US House supports 5 more years of foreign surveillance

Monitoring, if passed by the Senate, to continue until 2017

While everyone is concentrating on whether or not President Barack Obama will get four more years in the White House, the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 cleared the U.S. House of Representatives this week, giving the controversial act an additional five years.

This extension of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which was due to expire on Dec. 31, 2012, passed on a 301 to 118 vote. Since 70 percent of representatives (227 Republicans and 74 Democrats) voted in favor of the bill, it exceeded the simple majority required to pass.

"The Act allows intelligence professionals to more quickly and effectively monitor terrorist communications, while protecting the civil liberties of Americans," states to the bill's summary. The text attempts to make the case by illustrating foreign surveillance before the FISA Amendment.

"Admiral McConnell stated that the Intelligence Community was not collecting approximately two-thirds of the foreign intelligence information that it collected prior to legal interpretations that required the government to obtain individualized FISA court orders for overseas surveillance."

The bill cites changes in technology as justification: "This is contrary to what Congress intended when it enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978 and had come about due to changes in telecommunication technology."

Dubbed 'warrantless wiretap bill' by opponents

Critics have long decried the FISA Amendment as an overreach by the federal government and a violation of citizens' Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The provisions of the FISA Amendment and its 2012 extension are a work around of The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. That bill prevented the government from using its vast resources to spy on Americans in the wake of Richard Nixon's involvement in Watergate.

This has led opponents to routinely refer to the FISA Amendment as a "warrantless wiretap bill" and a spy program in which citizens can be unfairly targeted. On the latter criticism, dissenting Congressmen decry the lack of data available on how many citizens have been affected.

Backers, on the other hand, simply use its official name and point to the fact that the bill "requires court orders to target Americans for foreign intelligence surveillance, no matter where they are, and requires court review of the procedures used to protect information about Americans."

On to the Senate

Following its passage on the House floor, the FISA Amendment of 2012 is due for a vote by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The Senate, however, rubber stamped the FISA Amendment of 2008 with 22 Democrats and 46 Republicans voting in the affirmative. The only dissenters were the 27 Democrats.

On top of its bipartisan support, President Obama is in favor of the Bush-era Amendment and voted for the bill as a Senator in 2008. Prior to that vote, however, he opposed the Act because it retroactively granted immunity for telecommunications companies.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/other-phones/us-house-supports-5-more-years-of-foreign-surveillance-1097582

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Microsoft freebies: Ballmer to give all employees free Surface tablet, PC and phone

Microsoft's giving all 90,000+ of its workers a bunch of free stuff, including its soon-to-launch Surface tablet.

Microsoft’s annual employee bash took place in Seattle this week, an event off-limits to the media and public. With Steve Ballmer at the helm, the gathering usually involves a spot of perspiration, speeches from various Microsoft executives and, this year, free stuff.

All 90,000+ full-time employees of the Redmond-based computer company are set to receive not one, not even two, but three lots of free goodies, according to a Forbes report.

Ballmer promised his army of workers an RT Surface tablet, a Windows 8 PC and a Windows Phone 8 device. While workers will be free to use the tablet and phone at home and for work, the PC is for work only.

The report said some employees posted messages on Twitter and Facebook expressing their delight at their boss’s announcement, with one describing it as the “Best. Company meeting. Ever.”

It’s a generous giveaway, for sure, but it’s also designed to get Microsoft employees up and running with its new products and next-generation OS, scheduled for launch next month.

Microsoft will also want to get its workers familiar with its new Surface tablet, and hopefully singing its praises to anyone who’ll listen. The Surface marks the computer giant’s entry into the tablet market, already crammed with competitors, and dominated by Apple with its mass-selling iPad.

The Surface has a 10.6-inch display with a 16:9 aspect ratio and comes with a Touch Cover keyboard. The tablet comprises two models, one running Windows 8 Pro and a more basic version running Windows RT.

The RT model will hit stores at the end of next month while the Surface Pro isn’t expected to be available until early 2013.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/microsoft-to-give-all-employees-free-surface-tablet-pc-and-phone/

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FISA Amendment renewed by US House for 5 more years of foreign surveillance

Monitoring, if passed by the Senate, to continue until 2017

While everyone is concentrating on whether or not President Barack Obama will get four more years in the White House, the FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 cleared the U.S. House of Representatives this week, giving the controversial act an additional five years.

This extension of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, which was due to expire on December 31, 2012, passed on a 301 to 118 vote. Since 70% of representatives (227 Republicans and 74 Democrats) voted in favor of the bill, it exceeded the simple majority required to pass.

"The Act allows intelligence professionals to more quickly and effectively monitor terrorist communications, while protecting the civil liberties of Americans," states to the bill's summary. The text attempts to make the case by illustrating foreign surveillance before the FISA Amendment.

"Admiral McConnell stated that the Intelligence Community was not collecting approximately two-thirds of the foreign intelligence information that it collected prior to legal interpretations that required the government to obtain individualized FISA court orders for overseas surveillance."

The bill cites changes in technology as justification: "This is contrary to what Congress intended when it enacted the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) in 1978 and had come about due to changes in telecommunication technology."

