Monday, October 22, 2012

Samsung evidently pushes flexible AMOLED display release to 2013

Samsung evidently pushes flexible AMOLED display release to 2013
Perfectly suited for everyday use

Samsung is in no hurry to bring out its first commercial flexible AMOLED displays, thanks largely to the fact traditional displays are doing just fine.

Reports from Korean website ETNews indicate that Samsung has placed the bendy AMOLED screens on the back burner until next year.

Instead, the company apparently wants to focus on increasing flat display production.

Samsung is seeking to increase its AMOLED production from 56,000 units per month to a 64,000 unit per month yield to keep up with demand for current smartphones like Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

To meet that increase in production, some of the pilot lines manufacturing flexible AMOLED displays have been converted to glass AMOLED lines, slowing bendy AMOLED progress.

All bent out of shape

Reports from earlier this year indicated that Samsung decided to delay flexible AMOLED screen production due to issues with the yield and production schedule problems.

At the time it was thought that if the flexible AMOLED issues were solved by the end of the year, consumers could expect to see the first devices using the technology by mid-2013.

Whether that 2013 marker will be affected by Samsung's take-it-slow attitude remains to be seen.

Samsung's bendable, twistable displays were last seen in December 2011 when the company released a concept video of the technology in action.

Unlike traditional glass AMOLED displays, the flexible screens are plastic-based, requiring a different production method but making them nearly indestructible.

A practical application for the curvy screens on a smartphone or tablet is still anyone's guess, but the technology has an undeniable cool factor that has everyone eager to see what form the malleable displays ultimately take.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-evidently-pushes-flexible-amoled-display-release-to-2013-1106272

Samsung pushes flexible AMOLED display release to 2013

Samsung pushes flexible AMOLED display release to 2013
Perfectly suited for everyday use

Samsung is in no hurry to bring out its first commercial flexible AMOLED displays, thanks largely to the fact traditional displays are doing just fine.

Reports from Korean website ETNews indicate that Samsung has placed the bendy AMOLED screens on the back burner until next year.

Instead, the company apparently wants to focus on increasing flat display production.

Samsung is seeking to increase its AMOLED production from 56,000 units per month to a 64,000 unit per month yield to keep up with demand for current smartphones like Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2.

To meet that increase in production, some of the pilot lines manufacturing flexible AMOLED displays have been converted to glass AMOLED lines, slowing bendy AMOLED progress.

All bent out of shape

Reports from earlier this year indicated that Samsung had decided to delay flexible AMOLED screen production due to issues with the yield and production schedule problems.

At the time it was thought that if the flexible AMOLED issues were solved by the end of the year, consumers could expect to see the first devices using the technology by mid-2013.

Whether that 2013 marker will be affected by Samsung's take-it-slow attitude remains to be seen.

Samsung's bendable, twistable displays were last seen in December 2011 when the company released a concept video of the technology in action.

Unlike traditional glass AMOLED displays, the flexible screens are plastic-based, requiring a different production method but making them nearly indestructible.

A practical application for the curvy screens on a smartphone or tablet is still anyone's guess, but the technology has an undeniable cool factor that has everyone eager to see what form the malleable displays ultimately take.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-pushes-flexible-amoled-display-release-to-2013-1106272

Why Apple reversed course on smaller tablets with the iPad mini

smaller ipad, ipad mini

Apple's on the verge of launching a new, smaller iPad. We dive into the rumors to figure out what you should expect from the new tablet, and why Apple decided to reverse course and make a smaller tablet after criticizing them.

Tomorrow Apple is holding a product launch event in San Jose, and almost the entire technology world is expecting the company to unveil a new, smaller version of its top-selling iPad tablet, just in time for the holidays. For the record, we expect Apple also has another thing or two up its sleeve — and Digital Trends will be covering the event so you can stay at the head of the curve.

However, there’s one major problem with a (still hypothetical) smaller version of the iPad: Apple’s late co-founder Steve Jobs apparently hated the idea, famously saying that a 7-inch tablet would need to ship with sandpaper so users could file down their fingertips to touch on-screen keys and buttons. But Apple has never been afraid of changing its mind, and clearly the mobile world has changed since Jobs railed against smaller tablets.

With those changes in mind, what can we expect from Apple tomorrow?

The most likely scenario

iPad mini (mockup)

The basic elements of a smaller iPad are pretty easy to guess. Apple isn’t going to try to re-invent the monstrously-successful iOS and iPad ecosystem with a radical new device. Instead, it’s is far more likely to build on what it’s already accomplished with the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch and expand the ecosystem to include one more category of touch-oriented device.

Screen: A smaller iPad tablet will most likely have a 7.85-inch display. That puts it in line with other e-readers and media tablets on the market, and neatly splits the difference between the iPhone/iPod touch lines and the full 10.1-inch iPad.

We’re willing to bet a smaller iPad will have a 1,024 x 768 pixel display, and not a “Retina” display like those found in recent iPhones, the iPad 3, and Apple’s latest MacBook Pro. It might seem non-sensical for a new iPad not to have a Retina display when Apple has been pushing high-rez displays across its product lines — after all, a Retina screen has become a selling point for Apple’s top-selling products. However, a 1,024 x 768 pixel display will still have a density of 163 pixels per inch on a 7.85-inch display — which isn’t too shabby — and means Apple can both save money on the cost of the display in a smaller iPad and keep the graphics processing and power consumption needs of that display to a minimum. That means longer battery life. A 1,024 x 768 pixel screensize also means the device would be compatible with all existing iPad apps (and the vast majority of iPhone apps).

