Tech24H

Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts

Samsung faces the bad news: sales of its high-end phones are sliding

<b>Confirming its own estimates from earlier this month, Samsung announced tonight that it accumulated an operating profit of $3.9 billion in Q3.</b><br />
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That's not a bad haul for most companies in the July to September period, but last year Samsung proudly celebrated a record profit of $9.6 billion and now it's down to less than half that. Now the company is breaking down the reasons behind the drop, and everything starts with the flagship Galaxy S smartphones. Reuters notes that phones drove its growth over the last couple of years, but profits in that area dropped from 6.7 trillion Korean won last year, to 1.75 trillion in the same period this year.<br />
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That drop came as a result of price cuts for older phones and "declined shipments" of high-end models. Even slightly higher sales of midrange smartphones apparently weren't enough to right the ship, and the Galaxy Note 4 hasn't been on sale long enough to contribute. Worse, the phone sales have an effect across the company for its display, memory and CPU businesses. It expects to sell more Ultra HD and curved TVs to close out 2014, but investors will likely be more interested in how it responds to cheaper Chinese phone manufacturers.</div>
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Samsung faces the bad news: sales of its high-end phones are sliding

Confirming its own estimates from earlier this month, Samsung announced tonight that it accumulated an operating profit of $3.9 billion in Q3. That's not a bad haul for most companies in the July to September period, but last year Samsung proudly celebrated a record profit of $9.6 billion and now it…

03Nov2014

Xiaomi is moving some of its users' data out of China

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<b>Xiaomi's a force to be reckoned with in China -- its new phones routinely sell out online in seconds -- but its influence is steadily growing outside its native home.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xiaomi is moving some of its users' data out of China</td></tr>
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That's why the company's infrastructure has been quietly shifting these past few months, and VP/former Googler Hugo Barra pulled back the curtain on what Xiaomi's been up to. Long story short: it's moving user data around the world, not only to make sure its services work better, but also to better protect its users' information.<br />
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Some of the changes Xiaomi enacted are purely prosaic: it's moving its e-commerce platform to Amazon data centers in California and Singapore so the site runs faster. Great! Of course, there's something more crucial to Xiaomi's future than making sure its website loads quickly. We're talking about privacy here, and Xiaomi doesn't exactly have a spotless track record when it comes safeguarding user info.<br />
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Finnish security firm F-Secure learned earlier this year that some Xiaomi phones relayed sensitive information like phone numbers and device identifiers back to company servers in China (in plain text, no less). Xiaomi quickly addressed the issue, but it was still enough to spook some curious players around the world. Take India, for instance - Xiaomi pulled off a very successful (if quiet) launch there, selling 40,000 phones in a hair over four seconds in early September. Earlier this week, though, The New Indian Express reported that the Indian Air Force has been cracking down on the use of Xiaomi phones because of their habit of relaying information back to China. Similar concerns caused the Taiwanese government to conduct its own investigation on Xiaomi phones, though officials haven't yet published their results.<br />
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Xiaomi's great data shift might be the right answer at the right time. Barra noted that international users' data would no longer live in Beijing -- instead, it'll be stored on Amazon servers in Oregon and Singapore, far away from the Chinese government's curious eyes. If Xiaomi's really going to grow into the global giant it clearly wants to be, it has to do pull of the greatest feat of them all: it has to make the world's potential customers trust it. The move won't be done until later this year, but still -- it's a very clear step in the right direction.</div>
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Xiaomi is moving some of its users' data out of China

Xiaomi's a force to be reckoned with in China -- its new phones routinely sell out online in seconds -- but its influence is steadily growing outside its native home. Xiaomi is moving some of its users' data out of China That's why the company's infrastructure has been quietly shifting these past f…

26Oct2014

Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay

<b>Some Bank of America customers have been double-charged for purchases made with Apple Pay, the payment system Apple launched on Monday.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay</td></tr>
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Roughly 1,000 transactions made with Apple Pay were logged twice in customer accounts, said Tara Burke, a spokeswoman with Bank of America, which is one of the largest U.S. banks and was an Apple Pay launch partner.<br />
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“We apologize for the inconvenience and are correcting the problem,” said Burke.<br />
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The duplicate transactions should be removed by the end of Wednesday.<br />
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Apple Pay utilizes a secure chip inside Apple’s new iPhone 6 that enables the phone to emulate an NFC (near field communications) payment card. When the Apple Pay app is loaded with a customer’s credit or debit card, payments can be made at NFC terminals by bringing the phone close to the terminal.<br />
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The system is being positioned as easier and more secure than current payment cards because the card number is not passed to the retailer’s terminal. Instead, a substitute number called a token is offered to the merchant, which sends it on to the card issuer for approval.<br />
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The token can only be used once, so if it’s stolen it should prove useless to cyberattackers. It’s tied to the actual card number deeper in the financial services network, further away from the retailer terminals that have been the target of so much hacking recently.<br />
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Apple Pay is compatible with existing NFC payment terminals, which can be found in around 200,000 shops and taxis across the U.S.</div>
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Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay

Some Bank of America customers have been double-charged for purchases made with Apple Pay, the payment system Apple launched on Monday. Some Bank of America customers double-charged with Apple Pay Roughly 1,000 transactions made with Apple Pay were logged twice in customer accounts, said Tara Burke,…

24Oct2014

Google to build Play-like hardware store for Project Ara

<b>Drawing inspiration from its Play Store, Google will create a hardware store in which users can buy and sell Lego-like hardware modules for the customizable Project Ara smartphone.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google to build Play-like hardware store for Project Ara</td></tr>
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Project Ara is Google’s upcoming build-your-own smartphone that allows users to mix and match features. The $50 configurable smartphone will come with a basic frame, and users can add or remove features by simply snapping on or taking off modular parts.<br />
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For example, users will be able to individually swap out screens, cameras, antennas and CPUs, which could be a cheaper way to replace parts than buying new smartphones. Google is pursuing biometric modules, and independent hardware makers have mulled creating temperature, input, gaming, antenna and medical sensors. Modules can be designed with Google’s Module Developers Kit (MDK), which contains reference designs, specifications and guidelines.<br />
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“Anybody can create a module per the specifications of the developer’s kit and put it in the Ara module marketplace, which is analogous to the Google Play Store, and sell directly to consumers,” said Paul Eremenko, head of Project Ara at Google’s ATAP (Advanced Technology and Projects) division, during a question and answer session at Purdue University earlier this month.<br />
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Rankings and ratings<br />
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Buyers will be able to see the most popular modules based on reviews and user ratings, much like with apps in the Google Play store, Eremenko said.<br />
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A market pilot for Project Ara will begin in 2015, during which Google will try to understand usage and iron out kinks. Google has developed three Project Ara smartphone prototypes with different screen sizes, and Eremenko indicated it could be a while until final products ship worldwide. </div>
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“There’s a lot more that we need to do in terms of retiring technical risks on the project. We have probably two more ...prototypes to make. And during the market pilot we have a lot to learn about how people interact with this device,” Eremenko said.<br />
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Modular phones are not a new concept. Israeli company Modu in 2010 announced Brewphone, to which keyboard, speaker and camera modules could be attached. ZTE isdeveloping a customizable smartphone called Eco-Mobius, which has not yet been released.<br />
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The viability of Project Ara has been heavily debated, but Eremenko believed consumers will appreciate its flexibility.<br />
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“If we can span price points that range from a feature phone crossover price point all the way to an aspirational, very high-end device that may be able to do...portable medical diagnostics, that could potentially help us on the way of delivering the mobile Internet to the next five billion people who are not smartphone enabled,” Eremenko said.<br />
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Success defined by flexibility<br />
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The success of Project Ara could ultimately lie on its functionality, which will be defined by the swappable modules. Eremenko wants to make module development easy, and his team is working on new design tools to make hardware design as simple as writing mobile apps.<br />
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“Today it takes maybe 12, 18, 24 months to make a new smartphone and bring it to market and we’re hoping to get that down to a couple of months,” Eremenko said.<br />
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Google is encouraging developers to come up new module ideas, and is also working on some of its own. The company is chasing the idea of “adaptive commerce experiences” in which health sensors can track monitor human biometric signals.<br />
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“That includes galvanic skin response, sweat levels, your pupil dilation, gaze direction, and a variety of things that we can pick up non-invasively about you as you’re interacting with the e-commerce system. If you’re stressed or impatient or bored with the experience, we could present a differently curated experience,” Eremenko said.<br />
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During the talk, Eremenko also floated the idea of secure modules with private user information, which can be swapped depending on who’s using the smartphone.<br />
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Google and Linaro are developing a custom version of Android for Project Ara. Work is underway around plug-and-play recognition so modules are identified immediately without restarting the smartphone. Much like USB attachments, modules will be recognized based on different driver “classes,” such as those for storage, input, networking, imaging and others. Some modules not recognized, like high-end cameras, will be placed in isolated zones so as not to compromise the smartphone.<br />
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The modules are electropermanent magnets that can turn on and off but use no power in either state. Instead of connectors, the modules use inductive coupling for data transfers.<br />
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To make module development cheaper, Google ATAP is also partnering with companies like Flextronics and Quanta so developers can inexpensively turn designs into actual hardware.</div>