Dubbed "warrantless wiretap bill" by opponents

Critics have long decried the FISA Amendment as an overreach by the federal government and a violation of citizens' Fourth Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution.

The provisions of the FISA Amendment and its 2012 extension are a work around of The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. That bill prevented the government from using its vast resources to spy on Americans in the wake of Richard Nixon's involvement in Watergate.

This has led opponents to routinely refer to the FISA Amendment as a "warrantless wiretap bill" and a spy program in which citizens can be unfairly targeted. On the latter criticism, dissenting Congressmen decry the lack of data available on how many citizens have been affected.

Backers, on the other hand, simply use its official name and point to the fact that the bill "requires court orders to target Americans for foreign intelligence surveillance, no matter where they are, and requires court review of the procedures used to protect information about Americans."

On to the Senate

Following its passage on the House floor, the FISA Amendment of 2012 is due for a vote by the Democrat-controlled Senate.

The Senate, however, rubber stamped the FISA Amendment of 2008 with 22 Democrats and 46 Republicans voting in the affirmative. The only dissenters were the 27 Democrats.

On top of its bipartisan support, President Obama is in favor of the Bush-era Amendment and voted for the bill as a Senator in 2008. Prior to that vote, however, he opposed the Act because it retroactively granted immunity for telecommunications companies.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/other-phones/fisa-amendment-renewed-by-us-house-for-5-more-years-of-foreign-surveillance-1097582

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Motorola DROID RAZR HD developer edition gets outed

In a quiet fashion Motorola has released a developer edition of its latest and greatest DROID RAZR HD smartphone, sporting a bootloader which can be unlocked. The handset is destined for users with a knack for flashing custom ROMs, as well as those who don't like Verizon's take on Android.

There is no release date set for the headset. A sign up page however is up and running for the overly anxious. Expect a hefty price tag and lack of warranty when the Motorola DROID RAZR HD Developer Edition becomes available.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_droid_razr_hd_developer_edition_gets_outed_-news-4806.php

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Best Nook Tablet Games

The Nook Tablet may not be the most popular tablet on the market, but there are a plethora of fun and addicting games available for Barnes & Noble's ereader. Check out our guide to the best Nook Tablet games.

No matter how good a book is, sometimes reading can get to be an eyesore. The best of stories will make you power through the unpleasantness, but the worst of them will make you slam the book down in frustration. If you’re reading on a Nook Tablet, we strongly suggest not doing that. Instead, we offer you this alternative: Back out of the book, head to the home screen, and pick one of the awesome games we’ve listed below to release your frustrations. It’s a far better alternative than the torture of a boring book and a great tension reliever for those moments where you just can’t take another page turn.

Doodle Snake ($1)

Remember playing Snake on cell phones before they could run actual games? Just the mention of it should bring back memories of the satisfying “boop” of collecting a pixel dot and the sigh-releasing relief of just missing eating your own tail. Doodle Snake allows you to relive those moments but in a much more relaxed, doodle-colored environment. It’s a new artsy take on the cellphone classic, and it turns out the game is just as fun as we remember.

Words With Friends ($3)

You’re a book worm. You know big words. You even know some really impressive small words. Put those years of absorbing the words of others to good use by applying your knowledge to a game of Words With Friends. Take on the folks on your friends list or a stranger in an enthralling game that invokes the spirit of Scrabble. It’s the ultimate challenge for a word devourer. Try not to get frustrated when your friend scores 50 points for “ZIP” when you only got 12 for “AEOLIAN.”

Finger Slayer Boxer ($2)

Feel like your losing your touch a little–like you’re just not quite as fast as you used to be? It’s hard feel like you’re getting old. Fear not, as we have a game that will allow you to channel your inner Rocky. Finger Slayer Boxer will get your mind back in peak condition by challenging your reflexes. Watch as the countdown begins, then get your finger ready to move around the ring as boxing gloves try to rain down on you. Keep ducking and dodging and pretty soon you’ll be back on top.

Ms. Pac-Man ($3)

Everyone loved Pac-Man back in the days of the arcade. How could you not? That little yellow circle just had such a charm to him. But it was Ms. Pac-Man that was the real knock out. Everyone fell in love with that bow. Relive those days where it was love at first sight with Ms. Pac-Man for your Nook Tablet. It maintains all of the charm of the arcade classic. Ms. Pac-Man hasn’t lost her look either, though technically she would qualify as a cougar now.

Word Stack ($1)

Who knew words could be so much fun? They have become the basis of some of the finest portable games out there. One of the best examples of making words the main element of an excellent game is Word Stack. It’s not just fun by association with words, it’s fun by word association. You’ll be tasked with stacking and matching words as the come. How you choose to match them is up to you. Since the main playing piece of this game is words, there’s no shortage of combinations.

Angry Birds Space ($3)

A mobile device without Angry Birds is like a book without words. Your Nook Tablet is going to feel empty if you don’t load it up with at least one version of those well-recognized feathered fliers. Angry Birds Space is the most recent and most innovative, taking the standard cast of characters and putting them in a whole new stratosphere. Send the Birds and their space counterparts flying to defeat the pigs in this alien landscape. The namesake may say “Angry,” but it’ll sure make you happy to play.