Processor: We’re also willing to bet that a new, smaller iPad will sport Apple’s A5X processor — the same chip at the heart of the iPad 3 — and not the more-powerful Apple A6 processor at the heart of the iPhone 5. Again, in part this will be a cost-reduction move — Apple can make the A5X in quantity more cheaply than the A6 right now. But it’s also because the A5X is no slouch itself: it can handle screens with four times as many pixels (the iPad 3) and it’s powerful enough to support Apple’s voice-driven virtual assistant Siri. It’s more than enough to handle a (hypothetical) smaller iPad.

Lightning connector: One thing from the iPhone 5 (plus the new iPod touch and iPod nano) that we do expect Apple to roll into a new tablet offering is the new Lightning connector. True, it requires an adapter to use Lightning connectors with the range of iOS peripherals based on the 30-pin dock connector, but Apple isn’t going to be wishy-washy about the Lightning connector. It needs a simpler, thinner connector so it can continue to shrink iOS devices going forward. The Lightning connector lets Apple make a smaller iPad thinner (and probably lighter) than its predecessors.

Big questions

4G technologies

The basic outlines of a smaller iPad are pretty obvious, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of grey areas. Here are our biggest questions.

4G, or not 4G?: In the United States, Apple’s 10.1-inch iPad 3 is available with optional 4G LTE connectivity from either Verizon Wireless or AT&&T: The contract-free service starts at $15 for 250MB of data from AT&T or $20 a month for 1GB of data from Verizon. (The same prices apply to no-contract 3G service on the iPad 2.) However, perhaps more importantly, an iPad with mobile wireless capability costs $130 more than the same iPad with just Wi-Fi.

We think Apple will probably offer the same $130 4G LTE option with a smaller iPad as it does with the existing iPad line. Plenty of potential customers will be happy with just Wi-Fi connectivity, but folks who actually need mobile broadband for a tablet device aren’t going to balk at paying the same price for it on a smaller iPad as they would for mobile connectivity on the current iPad or the iPad 2. (Heck, the $130-for-mobile price tag goes all the way back to the original iPad.)

Storage: We think a new, smaller iPad won’t debut with anything less than 16GB of storage: that’s the entry threshold for the iPad 2 and the entry-level iPad 3. We expect Apple will also offer a version with 32GB of storage, and wouldn’t put 64GB out of the question since all the rest of Apple’s iOS devices stretch out that far. Although there has been some speculation that Apple will offer a smaller version of the iPad with just 8GB of storage to save costs, that scenario seems unlikely: Apple is one of the largest (perhaps the largest) purchasers of flash storage on the planet: the cost difference between equipping a new iPad model with 8GB or 16GB of storage is not very material. Furthermore (see below) a smaller iPad is almost certainly going to focus on apps, games, and media consumption (including storage-heavy media like movies). iPad apps — even if they aren’t made for a Retina display — can be huge: 16GB of storage is a smarter starting point than 8GB.

Pricing: More than specs, the number everyone is waiting for on a hypothetical smaller iPad is its price. Industry consensus seems to be that it has to cost less than the “standard” iPad (which begins at $500) and be competitive with other 7-inch tablets on the market like the Google Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire HD 7, both of which start at $200.

Some consider $250 to be a “sweet spot” for smaller iPad pricing — although there’s some potential for confusion there, too. Apple’s latest iPod touch starts at $300, although the previous model is still available for $200. That $300 price tag is $100 more than 7-inch tablets from Google and Amazon, and it can be difficult to explain to people how a device with a smaller screen can be a better deal than a cheaper 7-inch tablet unless those customers place a high value on portability. (And, to be sure, those new iPod touches are very portable: they’re less than a quarter inch thick.) However, given the size and depth of the iOS application and content ecosystem, Apple can probably make an argument that a smaller iPod is worth $50 more than a tablet from Amazon or Google — especially to people who are already Apple customers — particularly if the smaller iPad is substantially lighter and thinner than competitors.

9to5Mac created a stir this weekend by reporting the new, smaller iPads will start at a $330 price point. Although no one will know until Apple unveils pricing tomorrow, the $330 price point seems high. Initially, we thought that it may represent pricing for a smaller iPad with mobile broadband — a version without cellular connectivity would therefore be cheaper. If that impression plays out, that might put the intro price of a smaller iPad at $200. That seems unlikely. Although Amazon and Google are selling tablets at that price point, they’re doing so essentially at cost, they’re doing so hoping to make a profit on the sales of content. Apple’s business model is the opposite: its content ecosystem generates little or no profit, while hardware sales fill the company’s coffers. If Apple makes a smaller iPad that costs $200 to make, Apple is not going to sell it for $200. Apple has always been more concerned with profits than market share.

What about the iPad 2?: The introduction of a new, smaller iPad could be the end of the line for the iPad 2, which is still on sale starting at $400. However, Apple doesn’t seem to be having any trouble selling the iPad 2, even though it’s more expensive than a variety of newer competitors on the market. If I were to guess, I’d bet Apple keeps the iPad 2 around and perhaps knocks $50 off the price. The main argument for discontinuing the iPad 2 with the introduction of a smaller iPad is just to avoid clutter (and hence, confusion) in Apple’s tablet line.

The name: So far, the technology press has been calling a hypothetical smaller iPad the “iPad mini,” following along the naming conventions established by the iPod mini and Mac mini. However, as John Gruber over at Daring Fireball points out, that omits another Apple naming convention: Air.

If Apple’s smaller iPad reflects the super-slim design unveiled with the most recent iPod touch, Apple could convincingly call the device the iPad Air. That also avoids branding it as a diminutive (and, hence, less valuable) version of the iPad, and could establish a smaller iPad as a new class of device — perhaps one that could command a $330 premium in a 7-inch tablet market where devices start at $199.