Google to build Play-like hardware store for Project Ara

Drawing inspiration from its Play Store, Google will create a hardware store in which users can buy and sell Lego-like hardware modules for the customizable Project Ara smartphone. Google to build Play-like hardware store for Project Ara Project Ara is Google’s upcoming build-your-own smartphone tha…

23Oct2014

Android 5.0 Lollipop to hit the wild on November 3

<b>Google is telling developers to step on it if they want their apps ready for a November 3 release of Android Lollipop.</b><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Android 5.0 Lollipop to hit the wild on November 3</td></tr>
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It’s the first specific date we’ve heard, which means the newest flavor of Android will start hitting the street in less than two weeks. The Nexus 9 preorders start shipping on that same date as well. Though as is often the case with preorders, they may show up on some people’s doorsteps early.<br /><br />With Lollipop so close, Google is gently nagging programmers in the Google Play Developer Console (pictured) to grab the latest release of Android and get cracking. They can already upload apps and schedule them for release when Lollipop goes live.<br /><br /> GOOGLE PLAY DEVELOPER CONSOLE<br /></div>
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This isn’t a guarantee that your device will get Lollipop on November 3, but at least we know when the rollout will start. Expect Nexus devices to get it first, with others manufacturers planning to follow suit.  Manufacturers like HTC have promised some phones (like the One M8 and M7) will get an update within 90 days of the official release—this would be the date to start the clock. Software updates often have to be tested by carriers before they're released, too.<br /><br />Why this matters: It’s one thing to get Android 5.0 Lollipop out the door, it’s quite another to get the rest of the ecosystem ready. Lollipop is a significant rewrite of how Android looks and performs, so it will be rather funky if third-party apps look like they don’t belong.<br /><br />Google is nudging developers to update their apps so the transition to Lollipop is a smooth one, which won’t happen if all of a sudden Android owners can't get their favorite apps to work properly.<br /></div>
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Android 5.0 Lollipop to hit the wild on November 3

Google is telling developers to step on it if they want their apps ready for a November 3 release of Android Lollipop. Android 5.0 Lollipop to hit the wild on November 3 It’s the first specific date we’ve heard, which means the newest flavor of Android will start hitting the street in less than two …

22Oct2014

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: the best big-screen phone you can buy right now

<b>What began in 2011 as a brand-new phone category has flourished into one of the most popular in the world. </b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samsung Galaxy Note 4</td></tr>
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Smartphones with big screens (phablets, to some) are now ubiquitous, but it all started with an odd device called the Samsung Galaxy Note. At 5.3 inches, it was a behemoth for its day -- and yet, it sold like hotcakes thanks to its unique S Pen stylus, which provided users with extra functionality, and a copious amount of screen space.<br />
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<b><br /></b>Four iterations later, the Note series has continued to grow, mature and dominate the genre. Not only does the latest version, the Galaxy Note 4, come with the snazziest spec sheet on the market, but it also ushers in a fantastic new direction in Samsung's design. It sure sounds like an improvement over last year's model, and it is. Now that Apple's ready to tackle the Note with a large-screen phone of its own, however, is Samsung's baby still the best in its class?</div>
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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: the best big-screen phone you can buy right now

What began in 2011 as a brand-new phone category has flourished into one of the most popular in the world. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Smartphones with big screens (phablets, to some) are now ubiquitous, but it all started with an odd device called the Samsung Galaxy Note. At 5.3 inches, it was a behemot…

