| Twitter adds another layer of security to keep out the government snoops Nov 23rd 2013, 14:14, by Chris Smith 
Twitter has joined the likes of Google and Facebook, by implementing "forward secrecy," a security tool that will aid the effort to keep out government agencies like the NSA and and GCHQ. The social network says the added layer of security will prevent data intercepted by what it calls 'adversaries' (i.e. the governments) being decrypted. Previously, unwanted parties who intercepted this user data could interpret it if they were also able to get hold of the master key a website uses to decrypt the data. Forward Secrecy isn't a new tech, but has been rarely implemented until recently. It gives that master key a huge security boost by creating random session keys that don't travel across the network. Protecting voicesTwitter's use of Forward Secrecy comes after Google's implementation in 2011 and Facebook's in June of this year, following the Edward Snowden revelations. "Security is an ever-changing world. Our work on deploying forward secrecy is just the latest way in which Twitter is trying to defend and protect the user's voice in that world," the company wrote on its official blog.        |  | Instagram to become IM-stagram with new instant messaging feature? Nov 22nd 2013, 23:13, by Chris Smith 
Instagram has become a household name thanks to its filter-friendly photo and video sharing tools, but the Facebook-owned company reportedly has no plans to stop there. Sources within the company have told Gigaom that the next version of the app will feature a private instant messaging feature that will allow users to converse beyond the current commenting mechanism. The feature is likely to be integrated into an update before the end of the year, according to the "well-placed sources," and could even enable group messaging, which the site has reportedly experimented with. Integrating messaging could give the photo sharing network a shot at competing with apps like Snapchat, which are proving popular with the younger sectors of Instagram's audience. The Snapchat effectIndeed, Facebook itself reportedly attempted to buy Snapchat for $3 billion recently amid a significant surge in its popularity, so may be operating under a 'If you can't beat of buy 'em, join 'em' strategy. An Instagram spokesperson declined to comment on the report. Is instant messaging to 2013 what filtered photos were to 2013? Would you welcome IM within Instagram? Let us know in the comments section below.        | | Galaxy S5 metal frame leaks suggest sturdier smartphone, bigger screen Nov 22nd 2013, 20:20, by klee 
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has been leaked so often and regularly at this point that we've already developed a pretty good idea of what it's going to look like on the outside. Now new photos have surfaced purportedly showing what the next Galaxy is rocking on the inside. The latest leaks comes by way of Nowhereelse.fr. The French tech site alleges the Galaxy S5 will come with a metal interior frame for some much needed rigidity after a line of Samsung phones classically known for their chintzy, all-plastic bodies. Rockin' bodyBased on the frame's measurements - 143.8mm (5.6 inches) tall and 72.2mm (2.8 inches) wide - the new Galaxy S5 could very well feature a larger screen than the Galaxy S4's 5-inch display. Compared to the Galaxy S4's dimensions, 136.6 x 69.8mm (5.38 x 2.75 inches), the new metal frame is slightly longer. This could mean the Galaxy S5 will have a widescreen aspect ratio display. The images of this completely straight metal frame don't match up with our renderings of a bending Galaxy S5, but it gels with our theory about it having metal accents. What we know so farThe new shots are also just the latest in a long string of Galaxy S5 leaks and rumors. We've heard unsubstantiated reports that the S5 will have an eye scanner as well as a 16-megapixel camera to watch you. Inside, the smartphone could also come packing one of the very first 64-bit chips for an Android system. On top of that, the Galaxy S5 supposedly will come with a 560ppi display as well. Again, we're going take all of these specs with a grain of salt until we get more definite proof, but the rumors are certainly swirling for Samsung's next handset. We may even see it as soon as CES 2014, so the days until the Galaxy S5's release may be waning.        | | Motorola locks down 3D printing partner in quest to build modular smartphones Nov 22nd 2013, 19:06, by klee 
Motorola's Project Ara dream to create a completely modular phone out of interchangeable modules is speeding towards becoming a reality. The Google-owned phone company has announced it's partnering with 3D Systems, a manufacturer of 3D printers, to help turn its Ara concept into real-life handsets. For a quick refresher, Project Ara aims to develop highly customizable, modular smartphones that users can modify to change its look and even upgrade its parts. Instead of buying a whole new phone, upgraders could just attach more RAM or a new camera onto the phone's mainframe, called an endoskeleton. It might sound like a far flung idea but Motorola and 3D Systems teamed up with a multi-year development agreement to create a continuous high-speed 3D printing production platform to build modular smartphones. Beating a similar drum to the customizability of the Moto X, 3D Systems CEO Avi Reichental said in a statement, "Project Ara was conceived to build a platform that empowers consumers all over the world with customization for a product made by and for the individual." For real?If 3D Systems is successful in building a manufacturing platform for Project Ara, it could start producing smartphone enclosures and modules as "Motorola's exclusive fulfillment partner." 3D printing might be the key to Motorola's plan of producing customizable and low-price smartphones like the Moto G. 