Reasons Apple reversed course on 7-inch tablets

Steve Jobs

During an earnings call two years ago, late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs articulated the reasons Apple wasn’t considering a smaller version of the iPad. Some of Jobs’ objections boiled down to:

  • Apple’s user testing showed a tablet interface scaled down to a 7-inch screen was substantially less usable than the iPad’s 10-inch display (this was the infamous “sandpaper” point).
  • The 7-inch screen size is less than half the physical display size of the 10-inch iPad, and is just too small to make great tablet apps.
  • Every tablet user is also a smartphone user so making a tablet more portable isn’t necessary: folks already have a portable device they take with them everywhere.

A few things have changed. First of all, not every tablet user is a smartphone user. Perhaps the pre-eminent example is students, who may use/own tablets for school as part of their curriculum, but who may not be smartphone users. (Similarly, plenty of kids have tablets for entertainment and games, but don’t own smartphones.) There are also plenty of folks who use tablets for entertainment, apps, and reading — perhaps just using Wi-Fi connectivity.

Second, tablets aren’t just about great tablet apps anymore: they’re about media consumption. It’s no coincidence that the primary use of devices like the Kindle Fire HD and the Google Nexus 7 are not being positioned as general purpose computing devices but as media consumption devices enabling people to read books, listen to music, and watch television and movies anywhere they go. It may be difficult to build interactive, touch-centric tablet applications that work and look great on a 7-inch screen. But if all you’re doing is sitting back and watching video — or flipping to the next page— 7-inch tablet usually works just fine. In fact, it probably works better than a full 10-inch tablet, because it’s lighter and easier to manage with one hand. The media consumption angle also speaks to Jobs’ first point about 7-inch tablets: when the tablet becomes more of a passive media consumption device, they don’t need a sophisticated touch-based interfaces. A few simple controls will usually do the trick.

As a result, it’s a fair bet a smaller iPad from Apple will focus on m media consumption, and also try to further expand the iOS user base beyond smartphone owners. One example would be students: children are less likely to have problems using a touch interface on a 7-inch device because they tend to have small, dextrous hands — and if a new smaller iPad were substantially less expensive than current offerings, the iPad could see even stronger adoption in schools. Although this is the wrong time of year to be introducing a product for the education market — October introductions are always about the end-of-year holiday buying season — a smaller, less-expensive iPad would tie in neatly with Apple’s textbook-centric iBooks 2 initiative, announced way back at the beginning of 2012.

What do you think?

So what do you think? Will a smaller iPad be all about trying to beat Amazon and Google out at the lower end of the tablet market? Or does Apple have other tricks up its sleeve that will keep let the iPad keep dominating the tablet market—and raking in most of the profits?


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/ipad-mini-and-why-apple-reversed-course/

Samsung Display cuts Apple ties, rebounds with competitors

Samsung Display cuts Apple ties, rebounds with competitors
Paid by the pixel

Samsung Display announced Monday that it plans to cut all ties with Apple, terminating its contract with the iPhone maker and no longer providing LCD displays for Apple's various iDevices.

Samsung Display broke off from Samsung and became a totally separate company in early 2012, so this rift likely has nothing to do with Apple and Samsung's ongoing apocalypse-sized patent war.

Rather, sources cited by The Korea Times claimed that the breakup has more to do with lessening returns on displays shipped to the Cupertino company.

"We are unable to supply our flat-screens to Apple with huge price discounts," said what the Times' called a senior Samsung source.

Price per pixel

According to the Korean paper, research firm DisplaySearch reported that the price per pixel of displays used on Apple's devices has decreased by more than half.

The researchers said the "new iPad," referring to the 2048 x 1536 third-gen iPad (and not the iPad mini that will likely be announced on Tuesday), sports 3.14 million pixels priced at $.00003 per pixel.

Compare that to the iPad 2's price of $.000063 per pixel, and it becomes clear where Samsung Display's beef may originate.

The Korea Times' report claimed that Apple has been relying more and more on Samsung's cheaper rivals, lowering its rates as it moves away from Samsung Display.

A sloppy breakup

As of the end of the first half of 2012, Samsung Display was reportedly Apple's top LCD supplier, with over 15 million displays shipped to Cupertino.

"But Samsung shipped less than three million to Apple during the third quarter of this year and we expect the quarterly shipment in the fourth quarter to fall to some 1.5 million," said the Samsung source, whom The Korea times said "is directly involved."

"Samsung has already cut our portion of shipments to Apple and next year we will stop shipping displays," said the source.

Samsung Display plans to ramp up shipments to Amazon and Samsung Electronics' handset division to make up for the loss of Apple's business.

Apple, meanwhile, will likely turn to LG Display and Sharp, the iPad maker's second- and third-biggest screen suppliers, respectively, with 12.5 million and 2.8 million shipped during the first half of 2012.

As with even the sloppiest of breakups, both parties will likely come out fine in the end.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/samsung-display-cuts-apple-ties-rebounds-with-competitors-1106233

Samsung Display cuts Apple ties, rebounds to Amazon, Samsung Electronics

Samsung Display cuts Apple ties, rebounds to Amazon, Samsung Electronics
Paid by the pixel

Samsung Display announced Monday that it plans to cut all ties with Apple, terminating its contract with the iPhone maker and no longer providing LCD displays for Apple's various iDevices.

Samsung Display broke off from Samsung and became a totally separate company in early 2012, so this rift likely has nothing to do with Apple and Samsung's ongoing apocalypse-sized patent war.

Rather, sources cited by The Korea Times claimed that the breakup has more to do with lessening returns on displays shipped to the Cupertino company.

"We are unable to supply our flat-screens to Apple with huge price discounts," said what the Times' called a senior Samsung source.

Price per pixel

According to the Korean paper, research firm DisplaySearch reported that the price per pixel of displays used on Apple's devices has decreased by more than half.