Oregon Trail ($1)

When one thinks of classic computer games, it’s hard not to immediately conjure up memories of Oregon Trail. The game is an iconic one that spawned some of the finest moments in gaming at the time, as well as the phrase “You have died of dysentery.” Luckily, you can take those experiences with you anywhere you go with Oregon Trail for the Nook Tablet. It’s the portable counterpart to the computer classic. It has updated gameplay and graphics but the same amount of fun as the old versions.

Where’s My Water ($1)

When you take a look at the face of Swampy, the main character in the hit mobile game Where’s My Water?, you can’t help but want to give the guy a hand. He’s living in the sewers under the city and a plumbing problem has interrupted the flow of water that keeps him clean. Your job is to get the water back to Swampy’s shower. The little gator needs all the help he can get. Who are you to turn the guy down?

Bejeweled 2 ($3)

It’s been said that diamonds are a girls best friend. If that’s the case, than gems must be a Nook Tablet owner’s best friend. Bejeweled 2 challenges players to match combinations of gemstones in groups of three or more to blast them off screen. With every grouping that is eliminated, players are rewarded with points and a little light show as the jewels burst. Keep the matches going for as long as you can to collect combos and watch as your score ticks upward. Who needs diamonds when you’ve got Bejeweled?

Plants Vs. Zombies ($5)

It’s amazing how self-sustaining the Earth is. Despite humanity’s presence on it, it has always done a fine job of taking care of itself. That wouldn’t change in the case of a zombie apocalypse, at least, that’s what Plants Vs. Zombies would suggest. As the walking corpses begin to move into the neighborhood, a group of rag-tag flora fights back. Help them out by planting the right seeds to build up your flowery defense against the onslaught of undead.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/best-nook-tablet-games/

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Microsoft drops Marketplace name for Windows Phone Store

Bye bye Marketplace

Microsoft is retiring the Marketplace branding from Windows Phone, replacing it with the new Windows Phone Store.

The name change makes the Windows Phone Store more consistent with the Windows Store on Windows 8, while also introducing a redesign for parts of the store.

The Windows Phone Store now launches on a Spotlight section that shows tiles of recently released apps picked by Microsoft.

Once inside the store, browsing for apps is made easier as the old Marketplace categories for New, Free, and Top apps have been updated with the new categories Featured, Top Free, Top Paid, New+Rising, and Best Rated.

The search bar has also been improved, now using Bing search. It will be able to recognize similar apps that may not include your exact search term, and will learn through continued use to provide more relevant results.

Coming to a smartphone near you

The changes have already begun through the Windows Phone Store web portal. On the official Windows Phone website the updated store can be accessed through the newly labeled "Apps+Games" tab.

The redesign will be duplicated as the Windows Phone Store layout on Windows Phone 8 devices when they launch later this year.

To help get ready for the Windows Phone 8 launch, check out our roundup with all the latest launch details.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/microsoft-drops-marketplace-name-for-windows-phone-store-1097517

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iPhone 5: Everything you need to know

At its event in San Franciso on September 12, Apple finally lifted the veil on the long-awaited iPhone 5. Our complete guide to Apple's newest flagship phone.

Confirming all the rumors detailing its appearance, internals, and bundled earbuds, the iPhone 5 launch was very predictable. But lack of shock-factor aside, the new handset still has a lot to offer. Apple’s newest iPhone has been slimmed down, suped up, and redesigned. If you want to know more about the iPhone 5 then you’ve come to the right place.

Advanced Retina Display

With the iPhone 5, Apple changed the size of the iPhone screen for the first time ever. The new screen is elongated, with a widesceen aspect ratio to 16:9. The new 4-inch, Retina display is described by Apple as “panoramic” and boasts 44 percent more color saturation than the iPhone 4S, making it full sRGB (aka: it’s gorgeous).

Apple also introduced new touch technology to the display of its latest smartphone. Rather than having two layers, the pixels in the screen and the touch sensors have been integrated into a thinner, single layer. The pixels actually sense the user’s touch all on their own, without the need for separate components. What does this mean for you? Much better viewing angles, a clearer image, a lighter device, and a thinner profile.

Updated Design

The design of the new iPhone was no surprise as Apple has obviously lost control of its secrets in a post-Jobs era. The iPhone 5 looks exactly as it was portrayed in many leaked images. Lead designer Jony Ive said Apple has “never built a product with this extraordinary level of fit and finish.” Made with a glass display and an aluminum unibody, the iPhone 5 comes in the standard color options: black or white. Thanks to its new touch-integrated display, the iPhone 5 is the thinnest LTE smartphone in the world at just 0.29 inches. It’s also 20 percent lighter than the 4S at 112 grams or 3.95 ounces.

A6 Processor

A new iPhone means a faster CPU. This one’s called the A6 — following the established numbering system — and Apple claims it is two times faster than it’s predecessor, able to load web pages 2.1 times speedier.

iOS 6

One advantage of buying the latest Apple product is having a device designed specifically for the latest and greatest software version. iOS 6 brings a lot of new features to the table, and builds on many of those introduced in iOS 5. For instance, Siri will now play nice with Yelp, Opentable, and Fandango. It’s also able to launch apps (finally). Facebook is now integrated into the OS alongside Twitter, and Safari has an offline reading list. Apple’s thrown in its own version of Google Maps with Yelp support and turn-by-turn navigation. Passbook is a new feature as well, essentially a wallet app that can store your boarding pass, Starbucks card, and more. Read our full breakdown of iOS 6 for extra details.