19Oct2014

Breakthrough batteries last 20 years, charge 70 percent in two minutes

<b>Over the years, consumer electronics have improved in almost every way, becoming thinner, lighter, and more pixel-packed, all while increasing exponentially in performance. But beating at the heart of many mobile devices and even electric cars is a technology that hasn’t kept up with the rapid pace of innovation: batteries. Specifically, lithium-ion batteries.</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakthrough batteries last 20 years</td></tr>
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Battery tech is a limiting factor in the design of many of today’s technologies.Researchers at Nanyang Technology University say they’ve discovered a way to build a better battery, however—a battery that charges in mere minutes and lasts an amazing 20 years.<br />
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Why this matters: If these batteries begin trickling into mass production, they could kill two of the biggest irritants in today’s mobile electronics: Long charging times and forced obsolescence.<br />
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The benefits of fast charging need no explanation, but many of today’s smartphones and tablets won’t let you remove their batteries, essentially forcing you to buy a new device when the lithium-ion battery inside starts to fade after 500 or so charges. A battery that lasts 20 years could dramatically change how long people hang on to their smartphones, especially with the mobile industry’s recent trend of decoupling hardware fees from services subscriptions. Together, the combo could further reduce the two-year upgrade cycle so common in the mobile industry.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcSXgFa-VGWYi_hAnMsGPFH81kmaNhAQoS7HZPTI4iyDaAR3Zugp4UFtqWkSVbb27h-wvqQXkrpOTfuwFQ9olL7crVz2CViTdmfhbuDAEH2ucBeLbOLmn9X8uK-P_Uzt5DLOv949TBaBc/s1600/Breakthrough-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCcSXgFa-VGWYi_hAnMsGPFH81kmaNhAQoS7HZPTI4iyDaAR3Zugp4UFtqWkSVbb27h-wvqQXkrpOTfuwFQ9olL7crVz2CViTdmfhbuDAEH2ucBeLbOLmn9X8uK-P_Uzt5DLOv949TBaBc/s1600/Breakthrough-01-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="NTA associate professor Chen Xiaodong with research fellow Tang Yuxin and PHD student Deng Jiyang." /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NTA associate professor Chen Xiaodong with research fellow Tang Yuxin and PHD student Deng Jiyang.</td></tr>
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<div>
Enabling the nifty new tricks doesn’t require a full reimagining of how we design batteries, either. The researchers replaced the graphite used in the anode of lithium-ion batteries with a gel made from  titanium dioxide nanotubes "a thousand times thinner than the diameter of a human hair."<br />
<br />
Using tiny titanium dioxide nanotubes rather than graphite also speeds how quickly electrons and ions flow in and out of the battery, by ditching an energy-slowing additive needed in today’s batteries. The NTU researchers say their battery charges far faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries, going from empty to a 70 percent charge in just two minutes. Two minutes!<br />
<br />
NTU associate professor Chen Xiaodong, the inventor of the titanium dioxide gel, says batteries built with it could hit the market within two years, with an unnamed company already licensing the technology. The Nanyang Technology University press release has more detail about the technical aspects of the discovery if you’re interested.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>

Breakthrough batteries last 20 years, charge 70 percent in two minutes

Over the years, consumer electronics have improved in almost every way, becoming thinner, lighter, and more pixel-packed, all while increasing exponentially in performance. But beating at the heart of many mobile devices and even electric cars is a technology that hasn’t kept up with the rapid pace …

16Oct2014

Blackphone tweak makes app updates less annoying for the security-conscious

<b>The clandestine Blackphone finally has its own dedicated app updater, eliminating the need to restart the device every time new software from Blackphone or its app partners arrives.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydGecjCuQMGyoztneAL9PT7QEN0aEK29dIlWhiKlS-b3tL1sf2U5DgW2thm73wTiBOZK_e7gZ-gcwrjMT63oBcjx1JZJeaJMUQotIH5h6l7bEQsJHLBDVbWpndbn7T0sul8mk5K9WUz2p/s1600/Blackphone-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydGecjCuQMGyoztneAL9PT7QEN0aEK29dIlWhiKlS-b3tL1sf2U5DgW2thm73wTiBOZK_e7gZ-gcwrjMT63oBcjx1JZJeaJMUQotIH5h6l7bEQsJHLBDVbWpndbn7T0sul8mk5K9WUz2p/s1600/Blackphone-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Blackphone tweak makes app updates less annoying for the security-conscious" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackphone tweak makes app updates less annoying for the security-conscious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
And that's not the only new feature in the Blackphone's PrivatOS 1.0.5 update, which also adds a custom build of the K-9 email client, a panorama camera mode, and call audio improvements, along with numerous smaller improvements and bug fixes.<br />
<br />
The company posted the full release notes on it site. If you have a Blackphone, an over-the-air update should hit your device soon.<br />
<br />
The story behind the story: The Blackphone runs a forked, privacy-focused version of Android called PrivatOS, which is built for better control and visibility of data coming to and from the phone. It doesn't even have access to the Google Play Store, so you have to sideload apps yourself.<br />
<br />
Because the OS is built specifically for this device, many of its features are rather rudimentary compared to run-of-the-mill Android devices—such as its inability to elegantly handle updates (until now). But if you get the Blackphone it's not because you want to post selfies to Instagram—the device is designed for privacy and security enthusiasts zealous about keeping firm control over their data. <br />
<br />
One of its core apps is the Blackphone Security Center, which lets you view and control what information is going into and out of your phone. Contacts, messaging, and phone calls connect to the encrypted Silent Circle service.<br />
<br />
The company that builds the Blackphone is even located in Switzerland, which it says has better privacy laws than other western nations. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>

Blackphone tweak makes app updates less annoying for the security-conscious

The clandestine Blackphone finally has its own dedicated app updater, eliminating the need to restart the device every time new software from Blackphone or its app partners arrives. Blackphone tweak makes app updates less annoying for the security-conscious And that's not the only new feature in the…