The system actually working is a major big "if" that's still to be seen. Motorola revealed that there's been a team working on Project Ara for over a year already. The Moto X maker has invited developers to start building their own modules in an effort to come up with an alpha version of the dev kit planned for a launch this winter. The major problem of creating a modular phone is it means each phone component needs its own enclosure and a set of contact pins to connect with the endoskeleton. A modular phone might be upgradable for years to come, but all that added bulk could make even small-screened phone as hefty as the HTC One Max.        | | Sony still snooping whether to upgrade older Xperias to Android 4.4 Nov 22nd 2013, 18:11, by JR Bookwalter 
Those with newer Sony Xperia devices can already rest easy knowing the latest version of Android is on the way, but the manufacturer is decidedly less certain about the fate of several older models. Xperia Blog reported this week that Sony Xperia SP owners now appear to be a lock for Android 4.4 KitKat, with a support page suggesting the handset will receive the update with a "future version" yet to be announced. A number of other Xperia devices are simply listed as "under investigation" for a possible KitKat update, suggesting Sony hasn't quite made up its mind about which will receive the new Android OS. KitKat dreamsEarlier this month, Sony did confirm five models guaranteed to receive KitKat in early 2014, specifically the Xperia Z, Xperia ZL, Xperia Tablet Z, Xperia Z Ultra and the coveted Xperia Z1. The unlucky devices whose KitKat fate remains as yet unknown include the Xperia T, Xperia TX, Xperia V and Xperia ZR, all of which are presumably being vetted internally to determine their viability for the latest and greatest version of Android. While those models are already on deck for a Jelly Bean update next month, Sony doesn't seem in any particular hurry to bless such relative old-timers with the KitKat brush quite yet. But don't get cocky quite yet, Xperia SP owners - Sony remains mum about exactly when KitKat could arrive on your devices, and we're guessing it will be later rather than sooner.        | | Apple finds missing iWork features, returns them to the App Store Nov 22nd 2013, 16:43, by Kane Fulton 
Apple has returned some 'missing' features to its iWork suite of productivity apps. The Cupertino-based company was recently criticized for removing a number of much-loved (see: actually useful) features from the Mac version, including the DIY toolbar, page headers and footers and keyboard shortcuts. Naturally, the pitchforks came out, and Apple pre-announced their return, along with an explanation that the apps were entirely rewritten from the bottom up "to be fully 64-bit and to support a unified file format between OS X and iOS 7 versions, as well as iWork for iCloud beta." Now, the first few features have made a welcome, if fairly underwhelming reappearance. Toolbar returnThe main addition to the OS X version of Pages, Keynote and Numbers is the ability to customize the DIY toolbar. Additionally, Pages has introduced the ability to turn center and edge guides on by default, and Numbers now preserves windows size and placement upon save. Keynote on both OS X and iOS has received a handful of new transitions, including Blinds, Color Panes, Confetti, Fall, Perspective, Pivot, Scale Big and Swoosh. But the excitement doesn't stop there - oh no - as both the iOS and OS X versions of Pages, Keynote, Numbers, iMovie and iPhoto have also brought stability improvements and bug fixes. Don't rush to the App Store all at once, now.        | | HTC One Max lumbers onto Verizon, ready for lugging right now Nov 21st 2013, 18:56, by Kevin Lee 
Following the HTC One Max's move to Sprint just a few days ago, the oversized smartphone is now on its way to Verizon. Starting today, customers can snap up HTC's phablet for $299.99. Of course the introductory price is reserved for those who sign up for a new two-year contract or as an upgrade through Verizon Edge. The HTC One Max is a big honking handset that will stretch users' mitts with its 5.9-inch screen. Underneath the giant plate of glass there's a 1.7GHz quad-core processor with 2GB of memory. It also packs 32GB of storage that can be further expanded to 64GB with microSD. The phone comes with the still-rare feature of a built-in fingerprint scanner, which unlike the iPhone 5S is positioned on the back. The HTC One Max runs on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with some HTC Sense 5.5 visual flair. Verizon subscribers that pick up this oversized smartphone can also take make use of it as a digital wallet as it comes Isis-ready. In a big phone worldThe HTC One Max is large, which may be great for some, but carrying the most beastly phablet on Verizon isn't for everyone. Those who want something slightly (and we mean slightly) smaller should look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, which has a 0.2-inch tinier screen. On the still larger-screen scale, there's the LG G2 and Droid Maxx to consider. Of course, you could always stick with a more reasonably sized phone like the Moto X, but if big is your gig, the above gadgets should fill out your paws nicely.   | | Android 4.4 is making its way to Nexus 4, Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 Nov 20th 2013, 22:26, by Lily Prasuethsut 
You can already find Android 4.4 KitKat on the Moto X if you have Verizon, but it sure seems to be taking its sweet time arriving on other Android devices, notably other Nexus' beyond the Nexus 5. Despite dragging its feet, the OS update is slowly but surely making the rounds, even reportedly popping up on the Nexus 4 today. Over-the-air updates have already started heading to the new Nexus 7, original Nexus 7 and Nexus 10 tablets on November 12. Factory images from the Google Dev site are available now showing Android 4.4 on pretty much all of these devices, meaning it's only a matter of time until your Nexus-whatever finally gets updated OTA. HTC gets KitKat too, but with a caveatRemember when Google said other devices would get KitKat "in the coming weeks?" Well, the HTC One is definitely not one of those phones. Instead, it will see an update towards the tail-end of January. As in you won't get KitKat until 2014. Sorry. The HTC Twitter account did say you should be getting Sense 5.5 too, and it seems like all HTC One carriers will be included in the update, if that makes you feel any better.   | |
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