The researchers said the "new iPad," referring to the 2048 x 1536 third-gen iPad (and not the iPad mini that will likely be announced on Tuesday), sports 3.14 million pixels priced at $.00003 per pixel.

Compare that to the iPad 2's price of $.000063 per pixel, and it becomes clear where Samsung Display's beef may originate.

The Korea Times' report claimed that Apple has been relying more and more on Samsung's cheaper rivals, lowering its rates as it moves away from Samsung Display.

A sloppy breakup

As of the end of the first half of 2012, Samsung Display was reportedly Apple's top LCD supplier, with over 15 million displays shipped to Cupertino.

"But Samsung shipped less than three million to Apple during the third quarter of this year and we expect the quarterly shipment in the fourth quarter to fall to some 1.5 million," said the Samsung source, whom The Korea times said "is directly involved."

"Samsung has already cut our portion of shipments to Apple and next year we will stop shipping displays," said the source.

Samsung Display plans to ramp up shipments to Amazon and Samsung Electronics' handset division to make up for the loss of Apple's business.

Apple, meanwhile, will likely turn to LG Display and Sharp, the iPad maker's second- and third-biggest screen suppliers, respectively, with 12.5 million and 2.8 million shipped during the first half of 2012.

As with even the sloppiest of breakups, both parties will likely come out fine in the end.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/computing/apple/samsung-display-cuts-apple-ties-rebounds-to-amazon-samsung-electronics-1106233

Isis Mobile Wallet Launches in Salt Lake City and Austin

Residents of Austin and Salt Lake City can now swipe to their heart's content as Isis Mobile Wallet is available in those markets. Nine handsets from AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are compatible, with up to twenty Isis-ready by the end of the year.

Austin, Texas and Salt Lake City, Utah are now able to experience Isis Mobile Wallet. Nine handsets across three carriers will be compatible with the Isis Mobile Wallet app starting today with eleven more by year’s end, totaling to twenty for those that don’t care for math.

Isis is the joint venture of AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile and allows consumers to pay on the go with their phones using NFC technology.  For T-Mobile subscribers, the Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy S2, and Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G are ready to get some extra breathing room in your pocket by eliminating your wallet. Verizon has the HTC Droid Incredible 4G LTE Isis-ready, with the Motorola Droid Razr HD and Droid Razr Maxx HD to be added within the week. AT&T has not named the handsets it carries that are a go for Isis Mobile Wallet, but it swears there are some.

If you’re living in the Salt Lake City or Austin area, you’ll need to follow a couple simple steps to set up your phone for Isis use. Find a retail store for your service provider and get a free Isis SIM card to ensure your phone’s compatibility. Then grab the Isis Mobile Wallet app from the Google Play store and load in your credit card information. The app currently accepts American Express, Capital One, and Chase cards. Once you’re all set, start swiping away and enjoy the weight that has been lifted from your pants pockets.

There are currently being accepted at hundreds of stores in the Austin and Salt Lake City markets and it comes with some added benefits. Some retailers offer loyalty cards and savings to shoppers using Isis. T-Mobile has stated that activating the application in its store will land a person $10 Isis eCash for free. Users is Salt Lake will get  free rides on all UTA buses, Trax and Frontrunner vehicles through January 31, 2013. 


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/isis-mobile-wallet-launches-in-salt-lake-city-and-austin/

Apple reportedly testing iOS 6 maintenance update with US carriers

Apple reportedly testing iOS 6 maintenance update with US carriers
First updates imminent

With iOS 6 in the hands of iPhone, iPad and iPod touch owners for more than a month now, a new report claims Apple is preparing not one but two different updates to the OS in the near future.

BGR reported Monday that Apple has started testing an iOS 6.0.1 update with its U.S. carrier partners, which appears to primarily be a bug fix release.

According to an unnamed source, Apple is expected to release iOS 6.0.1 sometime in the next few weeks - but don't count on any huge improvements such as a fix for Apple's Maps issues.

The report only mentioned U.S. carriers and gave no indication of an international rollout for iOS 6.0.1.

Bug squashing

The iOS 6.0.1 update is said to include fixes for bugs such as horizontal lines that appear on screens when either the keyboard or app folder are open.

The keyboard problem seems limited to the iPhone 5, AppleInsider reported, and occasionally appears when users attempt to enter an Apple ID password.

Another glitch supposedly getting a fix is an issue that causes the camera flash not to trigger when taking a photo.

If and when 6.0.1 rolls out, other minor updates reportedly include Wi-Fi support improvements, cellular data fixes and a new consolidated cellular data switch for iTunes Match.

A Passbook lock screen bug and a nagging Exchange problem that causes the deletion of meetings for an entire group are also likely part of the 6.0.1 rollout.

iOS 6.1

If that's not enough of an iOS update for you, then sit tight - Apple has also reportedly started testing iOS 6.1, which appears targeted for release sometime after the holiday season.

BGR's source had no further details on what the bigger update might bring, but it looks unlikely to ship with the rumored iPad mini that Apple is expected to announce at a media event on Tuesday morning.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/software/operating-systems/apple-reportedly-testing-ios-6-maintenance-update-with-us-carriers-1106192

Researchers find Android users are at serious risk of installing insecure apps

As many as 8 percent of Android app's SSL/TLC protocols may be vulnerable to hackers who can steal personal information, researchers from the University of Hannover in Germany have found.

 

Researchers recently discovered security vulnerabilities in as many as eight percent of benign (or not intentionally built to steal your information or install malware) Android apps. These apps proved to have inadequate safeguards that would otherwise prevent data theft.