15Oct2014

Sony Xperia Z3 review: a classy flagship with great battery life

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Sony Xperia Z3 review: a classy flagship with great battery life</span></h2>
<b>When you're trying to compete in the phone-making game, there are certain challenges. On the one hand, you want to dazzle customers with innovative features. On the other hand, you want to keep the suit-wearing shareholders happy with growth and strong, continued sales.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwaDQMXg5ZrGOa5xbCpZCdK-UUaq3VvTslRN3YJeQKeq3JLQ9CXQjGqCDxZnwbTyGySlkroxdtCqXaxisEpSKjJk0qYRboBHQ-fNxKw2hSgMLkH2IiedC2Rrn4-aO17-FADXM522NHl-y/s1600/Sony-Xperia-Z3-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwaDQMXg5ZrGOa5xbCpZCdK-UUaq3VvTslRN3YJeQKeq3JLQ9CXQjGqCDxZnwbTyGySlkroxdtCqXaxisEpSKjJk0qYRboBHQ-fNxKw2hSgMLkH2IiedC2Rrn4-aO17-FADXM522NHl-y/s1600/Sony-Xperia-Z3-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Sony Xperia Z3" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sony Xperia Z3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
The bottleneck in this equation is often technology. You can't force it to progress. So once you've more or less caught up, you're left with a choice: Innovate with software/hardware design, or take a risk with gimmicky features. Any of the above will do in lieu of the (unspeakable) alternative -- not releasing a new model this year.<br />
<br />
We're not trying to preload this review of Sony's new Z3 flagship, which arrives barely six months after its predecessor. Or maybe we are. What we're definitely doing is spelling it out right here in the intro: The Z3 looks a lot like the Z2, and after a quick glance at the spec sheet, you might argue it sounds a lot like it too. This is pertinent because, by its own admission, Sony isn't doing very well at competing in the phone-making game. Given the above, is the Z3 going to tempt existing customers to upgrade? Or perhaps lure those over from other brands? T-Mobile will be stocking it this fall, though the price isn't yet known. Currently it's £550 in the UK -- a touch above the HTC One and Galaxy S5. Let's have a look, shall we?<br />
<br />
<b>PROS</b><br />
<br />
• Fantastic battery life<br />
<br />
• High-quality finish<br />
<br />
• Great camera<br />
<b><br />CONS</b><br />
<br />
• Software feels a little dated<br />
<br />
<b>SUMMARY</b><br />
<br />
For a phone that, initially at least, looks a lot like the one it's meant to replace the Z3 has a few tricks up its sleeve. Best of all is the standout battery life. Android photographers will love the camera too. It's easy to recommend the Z3, unless you're upgrading from the Z2, of course.</div>
</div>

Sony Xperia Z3 review: a classy flagship with great battery life

Sony Xperia Z3 review: a classy flagship with great battery life When you're trying to compete in the phone-making game, there are certain challenges. On the one hand, you want to dazzle customers with innovative features. On the other hand, you want to keep the suit-wearing shareholders happy with…

09Oct2014

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Netflix for Android lets you quickly spot what you're searching for</span></h2>
<b>Netflix's Android app hasn't made searching very easy so far. While it'll give you thumbnails, the heavy emphasis on text in results has sometimes meant scrolling through gigantic lists.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRAhRJUn7wz3eiSXUUhnGpZ72tr2mG8fBC8_G8Y0iK4F3yUTfjqbbVyUKqpiMNF2P6-rKPZY1xUFvCR9tFmkbOq-0OKbLE8HX9nC-PuSHqM-_Fzo3rxsOMpc_VaS_s5BwMPJ63aKimR1m/s1600/Netflix-for-Android-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRAhRJUn7wz3eiSXUUhnGpZ72tr2mG8fBC8_G8Y0iK4F3yUTfjqbbVyUKqpiMNF2P6-rKPZY1xUFvCR9tFmkbOq-0OKbLE8HX9nC-PuSHqM-_Fzo3rxsOMpc_VaS_s5BwMPJ63aKimR1m/s1600/Netflix-for-Android-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Netflix for Android lets you quickly spot what you're searching for" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Netflix for Android lets you quickly spot what you're searching for</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
It should be much more elegant as of today, however; a just-launchedupdate has brought visual search (previously found just about everywhere else on Netflix) to Google's platform. Look for a title and you'll get nothing but pictures, making it easier to find an iconic movie or TV show based on its artwork.<br />
<br />
Prefer iOS instead? Don't worry, you're getting a treat as well. As on Android, visual search on the iPhone can now help you track down actors, creators and directors. You can find everything Netflix has from David Fincher (such as House of Cards), for example. Whichever device you call home, you'll find your illustration-heavy upgrade at the source links.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>