Connectivity

“Ultrafast Wireless” is the moniker Apple’s chosen for its latest wireless chip. The single chip supports standards necessary to operate on all carriers, according to Apple. It can handle HSPA+ (20Mbps), DC-HSDPA (42Mbps), and LTE (max 100Mbps). The iPhone’s Wi-Fi has been beefed up as well, sporting 802.11N (dual-channel, 2.4GHz and 5GHz) and a max speed of 150Mbps. The iPhone can, like most modern routers, switch between connections for the best results.

Sadly, Verizon said recently that the iPhone 5 will not support simultaneous voice and data connections, even on LTE. This is in direct contrast to the rest of its LTE phones, which can all handle voice and data. The feature won’t be supported by Sprint either. AT&T, however, has confirmed with The Verge that its customers can simultaneously access voice and data over HSPA+ or LTE.

Improved Audio

Wanting to make its iPhone refresh as thorough as possible, Apple made sure its audio components underwent a makeover as well. The iPhone 5 features three microphones: one on the bottom, back, and front. As a result, the sound quality of recordings and voice calls will be improved. In a truly impressive move, Apple has managed to include noise cancelling without the need for external hardware. In real world use, this means background noise should be muted as much as possible during voice calls. And with what Apple calls, “wideband audio,” the iPhone 5 will use more bandwidth to transmit higher-quality audio over your network. This feature will depend on carrier support, however.

The internal speakers are now 20 percent smaller and yet have grown from three to five magnet transducers for a richer sound. 

Last but certainly not least, the EarPods are Apple’s latest bundled earphones for its new mobile devices. Designed to be much more comfortable and better-sounding than the current unwieldy earphones, the EarPods are also more ergonomic and meant to fit comfortably in the ear. We look forward to trying these out.

Camera Features

Apple spent a lot of time talking up the iPhone’s camera improvements in its live event, putting the strongest emphasis on its new panorama mode, though it blissfully ignored the fact that most high-end smartphones already have this feature. It works much the same here, you simply pan the phone across an area and the software will stitch the images together for you. The iPhone 5 will even correct blur from your shaky hands and remove any moving objects.

The back camera keeps the five-element optics and 8-megapixel sensor (3264 x 2448) found in the 4S. It also has backside illumination, an f/2.4 aperture (slower than the F/2.0 aperture on the HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE), and a hybrid infrared filter. A few video features have been tossed in as well: still photo capture while recording, improved image stabilization, and face detection.

The iPhone 5 also ships with a dynamic low light mode. The new image processing chip picks out the areas of a photo in need of noise reduction and leaves the rest alone. Because of this, Apple claims photography in low light is much improved. In addition, photos can be taken 40 percent faster than the 4S, which already has a super fast shutter. Even the lens has been revamped, this time made with a sapphire crystal (the next hardest material to diamond).

FaceTime is now in 720p HD and, as long as carriers play nice, video conversations will be available over a user’s cellular network. Like the rear-facing camera, the front-facing one has face detection built-in. According to The Verge, Verizon has recently stated users may run FaceTime over the network with no extra charge, regardless of which data plan they have. Sprint has also said it won’t be charging for the service, while AT&T will only allow it if you sign up for a new Mobile Share data plan. 

Lightning Connector

Here’s where Apple’s going to frustrate a lot of Apple users who have undoubtedly amassed a large collection of 30-pin connectors Luckily (or unluckily, depending how you look at it), the new, smaller 8-pin connector can still be used with older cords by purchasing a $30 adapter. A neat feature of the Lightning connector is its reversible orientation, it will plug into your device no matter which side is up.

Battery Life

The battery life of the iPhone 5 is nowhere near the impressive numbers shown earlier this month in Motorola’s newest RAZR line, but for the average user, it will do. Apple states the official numbers as 225 hours on standby, 8 hours of 3G talk, 8 hours of browsing with LTE, 10 hours on Wi-Fi, and 30 hours of video.

Availability and Pricing

On September 21, the new iPhone will be available in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. Availability will extend to the remaining countries on September 28. Pre-orders began at midnight on Sept. 14. If you’re trying to get an iPhone 5 at launch, keep informed with our “How to Find an iPhone 5” article, which we’re updating with availability information as we get it.

The iPhone 5 will come in three different storage sizes and price points: 16GB for $200, 32GB for $300, and 64GB for $400. These prices include a two-year contract, however. At full price, the phone starts at $650 for the 16GB model. And since the iPhone 4S is old hat now, it will be offered for $100 on a two-year contract with the iPhone 4 costing zilch, nada, nothing after signing on the dotted line.

After the dust has settled, the iPhone 5 still stands tall as a premium gadget offering superior performance, outstanding build quality, and snappy wireless speeds. But is that enough? Will you be waiting in line for the sixth generation of Apple’s infamous smartphone-to-rule-them-all or are you sitting this one out?