With the frequency with which we’re willing to share our phone numbers, home address, credit card numbers with just about any app, we’ve been taking our personally identifiable information for granted. Third-party developers and malicious hackers can gain unprecedented access to our lives. The latest research paper titled, “Why Eve and Mallory Love Android: An Analysis of Android SSL (In)Security,” by researchers from the University of Hannover in Germany sheds light on why we should err on the side of caution.

Rather than testing for known malicious apps meant to capture your data for illicit use, researchers tested 13,500 free benign apps from the Google Play store and uncovered 1,074 apps had holes in their Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) security and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. If you’re unfamiliar with SSL, it’s a two-part authentication system for securely transmitting sensitive data over the Internet, like credit card numbers. TLS is SSL’s predecessor and prevents a third-party from snooping in on your private two-way messages for example.

The 1,074 Android apps that were found to have “inadequate use of SSL/TLS” were susceptible to Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks that can easily exploit and retrieve personally identifiable information about the app’s users.

In a manual audit of 100 apps (which the study did not identify by name), bank information, social media accounts, and cloud storage credentials were just a few of the many personal pieces information that researchers were able to gain access to, and 41 of the 100 apps were discovered to have vulnerabilities. Researchers revealed that they “were able to capture credentials for American Express, Diners Club, Paypal, bank accounts, Facebook, Twitter, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft Live ID, Box, WordPress, remote control servers, arbitrary email accounts, and IBM Sametime, among others.”

Other additional successful hacks included gaining access to a user’s IP cameras, injecting viruses into an anti-virus app to flag normal apps as viruses, and disabling virus detection altogether. Of these 41 vulnerable apps, between 39.5 and 185 million users are at risk of Man-in-the-Middle attacks.

The researchers then assessed the “average” Android user’s awareness and knowledge about secure connections in an Android browser. The majority of the survey’s participants were students, while the remaining participants were employees. After being asked about the difference between HTTPS and HTTP, and how “a user perceives an SSL warning message,” just 58.9 percent of IT expert participants and only 44.3 percent of non-IT expert participants were able to identify a secure or insecure connection.

While developers may be rushing to get their apps out of the door and a security encryption is the last features on their minds, it’s also clear that users are in need of a crash course on safe browsing practices and security.


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/android-apps-leak-personal-details/

LG Nexus 4 confirmed by LG Head of Mobile Product Planning

In an interview with IBN Live LG's Head of Mobile Product Planning, Amit Gujral, has let slip that the much-anticipated and not-so-secret LG-made Nexus 4 is the real deal and it's going to be unveiled at Google's Android event come October 29 (that's next Tuesday if you don't have a calendar at hand).

He also made it clear that the device will become available in India "by the end of November", leaving us in the dark regarding global launch of the next-gen Nexus device.



Amit Gujral also shed some light on the specs of the device, confirming it will have a 4.7" 1280 x 768 display, 2GB of RAM, a quad-core CPU with each core clocked at 1.5 GHz (rumors point at an S4 Pro chipset), an 8 MP snapper and 8 GB to 16 GB of storage excluding a microSD card slot. Finally the device will run Android 4.2. So, it seems the rumors surrounding the Nexus 4 were spot on.

Image credit Tech Onliner.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/lg_nexus_4_confirmed_by_lg_head_of_mobile_product_planning-news-4980.php

Best iPhone 5 Accessories

iphone 5 dock apple smartphone accessories

Enhance your iPhone 5 experience with the best accessories around.

Apple’s latest flagship smartphone is capable of plenty, but with the right iPhone 5 accessories you can get more from your device. Recharging is always an issue, but there are lots of options to keep your iPhone 5 battery juiced up no matter where you happen to be. You can also take advantage of docks and enhanced speakers to boost the video and audio output of your smartphone. We’ve identified some tempting iPhone 5 docks and speakers right here.

When it comes to iPhone 5 accessories, the options just keep on coming, and there are a lot of little extras that can really improve your experience. We cover everything from Bluetooth headsets for your iPhone 5 to touchscreen friendly gloves.

If it’s protection that you’re after, make sure to check out the best iPhone 5 cases.

The lightning dock iphone 5 dock accessoryThe Lightning Dock for iPhone 5 ($25/$35)

Apple decided not to make a standalone charging dock for the iPhone 5, but you can find one if you really want one. The Lightning Dock is a simple iPhone 5 charging dock in three flavors – there’s a hardwood one for $25, or you can splash out an extra ten bucks for the aluminum model, which is also available in black. You can use your own Lightning cable or purchase an extra one for $20. The optional back support will run you another $5.

Jawbone jambox iphone 5 speaker accessory

Jawbone Jambox ($200)

A portable wireless speaker is an accessory you should definitely consider for your iPhone 5, especially if you listen to a lot of music. The Jawbone Jambox comes in a wide variety of colors and styles; it’s really compact, easy to use, and the sound quality is impressive. It doesn’t just work as a simple speaker for enhanced audio either; it also doubles up as a speakerphone for conference calls. There’s no AirPlay support, but this Bluetooth wireless speaker is still one of your best options.

Bang and Olufsen Beolit 12 iphone 5 speakerBang and Olufsen Beolit 12 ($800)

If you want premium sound quality and you’re prepared for a premium price tag then the Bang and Olufsen Beolit 12 is going to tempt you. It does look like a picnic basket, but it supports AirPlay and will charge your iPhone 5 as well. It’s the most expensive option on our best iPhone 5 speaker docks list, but it really delivers on sound.

Griffin PowerVolt duo iphone 5 accessory

 Griffin PowerJolt Dual Universal Micro Car Charger ($20)

If you’re out on the road a lot it’s well worth investing in a car charger. This Griffin model plugs into the cigarette lighter in your car and it sports two USB ports. You can plug in your iPhone 5 alongside an Android smartphone, a BlackBerry, a digital audio player, or anything else with a USB cable. It has a compact design and it’s extremely handy, especially if you use your phone to navigate.