Netflix for Android lets you quickly spot what you're searching for Netflix's Android app hasn't made searching very easy so far. While it'll give you thumbnails, the heavy emphasis on text in results has sometimes meant scrolling through gigantic lists. Netflix for Android lets you quickly spot wh…

07Oct2014

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Moto G review: still the best budget smartphone</span></h2>
<b>Last year's Moto G took us all by surprise. Sure, we knew Motorola wanted to reinvent the cheap smartphone experience, but the very first device in the company's cost crusade was even better than we expected.</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4aXHJDQILbEK2UL6HaHG9EdDxhng-ocLnLtg1KewY3l9SPHPCiqEkhPDPqYCq5cA19TvmDi0hl_7MPH8IQSksH8t5Fwx6LC2Gs6zbC3N1bybBtYgQZ1IT6u2LBVGELsCepjZVhMn399/s1600/Moto-G-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrV4aXHJDQILbEK2UL6HaHG9EdDxhng-ocLnLtg1KewY3l9SPHPCiqEkhPDPqYCq5cA19TvmDi0hl_7MPH8IQSksH8t5Fwx6LC2Gs6zbC3N1bybBtYgQZ1IT6u2LBVGELsCepjZVhMn399/s1600/Moto-G-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Moto G review (2014): still the best budget smartphone" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moto G review (2014): still the best budget smartphone</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
Let's be honest, though: The G's greatest asset was its small, small price tag. For $180 off-contract, it became awfully easy to forgive the thing for not being the quickest, the prettiest or the smartest. Still, it was one of those gadgets that wound up being more than just "good enough"; between the price and performance, the Moto G was one of the best cheap smartphones you could own, period.<br />
<br />
Here we are less than a year later, and we've got a sequel to play with (one with the same name, no less). If you took a quick peek at what it brings to the table, you'd be forgiven for thinking that Motorola wanted to play it safe the second time around -- the new Moto G isn't a game changer, and it doesn't have to be. Does this year's model clear the "good enough" bar once again? And just how far will $180 take you this year?<br />
<br />
<b>PROS</b><br />
<br />
• Camera is much better than the original's<br />
<br />
• Near-stock Android 4.4.4 is a treat<br />
<br />
• Feels snappy despite aging internals<br />
<br />
• Inexpensive<br />
<br />
<b>CONS</b><br />
<br />
• No LTE<br />
<br />
• Screen isn't as crisp as last year's model<br />
<br />
<b>SUMMARY</b><br />
<br />
Motorola's wallet-friendly formula hasn't changed much since last year's Moto G, but that's OK -- the company changed just enough to make the 2014 version one of the best budget smartphones out there. </div>
</div>

Moto G review: still the best budget smartphone Last year's Moto G took us all by surprise. Sure, we knew Motorola wanted to reinvent the cheap smartphone experience, but the very first device in the company's cost crusade was even better than we expected. Moto G review (2014): still the best budge…

06Oct2014

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Vertu Aster is a luxury smartphone with 'mid-tier' price, top-tier specs</span></h2>
Since the launch of the Signature Touch, Vertu CEO Max Pogliani promised that "technology will be more a merging factor and not a differentiation point" for his phones.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPm4E3vjs13ygb2ac_ra0DqAiqOlPZmvh82gbjqjnhafy34uFnND9fa3RZKuaZGZa-eyeHz2xZ4YeuNoHH2TP86pmXkW0Er28DZaZNkrusnLMIZBIBwxHl67fX042t-Zp9kGMMvcIs1hU/s1600/Vertu-Aster-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPm4E3vjs13ygb2ac_ra0DqAiqOlPZmvh82gbjqjnhafy34uFnND9fa3RZKuaZGZa-eyeHz2xZ4YeuNoHH2TP86pmXkW0Er28DZaZNkrusnLMIZBIBwxHl67fX042t-Zp9kGMMvcIs1hU/s1600/Vertu-Aster-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="Vertu Aster is a luxury smartphone with 'mid-tier' price, top-tier specs" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vertu Aster is a luxury smartphone with 'mid-tier' price, top-tier specs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
That's literally the case with the new mid-tier Aster launched today: This titanium Android device is every bit identical to its flagship sibling device internally, just wrapped within a more contemporary and unisex design.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're looking at a 4.7-inch 1080p display, a 5.1-inch 117 carat sapphire screen, a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chipset, a 13-megapixel Hasselblad-certified main camera with twin LED flash, a 2.1-megapixel front-facing imager, 64GB of internal storage, a 2,275mAh battery, front stereo speakers, NFC, Qi wireless charging and great LTE compatibility (though no love for China, for some reason). With the specs out of the way, let's look at why this swanky phone starts from $6,900 or £4,200.</div>
</div>

