the next-generation HTC One series of smartphones has been a breeze to use. Android 4.0 has been improved upon with HTC Sense 4 while still retaining the overall look, feel and function of Ice Cream Sandwich, which in and of itself has an excellent user experience. The camera is a high point, Beats Audio makes music sound better, and you get a bunch of online storage thrown in for free. HTC easily has a winner in the One X.
Don't call it a comeback. HTC certainly was in the running for King of Mobile World Congress 2012 (an award that would be way cooler if it existed) with the new HTC One line, and the HTC One X specifically. When you stop and think about it, however, it's also a logical progression.
HTC started 2011 with the eventually disappointing Verizon ThunderBolt, which was thick, heavy and a battery hog — due in no small part to its LTE radio. The prevailing winds started to shift later in the year, however, with the likes of the Sensation and Amaze 4G, and you started to get a sense (pardon the pun) that the Taiwanese manufacturer was starting to regain its footing. (That shift was further indicated by the likes of the Windows Phone HTC Titan line.)
And that brings us to 2012 and the HTC One X, the pinnacle of the trio of Android smartphones that make up the HTC One line. (The others are the HTC One S and HTC One V.) There actually are two versions of the One X — the GSM version with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and another with a dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor and an LTE radio for 4G data.
The HTC One X review that follows is of the international quad-core version. We'll follow up with AT&T dual-core, LTE version of the One X when it becomes available.
A great camera, equally great display, and all the power of NVIDIA Tegra 3 that we've come to expect. Sense 4 meshes nicely with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Free 25GB of online storage thrown in via Dropbox. Impressive design and build quality. Battery life is pretty good.
That said, the non-removable battery and lack of microSD card may be a sticking point for some. The 4.7-inch phone may be too large for small hands. The protruding camera lens can be easily scratched and isn't easily replaceable.
The leader of the next-generation HTC One series of smartphones has been a breeze to use. Android 4.0 has been improved upon with HTC Sense 4 while still retaining the overall look, feel and function of Ice Cream Sandwich, which in and of itself has an excellent user experience. The camera is a high point, Beats Audio makes music sound better, and you get a bunch of online storage thrown in for free. HTC easily has a winner in the One X.
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