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

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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/

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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

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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/

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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

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Best iPhone 5 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 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 ($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 ($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 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 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 ($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 ($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 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 ($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 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/

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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

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