Motorola HX550 bluetoothMotorola HX550 Bluetooth Headset ($60)

This is an easy-to-use, reasonably priced, Bluetooth headset for your iPhone 5 that will enable you to make and take hands-free calls. It’s ideal for use in the car. You simply flip the boom out to turn it on and there are voice prompts for pairing. You can also tap once to activate Siri. The sound quality is very good and it has decent battery life as well. It may not look as sexy as a Jabra headset or have the quality of a Bose headset, but you’ll pay a lot more for them. The Motorola HX550 Bluetooth headset is great value for money.

Bose AE2i Audio Headphones iphone 5 accessoriesBose AE2i Audio Headphones ($180)

Not a fan of the iPhone 5’s new EarPods? Want a cushioned headset that sits around the ear rather than an earplug design? Bose has always been a top name when it comes to audio and the AE2i Mobile Headset is fantastic for listening to music in comfort. It also boasts a microphone and a remote so you can take calls and control your tracks. The build quality is high and these headphones are seriously comfortable. They’re also fairly compact and you can fold them for travel.

Agloves original iphone 5 accessoriesAgloves Original ($20)

During cold winters you can keep your hands warm and operate your iPhone 5 outdoors if you invest in some gloves. There are a few options on the market designed to work with touchscreen tech, but many of them will make you look like an extra from Tron. If you just want gloves that look like gloves, keep your hands warm, and allow you to operate your iPhone 5 touchscreen then check out Agloves Original gloves. There are chunkier options for serious cold, but these will suit most people.

Spigen Stylus Pen Kuel H14 SeriesSpigen Stylus Pen Kuel H14 Series ($17)

A stylus is very handy accessory for a tablet, such as the iPad, but there’s no reason you can’t use one with your iPhone 5. The Kuel H14 from Spigen is comfortable to hold and pretty durable. It comes in a range of colors and you get a replacement tip. It is quite big, but that helps with balance and grip.

iOttie Easy One Touch Universal Car Mount Holder for iPhone 5, 4S, SmartphoneiOttie Easy One Touch Universal Car Mount Holder for iPhone 5 ($25)

You can fit this car mount to your dashboard or windshield with the super sticky suction cup. Your iPhone 5 can be locked in place with one touch and you release it by pressing in the side buttons. This car mount is really secure and it also works with a wide variety of cases. It’s fully adjustable so you can rotate to get the ideal angle you want. You can also plug your iPhone 5 in to charge while it is sitting in the mount. It covers all the bases.

Elago M2 Mobile Stand for iPhone 5Elago M2 Mobile Stand for iPhone 5 ($25)

Here’s a basic stand that allows you to sit your iPhone 5 at a comfortable viewing angle for video calls, watching movies, or charging. You can sit the iPhone 5 in portrait or landscape views and there’s room for the cable so you can plug your phone into the mains or your computer if you want to. It’s lightweight, but made of solid metal and pretty stable thanks to slip resistant pads on the bottom which also allow for one-handed operation.

Any other iPhone 5 accessories you’d like to recommend? Post a comment and share.


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

HTC Windows Phone 8X to launch on Nov 2, 8S on Nov 15

HTC's Windows Phone 8X and 8S devices have been priced in the UK and the more interesting of the two has even gone as far as pre-order stage on AT&T in the US. We've heard about a beginning of November release but it's only now that we get specific dates on the duo market availability.

UK retailer Clove has some information on the matter, pointing to a November 2 release date for the Windows Phone 8X and November 15 for the Windows Phone 8S.



So it's a fair assumption we'll see the two WP8 smartphones being globally rolled out around the same dates.

The Winows Phone 8X has a 4.3" 720p S-LCD2 at the front, an S4 chipset with two Krait CPU cores, an 8 MP bright f/2.0 wide-angle shooter on the back and runs the latest version of the Microsoft mobile platform. Clove has the device priced £399.98. The Windows Phone 8S packs a less impressive specs sheet, featuring a 4" WVGA screen, lower-clocked Krait-powered processor and 5 MP camera, but adds expandable storage to the mix. It costs £224.99 at Clove.

Source


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/htc_wp_to_launch_on_november_2_and_15_respectively_priced_too-news-4979.php

The rumor that Foxconn will produce its own smartphones may not be all that far-fetched

Foxconn plant iphone apple

Best known for manufacturing other company's hardware, Foxconn is rumored to be building a range of its own-brand smartphones. Inspired by the success of HTC and Huawei, the rumor may not be as wild as it initially sounds.

Smartphones and tablets are today’s hot products, and technology companies all over the world are producing, or planning to produce, their own hardware in the hope of capturing some of the lucrative market. Those that aren’t, run the risk of missing out and being left behind.

It’s not just the big names getting in on the act either, as Digitimes.com is reporting that Foxconn wants to break into the game too, and that it’s already producing own-branded hardware to be distributed to “telecom carriers and channel operators.”

Now, Digitimes.com has a checkered history with its rumor reports, so it’s advisable not to look at anything they print as 100-percent accurate without independent verification. As wild as Foxconn producing its own phone sounds though, this could be one of Digitimes’ better calls.

As the report notes, Foxconn is looking to repeat HTC’s success. The Taiwanese company started out by making hardware that was badged by networks and other manufacturers — the Palm Treo and several of O2’s Xda series in the UK for example — and has obviously grown into a major force in the industry. It’s hardly a surprise, given Foxconn’s current remit of producing hardware for everyone from Apple to Sony, that it feels it could do the same.