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/apple-iphone-5/

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Rumor: Lumia 920, Galaxy Note II to launch Oct. 21 at AT&T

AT&T may be getting the Lumia 920 and Galaxy Note II on Oct. 21

If new rumors are correct, it won't be long until consumers are finally able to get their hands on Nokia's Lumia 920 or Samsung's Galaxy Note II.

BGR is reporting sources close to AT&T say the cellular carrier will debut both smartphones on Oct. 21.

In case you were wondering, that's exactly one month after the iPhone 5 is set to debut in nearly 30 countries.

Despite neither phone coming with a price tag attached as of yet, that doesn't mean Nokia and Samsung aren't expecting big things from their respective devices.

Great expectations

Samsung is betting big on their Galaxy Note II, and they believe their latest device will outsell its predecessor.

JK Shin, Samsung's head of mobile, was even so bold as to suggest the Galaxy Note II would sell 20 million units.

That's double what the original Galaxy Note managed to sell.

Though Nokia is also hoping their Lumia 920 will move a lot of units, they may have to temper their expectations just a bit.

Any hope Nokia had of the new Lumia's success may have been marred by their recent admission of guilt in the doctored footage scandal that has plagued the Windows Phone 8 handset's debut.

TechRadar reached out to AT&T for comment on the release dates and potential pricing, and will update this article if and when information becomes available.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/rumor-lumia-920-galaxy-note-ii-to-launch-oct-21-at-at-t-1097509

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iPhone 5: Everything you need to know

At its event in San Franciso on September 12, Apple finally lifted the veil on the long-awaited iPhone 5. Our complete guide to Apple's newest flagship phone.

Confirming all the rumors detailing its appearance, internals, and bundled earbuds, the iPhone 5 launch was very predictable. But lack of shock-factor aside, the new handset still has a lot to offer. Apple’s newest iPhone has been slimmed down, suped up, and redesigned. If you want to know more about the iPhone 5 then you’ve come to the right place.

Advanced Retina Display

With the iPhone 5, Apple changed the size of the iPhone screen for the first time ever. The new screen is elongated, with a widesceen aspect ratio to 16:9. The new 4-inch, Retina display is described by Apple as “panoramic” and boasts 44 percent more color saturation than the iPhone 4S, making it full sRGB (aka: it’s gorgeous).

Apple also introduced new touch technology to the display of its latest smartphone. Rather than having two layers, the pixels in the screen and the touch sensors have been integrated into a thinner, single layer. The pixels actually sense the user’s touch all on their own, without the need for separate components. What does this mean for you? Much better viewing angles, a clearer image, a lighter device, and a thinner profile.

Updated Design

The design of the new iPhone was no surprise as Apple has obviously lost control of its secrets in a post-Jobs era. The iPhone 5 looks exactly as it was portrayed in many leaked images. Lead designer Jony Ive said Apple has “never built a product with this extraordinary level of fit and finish.” Made with a glass display and an aluminum unibody, the iPhone 5 comes in the standard color options: black or white. Thanks to its new touch-integrated display, the iPhone 5 is the thinnest LTE smartphone in the world at just 0.29 inches. It’s also 20 percent lighter than the 4S at 112 grams or 3.95 ounces.

A6 Processor

A new iPhone means a faster CPU. This one’s called the A6 — following the established numbering system — and Apple claims it is two times faster than it’s predecessor, able to load web pages 2.1 times speedier.

iOS 6

One advantage of buying the latest Apple product is having a device designed specifically for the latest and greatest software version. iOS 6 brings a lot of new features to the table, and builds on many of those introduced in iOS 5. For instance, Siri will now play nice with Yelp, Opentable, and Fandango. It’s also able to launch apps (finally). Facebook is now integrated into the OS alongside Twitter, and Safari has an offline reading list. Apple’s thrown in its own version of Google Maps with Yelp support and turn-by-turn navigation. Passbook is a new feature as well, essentially a wallet app that can store your boarding pass, Starbucks card, and more. Read our full breakdown of iOS 6 for extra details.

Connectivity

“Ultrafast Wireless” is the moniker Apple’s chosen for its latest wireless chip. The single chip supports standards necessary to operate on all carriers, according to Apple. It can handle HSPA+ (20Mbps), DC-HSDPA (42Mbps), and LTE (max 100Mbps). The iPhone’s Wi-Fi has been beefed up as well, sporting 802.11N (dual-channel, 2.4GHz and 5GHz) and a max speed of 150Mbps. The iPhone can, like most modern routers, switch between connections for the best results.

Sadly, Verizon said recently that the iPhone 5 will not support simultaneous voice and data connections, even on LTE. This is in direct contrast to the rest of its LTE phones, which can all handle voice and data. The feature won’t be supported by Sprint either. AT&T, however, has confirmed with The Verge that its customers can simultaneously access voice and data over HSPA+ or LTE.

Improved Audio

Wanting to make its iPhone refresh as thorough as possible, Apple made sure its audio components underwent a makeover as well. The iPhone 5 features three microphones: one on the bottom, back, and front. As a result, the sound quality of recordings and voice calls will be improved. In a truly impressive move, Apple has managed to include noise cancelling without the need for external hardware. In real world use, this means background noise should be muted as much as possible during voice calls. And with what Apple calls, “wideband audio,” the iPhone 5 will use more bandwidth to transmit higher-quality audio over your network. This feature will depend on carrier support, however.

