| iOS 7 breaks roll out record as Android struggles to keep up Dec 6th 2013, 14:32, by John McCann 
There's a lot to love about iOS and Android, but one area where Apple clearly has the advantage is software updates, and this has been reinforced by the latest iOS 7 figures. Apple has confirmed that iOS 7 is now on 74% of Apple devices (which includes iPod Touches, iPhones and iPads), while 22% are still rocking iOS 6 and just 4% are on earlier software. This is a huge leap from October, when iOS 7 accounted for just 10% of iOS usage, although to be fair to Apple it only launched its latest software in September. These figures mean iOS 7 has set a new record as the fastest adopted software release in Apple's history, partly thanks to the limited range of products the Cupertino firm has on its books. Android ambushThese figures seem all the more impressive when you compare them against the highly fragmented Android ecosystem. Just 1.1% of Google devices currently lay claim to Android 4.4 KitKat, which launched a month later than iOS 7 at the end of October 2013. A whopping 54% are still rocking Jelly Bean, which itself is fragmented into three sections - Android 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3. 18.6% are stuck on Ice Cream Sandwich and an embarrassing 24.1% are languishing on Android 2.3 Gingerbread, which launched way back in 2010. Apple may not give you a huge range of products, and Android does offer some far more affordable options, but when it comes to software support iOS is still way out in front.        |  | Apple plans to bring Siri into our homes with always-listening smart dock Dec 6th 2013, 11:56, by Hugh Langley 
Siri could be moving into our homes full time, as Apple has plans for an always-listening smart dock. The dock, patented by Apple, is referred to as a device that is always listening to its surroundings so it can activate "a voice recognition mode of a portable electronic device." One of the headline features of the Moto X is that the phone is always listening, meaning you don't have to wake it up. It sounds like Apple's idea will work in a similar way, albeit through the smart dock and not the iPhone or iPad itself. Siri: activateAccording to the patent, the user will be able to assign a specific phrase or noise (such as a clap) to get the dock's attention when it's in listening mode. It'll then notify the device and activate Siri so you can have it do your bidding. The dock can also handily filter out ambient noise while still picking up your voice. This could be another patent filing that never sees the light of day, but it's yet more evidence that Apple has its sights sets on our living rooms. Hurry up with that iTV though, yeah?        | | Android torch app has been secretly telling advertisers where you are Dec 6th 2013, 11:52, by Kate Solomon 
An Android app called 'Brightest Flashlight' has admitted that it sneakily sent location and device ID data of its users to advertisers. The Brightest Flashlight app has been downloaded between 50m and 100m times since February 2011. The app makers have agreed to pay a settlement to the US's Federal Trade Commission after the app "left [consumers] in the dark about how their information was going to be used," according to Jessica Rich, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. Bright sparkThe FTC says it's worse than just selling on your data - the makers of the app "deceptively failed to disclose" that it would be using users' locations for its own gain. Even if app users chose the option to not share their information, the app shared it automatically - basically rendering the presentation of a privacy option completely pointless. As of the settlement, the app maker Goldenshore is required to delete any and all personal information it has gathered so far, to make their privacy policy clear and detailed, as well as needing you, the user, to expressly consent to your whereabouts being shared. Every time Goldenshore fails to do any of the above, it will be fined up to $16,000 (around £10,000 or AU$17,660) a pop.        | | Blip: Another great decision BlackBerry made was to turn down Justin Bieber Dec 6th 2013, 10:04, by Kate Solomon 
"Give me £200,000 and 20 phones, and I'll be yours," Bieber told RIM back in 2007 when he was just a YouTube star and not quite yet JUSTIN BIEBER, Lord of the Beliebers, friend of Usher and wearer of weird pants. Vincent Washington, then senior business manager, explained to Business Week what happened in typical RIM style: "We pitched that to marketing: here's a Canadian kid, he grew up here, all the teeny boppers will love that. "They basically threw us out of the room. They said, "This kid is a fad, he's not going to last." I said at the meeting, "This kid might outlive RIM." Everyone laughed." RIM, incidentally, is what BlackBerry used to be called before it ditched its name, ditched three CEOs and commenced its death rattle. Ah, poetry. More blipsIf you were like blips, blips, blips oh, you thought they'd always be yours - good news! They will.        | | Exclusive: We get our hands on the Gold HTC One you can actually buy Dec 6th 2013, 09:30, by John McCann 
Opinion is split in the TechRadar office when it comes to gold phones, some of us reckon they look stunning, while others are less than impressed at the shameless attempt by manufacturers to bling up their mobiles. Fact of the matter is gold phones are in, with the likes of the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4 getting in on the act, while HTC has launched not one, but two gold variants of its excellent HTC One flagship. While the solid 18ct gold HTC One cost £2,750 (around $4,400, AU$4,700) and was limited to a run of just five, this gold coloured (not actual gold) variant can be yours at the standard cost of the handset. The folks over at Phones4U have sent one over to us, and here's what it looks like. 