Foxconn is either already working with, or in negotiations with (the report is a little unclear) Commtiva Technology, a company currently tasked with selling Sharp’s smartphones to networks. Commtiva has strong ties with Japanese and Taiwanese networks, where it also promotes the Musn range of smartphones too.

Foxconn’s other businesses

While we may know Foxconn best as the company that makes Apple products, this wouldn’t be the first time it has diversified from its manufacturing role. It has a chain of retail stores in China — some of which are operated by Foxconn employees, after receiving a grant from the company — and plans to open more in Brazil; plus it produces its own-brand computer hardware too, including motherboards and a range of bare-bones PCs.

The computer range provides a glimpse at Foxconn’s possible smartphone plans. They’re stripped down, basic models — the don’t come with any memory or internal storage options — but are fairly cheap at an estimated $280. Most importantly, they don’t wear the Foxconn name, but go by Nano PC instead. Foxconn, often justifiably, has a bad reputation in the West, so anyone buying a Foxconn-branded phone would be ostracized for supporting poor working conditions and child labor. Without a trace of irony, of course.

But Foxconn isn’t likely to be targeting the US, Europe or the UK with its smartphone straight away, starting instead with networks closer to home. While HTC may be its role-model, it’ll be Huawei that could suffer the most, as it too supplies hardware to networks for re-branding, as well as producing its own gradually improving range of phones that wear its name.

Last time, it didn’t end well

This isn’t the first time such plans have been talked about by Foxconn either, and the last conversation reportedly didn’t end well. When ex-Texas Instruments Asia CEO Terry Cheng came in as Foxconn CEO in 2011, he clashed with the chairman of Foxconn’s parent company, Terry Gou, over the proposed development of an own-brand phone range, as he had concerns that the move would affect the company’s core business. Cheng resigned just six months into a three-year contract, citing health reasons, but some reports suggest he was forced to leave by Gou.

These concerns may be justified too, as although there doesn’t seem to be any public information on restrictions regarding manufacturing placed on Foxconn by the companies that use its services, we’d imagine they would keep very close eye on any smartphone that did emerge from Foxconn, given the access it has had to cutting-edge devices all these years.

Digitimes.com’s report closes by saying Foxconn is watching Commtiva’s performance for Sharp, before making a decision whether to entrust them with its own devices. For now, it’s all speculation, but there’s a whiff of possibility about this one.


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/foxconn-rumored-to-be-producing-own-brand-smartphones/

EE 4G tariffs leaked – and they're not shocking

EE 4G tariffs leaked – and they're not shocking
Kick back, relax, 4G isn't going to be too pricey

The prices for EE's eagerly anticipated 4G tariffs have leaked online, with a source claiming they'll come in multiple flavours.

Speaking to Stuff, the source revealed that users wanting a slice of the 4G action would have to fork out a £5 monthly access fee on top of a 3G tariff, with that fee lowered to £3 for business users - whether that includes any data allowance or just the chance to have a 4G connection we don't know.

Apparently customers will be able to choose from 1GB, 8GB, 16GB and a massive 128GB of data a month, however be warned as the 128GB package is likely to cost a staggering £160 per month – ouch.

All will be revealed tomorrow

And it looks like EE is set to announce its 4G tariffs tomorrow, after sending a tweet to a follower on Twitter saying "the tariff information should be available by the 23rd October."

We hope this is correct, as we've been waiting a while for the pricing of the UK's first 4G network, with fingers firmly crossed that it won't be eye-wateringly expensive.

EE's 4G launch devices have already been announced, with customers able to choose from the Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE, HTC One XL, Huawei Ascend P1 LTE and iPhone 5, with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 LTE coming in a few weeks time.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/ee-4g-tariffs-leaked-and-theyre-not-shocking-1106111

Internal Google video 'confirms' 32GB and 3G Nexus 7

Internal Google video 'confirms' 32GB and 3G Nexus 7
What's next for the Nexus range?

An internal video is doing the rounds at Google, showing off the new devices which will be announced at its New York event on October 29.

According to a TheNextWeb source familiar with Google's plans, the video highlights the LG Nexus 4, new Nexus 7 tablets plus a Samsung-built 10-inch Nexus slate.

The source claims that the rumours we've heard about a 32GB and 3G variant of the Google Nexus 7 are both correct – with the HSPA+ supported tablet also sporting 32GB of internal storage.

That's not all

Apparently the video also confirmed a 10-inch tablet, which is supposedly made by Samsung and codenamed Mantra, but it expected to launch under the moniker Google Nexus 10.

The Mantra tablet runs Android 4.2 and packs a 16:10 screen with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and 300ppi pixel density – which would be better than the 264ppi offering on the new iPad.

Last, but not least, the LG Nexus 4 is expected to make an appearance on October 29, and this 1.5Ghz quad-core smartphone also featured in the report, with a 4.7-inch display, 2GB if RAM, 16GB internal storage, 8MP rear camera and running Android 4.2.

Going by all the rumours, all these products could well appear on stage next Monday. TechRadar will be reporting live from the event, so stay tuned for all the latest from the world of Google.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/internal-google-video-confirms-32gb-and-3g-nexus-7-1106089

Samsung I9260 Galaxy Premier GLBenchmark scores reveal GPU

The Samsung I9260 Galaxy Premier was once rumored as the next Galaxy Nexus phone, but those rumors were renounced. The Premier sits somewhere between the Galaxy S III and the S III mini and now we know its GPU (and most likely chipset) thanks to a GLBenchmark score.

GLBenchmark reports Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean and 720p resolution (that's exactly 1280 x 720 pixels, which confirms there won't be on-screen controls). The CPU max frequency is listed as 1.5GHz and while the number of cores was left out, the rumors point to a dual-core processor.