The internal speakers are now 20 percent smaller and yet have grown from three to five magnet transducers for a richer sound. 

Last but certainly not least, the EarPods are Apple’s latest bundled earphones for its new mobile devices. Designed to be much more comfortable and better-sounding than the current unwieldy earphones, the EarPods are also more ergonomic and meant to fit comfortably in the ear. We look forward to trying these out.

Camera Features

Apple spent a lot of time talking up the iPhone’s camera improvements in its live event, putting the strongest emphasis on its new panorama mode, though it blissfully ignored the fact that most high-end smartphones already have this feature. It works much the same here, you simply pan the phone across an area and the software will stitch the images together for you. The iPhone 5 will even correct blur from your shaky hands and remove any moving objects.

The back camera keeps the five-element optics and 8-megapixel sensor (3264 x 2448) found in the 4S. It also has backside illumination, an f/2.4 aperture (slower than the F/2.0 aperture on the HTC One X and Evo 4G LTE), and a hybrid infrared filter. A few video features have been tossed in as well: still photo capture while recording, improved image stabilization, and face detection.

The iPhone 5 also ships with a dynamic low light mode. The new image processing chip picks out the areas of a photo in need of noise reduction and leaves the rest alone. Because of this, Apple claims photography in low light is much improved. In addition, photos can be taken 40 percent faster than the 4S, which already has a super fast shutter. Even the lens has been revamped, this time made with a sapphire crystal (the next hardest material to diamond).

FaceTime is now in 720p HD and, as long as carriers play nice, video conversations will be available over a user’s cellular network. Like the rear-facing camera, the front-facing one has face detection built-in. According to The Verge, Verizon has recently stated users may run FaceTime over the network with no extra charge, regardless of which data plan they have. Sprint has also said it won’t be charging for the service, while AT&T will only allow it if you sign up for a new Mobile Share data plan. 

Lightning Connector

Here’s where Apple’s going to frustrate a lot of Apple users who have undoubtedly amassed a large collection of 30-pin connectors Luckily (or unluckily, depending how you look at it), the new, smaller 8-pin connector can still be used with older cords by purchasing a $30 adapter. A neat feature of the Lightning connector is its reversible orientation, it will plug into your device no matter which side is up.

Battery Life

The battery life of the iPhone 5 is nowhere near the impressive numbers shown earlier this month in Motorola’s newest RAZR line, but for the average user, it will do. Apple states the official numbers as 225 hours on standby, 8 hours of 3G talk, 8 hours of browsing with LTE, 10 hours on Wi-Fi, and 30 hours of video.

Availability and Pricing

On September 21, the new iPhone will be available in the United States, Canada, UK, Germany, France, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. Availability will extend to the remaining countries on September 28. Pre-orders began at midnight on Sept. 14. If you’re trying to get an iPhone 5 at launch, keep informed with our “How to Find an iPhone 5” article, which we’re updating with availability information as we get it.

The iPhone 5 will come in three different storage sizes and price points: 16GB for $200, 32GB for $300, and 64GB for $400. These prices include a two-year contract, however. At full price, the phone starts at $650 for the 16GB model. And since the iPhone 4S is old hat now, it will be offered for $100 on a two-year contract with the iPhone 4 costing zilch, nada, nothing after signing on the dotted line.

After the dust has settled, the iPhone 5 still stands tall as a premium gadget offering superior performance, outstanding build quality, and snappy wireless speeds. But is that enough? Will you be waiting in line for the sixth generation of Apple’s infamous smartphone-to-rule-them-all or are you sitting this one out?

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/iphone-5-everything-you-need-to-know/

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Nokia handles faked footage internally with 'appropriate action'

Nokia admits to poor judgment in Lumia 920 footage scandal

Nokia's new Lumia 920 debuted just one short week ago, but already the company has come under quite a bit of flack for misrepresenting the phone's capabilities.

Whether intentional or not, both still shots and video footage used in demonstrations for the phone, and that Nokia claimed to have taken with the Lumia 920, were found to be doctored or faked completely.

Though the clips and photos were meant to be a showcase for the Lumia's PureView camera, the footage was closely examined by The Verge, and a third-party cameraman's reflection was spotted in the sizzle reel.

Nokia brought in an ethics officer to evaluate the claims, and it appears that the verdict has come in for the guilty parties.

Im-PureView

While Nokia has taken steps to find out how such a massive transgression could have occurred, they're keeping rather tight-lipped about the sanctions levied against the persons responsible.

In a statement released today, Nokia stated, "Today, we concluded the internal investigation, and our findings confirm that poor judgment was exercised in the use of the materials."

"As a result, we have taken appropriate action."

Even though Nokia admits to "poor judgment" when it came to releasing the ill-conceived footage, the miscue portrays a lack of confidence in not just their latest Windows Phone 8 device, but also their proprietary camera.

Despite this setback, Nokia still plans to release the Lumia 920 and Lumia 820 handsets later this year, though an exact date or price has yet to be divulged.