The gold finish on the front and rear of the handset is broken up by a black band which runs round the edge of the HTC One, engulfing the volume rocker and power/lock key in its darkness. The etched Beats Audio logo on the rear of the handset is a nice touch and we greatly enjoyed running our fingers across it. 
Gold phones run the risk of looking tacky, but we reckon HTC has done a good job on this One and it certainly lands on the side of tasteful rather than tasteless. On screen it's the same Sense covered Android experience you get on the stock HTC One, although a special gold theme would have been a nice option to have. Unfortunately for those of you in the US and Australia, there's still no plans to release this version outside of Europe. 
       | | Asus is set to launch the 4.3-inch PadFone mini next week Dec 6th 2013, 06:43, by Farrha Khan -470-75.JPG)
While most companies are wrapping up and preparing for the holiday season, Asus looks to be busy getting ready to launch the PadFone mini next week on December 11. Invites have gone out for a media event in Taipei, Taiwan, while a listing on the Global Certificate Forum (GCF) has also popped up. The launch falls in line with Asus CEO Jerry Shen's comments back in September when Asus confirmed that it had been working on the PadFone mini, which we believe will be a miniature version of the smartphone/tablet hybrid PadFone Infinity. What's in a mini?Not too much is revealed in the GCF listing, but the PadFone mini is expected to sport a 7-inch tablet coupled with a 4.3-inch smartphone via a docking station, unlike the Infinity's 10-inch tablet and 5-inch smartphone . The listing does however indicate that the mini only has 3G, though it's strange to think that Asus would forego 4G. Of course, an entirely different model could be announced by Asus next week. There's also no information yet on how much it'll cost or which markets it will head to. Either way, all will be revealed on December 11. Via: Engadget        | | Another Samsung handset leaks, and this time it's packing Windows Phone Dec 5th 2013, 23:38, by Michael Rougeau 
It wasn't so long ago (literally yesterday) that a Samsung phone that may be the Galaxy S5 leaked, and now a new Samsung Windows Phone handset may have followed suit. A listing for an unnamed and unknown smartphone has appeared on the Indian site Zauba.com. The model number, SM-W750V, suggests that it's a Windows Phone, and the listing states it has a 5-inch display. Based on the price per unit listed on the site (33,245 rupee), the possible new Samsung Windows Phone handset will cost around $540 (£330, AU$593). Definitely not for saleThe listing for the new phone describes two shipments, one with 25 units and the other with two. The site says the phones were sent for the purposes of testing, evaluation, and R&D. At that price this seems likely to be a high-end device comparable to Samsung's other handsets, though we can't say for sure. Samsung hasn't announced any new Windows Phone smartphones, but that doesn't mean there aren't any in the works. We've asked the company whether it has anything to share, and we'll update here if we hear back. Tinkering with TizenThe company has become more well known for its popular Android phones like the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2, but it has Windows Phone devices like the Ativ S under its belt as well. And given the Korean company's efforts with the open source OS Tizen, it's clear that it doesn't want to get bogged down doing just Android phones forever. Samsung has so far put Tizen in a camera and a refrigerator, and announced plans for Tizen-powered TVs. But Tizen phones aren't expected to begin arriving until 2014.        | | Is Spotify planning to free mobile music from the shackles of Premium subs? Dec 5th 2013, 22:57, by Chris Smith 