Vertu Aster is a luxury smartphone with 'mid-tier' price, top-tier specs Since the launch of the Signature Touch, Vertu CEO Max Pogliani promised that "technology will be more a merging factor and not a differentiation point" for his phones. Vertu Aster is a luxury smartphone with 'mid-tier' price,…

05Oct2014

The extended Nexus family: Google's golden Android standard

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">The extended Nexus family: Google's golden Android standard</span></h2>
Google's Nexus line has long stood as the company's ideal vision of its widely adopted, open-source Android operating system.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oc5jIcSQormUQz5f75oulD6HjKEbPE5TmR6KKEhhae3wPIHwjP6IhUk0RztUzxQorFzBq7xR8LQLP7zmYlAKMC7XspEUtDqIni2uJcUtDfDwT6Y2O9XZWWDvRtnb_9zS0OKGn53_Vz27/s1600/The-extended-Nexus-family-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oc5jIcSQormUQz5f75oulD6HjKEbPE5TmR6KKEhhae3wPIHwjP6IhUk0RztUzxQorFzBq7xR8LQLP7zmYlAKMC7XspEUtDqIni2uJcUtDfDwT6Y2O9XZWWDvRtnb_9zS0OKGn53_Vz27/s1600/The-extended-Nexus-family-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The extended Nexus family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
The devices, be they smartphones, tablets or even one-off media streamers, are built in conjunction with select hardware partners and represent an ideal marriage of tech specs with an unadulterated version of Android. It's Google's way of dealing with fragmentation (read: skinned versions) in the mobile OS market it created; a reference mark for manufacturers to aspire to, so to speak.<br />
<div>
<br />
On the tail of the original Android handset's sixth anniversary and in the run-up towhatever new Nexuses come next, we take a look back at the hardware path that's been Google's gold standard for Android.</div>
</div>
</div>

The extended Nexus family: Google's golden Android standard

The extended Nexus family: Google's golden Android standard Google's Nexus line has long stood as the company's ideal vision of its widely adopted, open-source Android operating system. The extended Nexus family The devices, be they smartphones, tablets or even one-off media streamers, are built in…

05Oct2014

Moto X review (2014): from also-ran to amazing in one year

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">Moto X review (2014): from also-ran to amazing in one year</span></h2>
<b>I'll be honest with you: When the first Moto X came out last year, some early apprehension soon gave way to unwavering fondness. It wasn't because of the sheer horsepower (there wasn't much of it) or a stunner of a screen (it was fine, at best). </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwezeIgRYfqcjNdz3r19G2wr7dyaLn9qdXAlrUvxWRP0ylbeOsqSIYwGKCqhyphenhyphenuy8J7Mf88ZDpj1KO1VrtjB8Am_8C9Uj-hQE62hvFahhHZ3ffBsn9c6-jCkVK29jMfs7B6jVqPDRRUzZlr/s1600/Moto-X-review-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwezeIgRYfqcjNdz3r19G2wr7dyaLn9qdXAlrUvxWRP0ylbeOsqSIYwGKCqhyphenhyphenuy8J7Mf88ZDpj1KO1VrtjB8Am_8C9Uj-hQE62hvFahhHZ3ffBsn9c6-jCkVK29jMfs7B6jVqPDRRUzZlr/s1600/Moto-X-review-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moto X - from also-ran to amazing in one year</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
<div>
No, it was because the Moto X smacked of pluck. You could customize it to hell and back. It tried to improve on stock Android with software features that were actually quite useful. And the icing on the cake? It was a pure joy to hold. Motorola -- a company that basically jump-started the premium Android phone movement with the Droid before getting lost in an endless loop of modest annual upgrades -- seemed to have a pulse again. So here we are, one year later, and the X has finally gotten an upgrade to match the rest of the mobile big boys. Is it enough to make the new X a winner? Is Motorola really back? Read on, dear friends, and we'll see.<br />
<br />
<b>PROS</b><br />
<br />
• Runs near-stock Android<br />
<br />
• Motorola's additional features are smart and useful<br />
<br />
• Snappy performance<br />
<br />
• Thoughtful, comfortable design<br />
<br />
• Lots of customization options<br />
<br />
<b>CONS</b><br />
<br />
• Cameras are average at best and frustrating at worst<br />
<br />
• Unremarkable battery life compared to rivals<br />
<br />
• Some carrier bloatware<br />
<br />
<b>SUMMARY</b><br />
<br />
The 2014 Moto X is a huge step forward from last year's model, and it's finally equipped to compete with a sea of strong competitors. With an impressive (not to mention customizable) design and some thoughtful software features, this is the flagship phone that Motorola should have made in the first place. </div>
</div>
</div>