Hopefully, enough time will have passed that the company can put this incident behind them, and focus on making the Lumia launch a success.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/nokia-handles-faked-footage-internally-with-appropriate-action-1097500

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The next-generation tech powering your Sony Xperia T

Taking the smartphone to the next level with powerful features

With the Xperia T, Sony has created its best ever smarpthone for the ultimate HD experience - but what about the technology powering these innovations?

Let's begin with the Mobile BRAVIA engine: using similar technology to that found in Sony's top end BRAVIA TVs, the technology gives your photos and videos a boost to make them look more sparkling than ever.

Be it boosting contrast to bring a more vivid picture or adding sharpness and detail to your favourite movies, the Sony Xperia T's picture quality is without equal on a smartphone.

Worried about the slightly noisy photo you just captured? That's no problem for the Mobile BRAVIA Engine, bringing the best of your snaps our thanks to intelligent image rendering on the large 4.6-inch HD screen of the Sony Xperia T.

Everyone knows that a smarpthone can be a decent alternative to the compact camera, but when it comes to the Sony Xperia T you're getting the best of Sony's photography prowess in a super slim smartphone.

Using its Exmor R sensor, the Xperia T brings your photos to life in a way never before experienced.

The Exmor R CMOS sensor helps you capture the amazing moments you don't want to miss, record in perfect 1080p HD video and offers up still images that are packed full of contrast, rich colours and less picture noise than ever before.

Even if your favourite time for photography is later in the evening, the Xperia T's Exmor R sensor is on hand to help out, with industry-leading low-light sensitivity bringing out the best in your snaps even if the light is fading.

And if you're too busy to worry about constantly changing your smartphone settings then the one-touch sharing via NFC on the Sony Xperia T will help cut the hassle of every day life.

Team it up with Xperia SmartTags and you're only ever a tap away from jumping into the car and starting up Bluetooth, GPS and online radio. Or place a tag in the kitchen to swiftly open your favourite recipe app or the calendar to see what the day holds.

The NFC chip inside the Sony Xperia T can do so much more than simplify your life – it can eradicate the more mundane tasks too. If you've got a compatible Bluetooth speaker dock, you won't have to mess around with pairing the Xperia T; one tap and you'll be set to hear your tunes in jaw-dropping bass and perfect clarity.

So there you have it: the technology powering your next smartphone, bringing the best in photography, screen quality and contactless technology in your pocket.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/the-next-generation-tech-powering-your-sony-xperia-t-1097474

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Sprint is only US carrier with iPhone 5 pre-orders

Sprint's where you'll find the iPhone 5

Within an hour of Apple kicking off pre-orders for the new iPhone 5 at 12:01 a.m. PDT Friday, shipping dates slipped to two weeks - and show no signs of improving any time soon.

There were scattered reports of problems ordering from Apple's website when its virtual doors opened, with many buyers finding the company's Apple Store iOS app the best place to purchase.

Last year, the iPhone 4S sold through pre-order inventory in 10 hours, a record that's now been shattered 10 times over by the latest model.

The best bet for having one delivered on launch day now lies with only one of the three U.S. carriers.

AT&T, Verizon out of stock

It seems buyers are intent on having their iPhone 5 delivered rather than braving the crowds next Friday, Sept. 21, when there's likely to be ample stock at retail.

Verizon's website was the first carrier to sell out of the iPhone 5, with delivery dates already slipping to Wednesday, Sept. 26 on both colors and all three 16GB, 32GB and 64GB capacities.

AT&T followed suit a few hours later, with new orders on all colors and capacities now estimated to ship in 14 to 21 business days.

As of 10 a.m. Friday, Sprint stood as the lone U.S. carrier with inventory of all models still available from their online store, as well as promised delivery next Friday.

If you've got to have an iPhone 5 on launch day and don't want to brave the retail crowds, we'd suggest wasting no time by heading to Sprint.com as quickly as possible.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/sprint-is-only-us-carrier-with-iphone-5-pre-orders-1097467

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Treehouse hopes to further tech education with $3 million in scholarships for future developers

Higher learning alternatives get a boost from Treehouse's new scholarship initiative.

In the last few years, the Mark Zuckerbergs of the tech world have turned the college education systems on its head. Eschewing college in favor of the path less taken — primarily, one composed of self-teaching — has become a legitimate option for talented developers. This, combined with our rising national debt and the attitude that “everyone should code!” has led to the evolution of Web-facing, easy-to-use online education systems with beautiful interfaces and game mechanics.

Chances are, you’re thinking of Codecademy, but the two year old Treehouse has also made a name for itself in this space. The platform (which recently raised $4.75 million that I’m told is going to building out the curriculum from beginner to advanced as well as some professional video upgrades) wants to give users that tools they need to develop for the Web, iOS, and Android using project-oriented learning. This week, Treehouse announced it will donate $3 million toward helping college kids use its application to further their education.

“Secondary education in the US is at an all-time high, and tuition is only increasing,” the Treehouse blog reads. “Treehouse is creating this scholarship because we believe in the power of self-learning and self-improvement. We’re giving away 2,500, 2-year long Treehouse subscriptions to students that are passionate about the Web.”