The GPU is a PowerVR SGX 544, very similar to the SGX543 found in Apple's latest chipsets. All of this - plus some AnTuTu scores from last week - point to a TI OMAP 4470 chipset (recently used in Amazon's Kindle Fire HD 8.9 tablet).



This means the I9260 Galaxy Premier has two Cortex-A9 cores, probably 1GB of RAM and the SGX544 GPU. Other Android chipset makers rely on Mali (Samsung's Exynos), GeForce (Tegra) or Adreno (Qualcomm), which leave Texas Instruments.

We know it's not a Cortex-A15 packing OMAP 5 chipset (which has a dual-core CPU and SGX544 too), because the AnTuTu CPU scores are below those of the HTC One S and its two Krait cores.

Anyway, the Galaxy Premier is not going to dethrone the Galaxy S III, but it does look more temtping than the NovaThor-packing Galaxy S III mini. We're still waiting for the Samsung I9260 Galaxy Premier to be officially announced.

Source | Via


Source : http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9260_galaxy_premier_glbenchmark_scores_reveal_gpu_-news-4978.php

Samsung Galaxy Premier gets ever more likely

Samsung Galaxy Premier gets ever more likely
Sounds like a fancy bar of chocolate

The Samsung Galaxy Premier has appeared online again, with another benchmarking site leaking details about the rumoured smartphone.

Last week we saw Antutu reveal details about much talked out handset, which came after reports claiming Samsung was working on a handset to slide in between the Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Nexus.

More details have now appeared, this time on the GL Benchmark website, which shows the Galaxy Premier as packing a PowerVR SGX 544 GPU, alongside two 1.5GHz Cortex-A9 processors.

Middle of the road

In terms of benchmark results, as we saw last week with the Antutu leak, the Galaxy Premier looks to be a pretty middle of the road handset, but it's still running a development version of Jelly Bean, so performance may increase in the finished product.

According to rumours the Samsung Galaxy Premier is also expected to have a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED HD display, 8MP rear camera, 2MP front facing camera and measure 133.97 x 68.1 x 8.8mm.

Samsung is yet to confirm or deny the existence of the Galaxy Premier, and there's currently no word on its potential release date or price.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/samsung-galaxy-premier-gets-ever-more-likely-1106070

US security review finds no evidence Huawei is spying for China

huawei zte hearing

Sources working on a classified investigation, commissioned by the White House, into Chinese technology firm Huawei say no evidence of espionage has been discovered, but security concerns regarding the company's equipment still exist.

Earlier this month, a report by the House of Representatives intelligence panel accused Chinese technology firms Huawei and ZTE of being a threat to US national security, due to their ties with the Chinese government, and urged US companies not to do business with them.

Now, Reuters has published details of a security review commissioned by the White House on Huawei, which concludes that there is “no clear evidence that Huawei had spied for China.” The quote comes from unnamed sources who’re familiar with the new investigation, and when Huawei was approached for comment, it told Reuters that it had no knowledge of the probe, but wasn’t surprised about the lack of evidence any spying had taken place.

The inquiry is said to be a “thorough review” of Huawei’s business and included interviews with a thousand telecom industry insiders who had dealings with the company. It’s not indicated when the review will be published, if at all, or if the intelligence panel’s report has exposed any further evidence relevant to the investigation.

One of the sources claims “certain parts of the government really wanted evidence of active spying,” but adds “we would have found it if it were there.” Hard evidence was absent from the intelligence panel’s damning report, although the chairman has indicated it exists in classified documents.

Security vulnerabilities

The new investigation doesn’t clear Huawei completely though, as it says the company’s hardware still poses a threat to security due to vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers. The anonymous sources leaking the information didn’t state whether the report believed these had been inserted intentionally.

One network security consultant says the vulnerabilities “appeared to be the result of sloppy coding and poor procedures, rather than any deliberate attempt at espionage.” Others aren’t as forgiving, and Reuters quotes an unnamed computer scientist as saying the “back doors were inserted with care.” Huawei has been made aware of the problems and is said to be examining them.

The White House’s report echoes a statement given by the UK government’s Cabinet Office, where a spokesperson said there were no security concerns related to Huawei, but added it’s in the process of examining the company’s business in the country.

As the fallout from the House of Representatives report continues, analysts speaking to the Associated Press warned that while security is a “legitimate concern when assessing foreign investment in areas such as telecoms,” there is a danger “protectionist sentiments” could harm “Chinese companies that pose no threat.”

Huawei and ZTE have denied allegations of espionage.


Source : http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/us-security-review-finds-no-evidence-huawei-is-spying-for-china/

iPhone 5 jailbreak on its way, but it's no easy feat

iPhone 5 jailbreak on its way, but it's no easy feat
Viva la revolution!

Dev teams around the world have been busily plugging away at jailbreaking the iPhone 5 and one group reckons it's nearly there.

Apparently the Chronic Dev Team has almost finished its tethered jailbreak, but it's been no easy feat thanks to the new chip and operating system inside the iPhone 5.

One of the Chronic Dev Team, @planetbeing, tweeted information about the project: "Upgraded the #failbreak with a kernel exploit so tweaks actually work on iPhone 5. Almost a full tethered JB, though need dev account."

Devs only for now

The current jailbreak requires iPhone 5 owners to have a developer account, which means average users who want to unlock their sixth generation iPhone will have to wait a bit longer.

There's no word on when an universal solution will be available, but we can now be sure that one will arrive at some point unless the developer world suddenly forgets how to do everything.

In our iPhone 5 review we noted it is the best smartphone to come out of the Cupertino-firm, with it's bigger 4-inch display and beefed up A6 processor, but not everyone is a fan of the locked-down Apple experience, which is why jailbreaks prove to be so popular.


Source : http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-5-jailbreak-on-its-way-but-its-no-easy-feat-1106064