Moto X review (2014): from also-ran to amazing in one year

Moto X review (2014): from also-ran to amazing in one year I'll be honest with you: When the first Moto X came out last year, some early apprehension soon gave way to unwavering fondness. It wasn't because of the sheer horsepower (there wasn't much of it) or a stunner of a screen (it was fine, at b…

03Oct2014

HP Envy X360 review: laptop 360 degrees is about flexibility, not power

<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue;">HP Envy X360 review: laptop 360 degrees is about flexibility, not power</span></h2>
<b>HP Envy X360 offers good multimedia features and flexible display options at a moderate price, but the performance and the battery life of it's trivial and MIA support 5GHz Wi-Fi will provide some buyers pause. </b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE3GmJujMlcdy-ZZOcK035FZmZMsRskuWPSRpzSt9qDm5u_QH4TecNNm23e_CCfGMdXUZqw-pIQeDOrsoJQZeTW9yGrQ0ni-WDSTt5Ysr2qV1Vy29JbsJPHEll3FId77dCbPC1YvaZTAV/s1600/HP-Envy-X360-pc-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="alt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQE3GmJujMlcdy-ZZOcK035FZmZMsRskuWPSRpzSt9qDm5u_QH4TecNNm23e_CCfGMdXUZqw-pIQeDOrsoJQZeTW9yGrQ0ni-WDSTt5Ysr2qV1Vy29JbsJPHEll3FId77dCbPC1YvaZTAV/s1600/HP-Envy-X360-pc-tech24h.blogspot.com.jpg" title="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HP Envy X360</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Like a laptop touch screen 15-inch affordable another class that we've seen of late, HP Envy X360 is too heavy and too slow to be a dream road warrior's machine. However, the handsome high-resolution displays and acrobatic 360-degree hinges on this $ 770 unit will appeal to multimedia fans. <br />
<br />
With a weight of about 5.3 pounds typical large numbers for a mainstream laptop with a hinge strong display of silver Envy 15.6-inch X360 lets you use it as a laptops standards; folded cap and balance units on two sides of a tent configuration; keyboard placed face down and keep the display facing you in your own configuration; screen or fold back completely to the back of the keyboard to create a tablet thick and bulky. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Widespread 1366x768 pixels on a 15.6-inch screen looks terrible. </td></tr>
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You will want to have the option to display a higher resolution that was included in our eval unit. Widespread 1366x768 pixels on a 15.6-inch screen looks terrible. <br />
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Options raise the price of this unit $ 90 higher than the starting price is $ 680 for the basic configuration. These extras include extra 2GB of RAM (bringing the total to 8GB) and from 1920 to 1080-point multi-touch display (compared to the 1366 x 768 resolution of the base unit). Other important components include an Intel Core i5-4210U mobile CPU and a 500GB hard drive spinning at 5400 rpm. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A slow hard drive hamper the performance of the X360 standard Envy</td></tr>
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Performance is about what we expected for the specs, which means they are not particularly impressive. The pokey hard drive combined with integrated graphics are responsible for the laptop's WorldBench score 9 points and 57 bad games. The display resolution can drag down the battery to a disappointing 3 hours and 15 minutes. <br />
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Other connectivity options Envy X2 is more impressive: three USB ports (two of them USB 3.0), HDMI, memory card reader, Gigabit Ethernet the foregoing, and a combined headphone / mic jack. Like many laptops, stereo speakers are located on the underside of the unit where it slopes upward toward the front edge. Rubber disk on the bottom to help keep a distance between the speaker and the work surface, so that does not sound overly muffled. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">X360's battery life is not very impressive, either. </td></tr>
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The keyboard is silver and rollers like case. The caps on the island-style keyboard spaced is reasonable, but flat, slippery, and a little mushy. As with most units of this size, you get a numeric keypad to the right of the QWERTY keyboard. However, the new HP touchpad controls Zone, providing both mechanical sensitivity and touch, unusually wide, which is really useful for large navigation screen. <br />
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Like all purpose laptops go, X360 Envy doing a pretty good job with multimedia, and general business users who can benefit from the display options it should have a look. But the absence of 5GHz Wi-Fi and a slow hard drive certain limitations. In the $ 770 price range of it, buyers can also find a balance units less troublesome.</div>

HP Envy X360 review: laptop 360 degrees is about flexibility, not power

HP Envy X360 review: laptop 360 degrees is about flexibility, not power HP Envy X360 offers good multimedia features and flexible display options at a moderate price, but the performance and the battery life of it's trivial and MIA support 5GHz Wi-Fi will provide some buyers pause. HP Envy X360 Li…

28Sep2014