Founder and CEO of Treehouse Ryan Carson tells me that each scholarship is worth $1,176 and translates to a two year Treehouse membership where recipients will learn to mobile and Web coding as well as Web design and even startup launching skills.

Of course, all the development skills in the world only mean something if they can land you a job; the current state of hiring in this market is extremely competitive — and that’s putting it lightly. But Carson says that getting students through this program and into actual employment is the plan, and that it’s within reach.

“We think we can get people job-ready for apprenticeship roles in Web design and Web development, iOS, Android, PHP, and WordPress in three months for $150,” he says. “Our goal is to then help place them in a job through our Jobs Placement team.”

It’s an admirable and exciting proposition — especially to the college-aged among us who see this huge and robust industry but aren’t yet sure how to find their footing in it. There has been plenty of discussion and argument about the effectiveness of a traditional college education for technology focuses, and this particular route is in the process of being disrupted; according to Carson, for good reason.

“The problem with learning technology at a two year or four year university is that your skills are out of date by the time you graduate,” he tells me. “A skills-based model like Treehouse allows you to stay up to date. Not only that but Treehouse is extremely more affordable than traditional college fees. Also, you can learn at your own pace in bite-sized chunks.”

He says that Treehouse currently does not have an apprenticeship program within its own hiring structure, but that the team would like to introduce this soon.  

For all of the positives of programs like Treehouse, Codecademy, Khan Academy, and the rest of these learning alternatives, they’ve also been accused to undermining educators and in some cases offering second-rate courses. The criticisms aren’t without merit, but neither is the argument that our higher education systems needs to be evolved, especially for the technology sector. Students are getting left behind while accruing serious debt — and often without amassing a portfolio that leads to hiring. It’s a cruel cycle, and that’s exactly why there’s been such an influx of learning alternative startups recently, Treehouse included.

If you’re interested in this supplementary coding education, all you need is to be a U.S. college student with a valid .edu email address. You can fill out this form to get started.

Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/treehouse-furthers-tech-education-with-3-million/

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ICS update for Sony Xperia ion to come next week

A twitter update from Rogers in Canada reveals that an ICS update is in the works for the Xperia ion. The update is scheduled to arrive next week, although the exact day is not specified.

The Sony Xperia ion went international back in June, and is now available in most markets for around €490. It features a 12 MP camera capable of 1080p recording, 13.2 GB of internal memory, a 4.6" LED capable of 720 x 1280 pixels resolution, powered by a Snapdragon S3 chipset with a dual-core 1.5 GHz CPU.

If you'd like to learn more about the ion, check out our hands-on impressions from this years' CES.

Source

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/ics_update_for_sony_xperia_ion_in_the_works-news-4805.php

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iPhone 5 sells out in 1 hour, shipping date pushed back 2-3 weeks

Sorry, pre-ordering early birds

Reports are flooding in that pre-order demand for Apple's iPhone 5 was so severe, the company sold out of its initial supply within an hour of it going on sale at 12 a.m. PDT.

U.S. shipping for the phone has also been pushed back by two weeks, meaning phones won't find their way into delivery trucks until Sept. 28, one week after the initial Sept. 21 shipping date.

As of 8:45 a.m. PDT Friday, no change had come to the two-week shipping timeframe, though the UK Apple Store is showing a 2-3 week shipping time for the 32GB and 64GB models.

A 2-3 week waiting time for some models

Apple is reportedly giving pre-orderers the option of picking up their phone at Apple retail stores next Friday.

Starting strong

Despite a somewhat lackluster response from certain fronts, the sixth-gen iPhone is apparently just what consumers want.

According to TechCrunch, the iOS 6-packing smartphone sold out 20 times faster than either the iPhone 4 or the iPhone 4S, the latter of which was the first to welcome Siri into the mobile device lexicon.

The volume of consumers on the Apple Store reportedly caused site problems like error messages to pop up.

Another new Apple product, the Lightning-30 pin port adapter designed to let legacy devices plug into the new iPhone, has also sold out.

That $29 (£18) accessory won't ship until October.

TechRadar has reached out to Apple for comment and will update this story if and when more information becomes available.

Check back with TechRadar throughout the day for updated shipping times and availability.

Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5-sells-out-in-1-hour-shipping-date-pushed-back-2-3-weeks-1097446

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LG Optimus G coming to the US on September 19

LG and Qualcomm sent invitations for a joint event that will be held in New York on September 19.

The invitation clearly shows that it will be all about some new smartphone and it would be a real shocker if the device in question isn't the US version of the Optimus G.

The event is called Live Without Boundaries, but that doesn't really give us much information about the nature of the smartphone to be announced. However there's still an important clue to be found on the invitation, pointing to the fact that the it's going to be quad-core Krait-powered LG Optimus G.

The LG Optimus G has already been announced for Korea so we have an official photo of it. Now if you use some image editing software to edit the invitation image and brighten up the shadows (as we did), you can see the device pictured has the same back as the Optimus G. The most telling evidence is the loudspeaker grille location and the texture on the back.

Of course it could all be merely a coincidence and LG might announce something else entirely, but chances of that happening are slim. We’ll be covering the event for you, so feel free to come back next Wednesday to find out.

Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_sends_invitations_for_a_joint_event_with_qualcomm_on_sept_19-news-4804.php

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