Currently, those wishing to listen to Spotify on their mobile devices must fork over a monthly subscription fee or settle for customisable radio stations, but that may be about to change. The Wall Street Journal brings word from "people familiar the plans" that Spotify will offer limited, ad-supported free streaming through mobile apps, as it does on the web and through desktop clients. According to the report, three major record labels have already signed off on the idea by agreeing to new licensing deals. Aside from that, details are thin on the ground at present, but it's entirely possible. If the report turns out to be credible, Spotify could announce the feature next week at a media event in New York City. Mates rates?Elsewhere, it hasn't been the best week for Spotify PR-wise thanks to its welcomed but potentially ill-advised scheme to bring some much-needed transparency when it comes to artist payments. The company said it had paid $1 billion (around £612m, AU$1.1bn) to artists, which translates to as little as $0.006 per play. At that rate, a song needs to be played 166 times before the artist makes a buck. It's great for Lady Gaga and Katy Perry who's songs get millions of plays. At the time of writing, the latter's Roar, which has been played over 65 million times on Spotify would have made her $392,643. For the emerging artist who's play count is in the hundreds or thousands? Well they might be able to buy a 6-pack and a pizza for their troubles.        | | Nexus 5 camera gets a much needed boost with the Android 4.4.1 update Dec 5th 2013, 19:25, by klee 
The Nexus 5 is a great smartphone in many ways ... except for that camera. After languishing with a rather lagging snapper, the Nexus 5 is finally getting a camera boost with the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update. Available over the air now, the latest Android update is geared towards fixing and enhancing the Nexus 5's picture-taking capabilities. Google's Director of Engineering for Android David Burke told The Verge that the Nexus 5 shutterbugs should expect a faster snapper overall. Burke explained that before the update, the camera would create images focused on better quality over speed. Android 4.4.1 makes it so the camera fires frames at faster shutter speeds while not relying on optical image stabilization as it does now. Post-update, the Nexus 5 camera will shoot images at faster shutter speeds, producing pictures with less motion blur. This comes with the tradeoff of more pixel noise because the camera is probably bumping up the ISO sensitivity to do this. Burke says his team has also improved the camera's autofocus, the exposure and the white balance, all aimed at enhancing image quality. Snappier
On top of improving image quality, the camera app is said to launch a full second faster. Default camera app users will also notice a new progress indicator for HDR+ mode that indicates how far along processing photos are. One extra, non-camera related thing the 4.4.1 update fixes on the Nexus 5 is the face unlock bug. Currently facial recognition sometimes causes a bug that locks the camera app with a blank white screen, which requires a full device reboot to fix. 9to5Google also spotted the Android 4.4.1 KitKat update is destined for the Nexus 4 and Nexus 7 as well.        | | AT&T Mobile Share Value serves up savings for off-contract customers Dec 5th 2013, 18:03, by JR Bookwalter 
Thinking about jumping ship when your AT&T contract is up? Starting Sunday, the carrier is dangling a discount to smartphone customers who stay put, without the need for a new contract. AT&T has announced new Mobile Share Value plans that promise a savings of $15 per month for each smartphone line, which automatically kicks in once an existing contract is up. Starting December 8 (PDF link), new and existing customers can choose from "No Annual Service Contract" smartphone plans starting at $45 per month with unlimited talk and text plus 300MB of data. Additional handsets can be added for $25 per month instead of $40 per month for hardware subsidized by the carrier. AT&T Next will also see a change this Sunday making it cheaper for customers with up to four smartphones to extend their payments over 26 months, with the option to upgrade to a new device after only 18 months. Truly a value?With messy two-year agreements out of the way, the best method of weighing the savings of AT&T's Mobile Share Value plans is a direct comparison with T-Mobile, a carrier with Simple Choice plans that already offer such benefits. AT&T's single-device smartphone plan offers unlimited talk and text with 300MB of data per month for $45; T-Mobile's competing plan is $5 more per month, but serves up 500MB of data every 30 days. T-Mobile also comes out a bit cheaper for families with three smartphone lines, where 2.5GB of data for each is only $100 per month, compared with AT&T's 2GB of shared data at $130. While there's little chance that AT&T will ever directly match T-Mobile's aggressive pricing, its new Mobile Share Value plans show that the old-school subsidy wall is gradually coming down, brick by brick.   | |
No comments:
Post a Comment