Texan lady claims iPod exploded in her face, sues Apple

March 1st, 2013, 17:10 Posted By: wraggster

An iPod Touch user from Texas is set to sue Apple after claiming her device blew up in her face whilst laying in bed.
Within a complaint filed with the US Direct Court for the Eastern District of Texas, the victim details her unfortunate experience with the explosive device.
The Plaintiff maintains that on February 22nd whilst using the device to listen to music, she felt a burning sensation on her eye and immediately discovered that the device had exploded and burnt her eye.
If true, this wouldn't be the first known case of an iPod "suddenly and without warning" exploding, whilst "sending electrical shock causing injury to the eye," after a previous case saw Apple sued for $225,000 for a similar incident.
There has yet to be any word on how exactly the iPod device would be capable of transmitting an electric shock to the victim's eye.
Still, the victim claims that as a result of her injury, she has faced medical bills with an "amount in excess of $600," whilst continuing to "suffer both physical and mental conditions which will cause her to suffer pain, mental distress, emotional distress, and otherwise for the rest of her life."
So bad was the incident, that the victim claims she also now suffers "loss of enjoyment of the usual activities of daily life."
iPod users beware, it would appear that in addition to allow users to enjoy their favourite music and apps, the humble device can now add 'transmission of an electrical shock directly into the user's eye' as a feature. Shocking.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...er-face/030389

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75 per cent of lost, damaged and stolen mobiles uninsured

March 1st, 2013, 17:15 Posted By: wraggster

Are you one of the UK's more feckless mobile consumers?
The ever-accelerating development of mobile capabilities over recent years has seen our handsets play an absolutely crucial role in our day-to-day lives. Yet, despite being so firmly attached to our handsets, it seems that many of us are still willing to forgo insuring our devices for the sake of a few extra pounds each month.
A recent poll by mobile phone insurance site MobileInsurance.co.uk saw 2,467 UK adults participate in a study that delved into their experiences when it came to having their devices stolen, lost or broken.
81 per cent of respondents stated that they had indeed had a phone lost, stolen or broken, yet a whopping 74 per cent of these were not insured at the time.
When asked why they had failed to insure their phone, 21 per cent said that they thought if their device was damaged or lost that it would be covered under warranty.
42 per cent said that they ‘hadn’t got round’ to getting insurance, while 17 per cent merely assumed they wouldn’t need it.
Each of the respondents who had experienced their mobile phone becoming lost, stolen or damaged whilst the handset in question was uninsured, was asked how much money, if any, they had been required to spend afterwards to resolve the issue. The average answer was around £145.00, when taking into account the amounts stated for replacement phones and repairs.
Jason Brockman, director at MobileInsurance.co.uk, said: “It’s still unbelievable to think that the majority of mobile phones out there continue to go uninsured. I’m sure plenty of people would agree that it’d be hard to imagine life without our handsets these days; it’s hard to think back to a time when not everyone had a phone that could connect to the internet, take high quality photos and much, much more.

“This poll has shown that if, like the majority of people, you risk not getting an insurance policy for your handset, you could end up hundreds of pounds out of pocket if something goes wrong. Hopefully, of course, nothing will go wrong – but the fact that 81 per cent had experienced a lost, stolen or broken phone at some point doesn’t bode well for anyone else.”

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...insured/020752

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Microsoft brings Photosynth to Windows Phone 8

March 1st, 2013, 21:40 Posted By: wraggster

It certainly took a little longer than Photosynth fanatics had hoped, but Microsoft's highly-rated application is available onWindows Phone 8 at long last. Just as we'd heard, Photosynth will seamlessly integrate with the WP8 Lens, allowing users to easily launch the panorama features without having to leave the main shooting interface. In addition, Microsoft gave the app a couple more boosts, including the ability to quickly adjust to different lighting scenarios thanks to more white balance and exposure locking controls, as well as making it easier to view Photosynths your dear friends would like you to see via Twitter, Facebook or email. Eager to give it a go? Then look no further than the source link to see what the Mango crowd has been enjoying for months.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/m...ndows-phone-8/

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First BB10 update addresses battery life, low-light photography

March 1st, 2013, 21:42 Posted By: wraggster

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Apple's Lightning-to-HDMI Dongle Secretly Packed With ARM, Airplay

March 2nd, 2013, 23:11 Posted By: wraggster

After noticing artifacts and a 1600 × 900 image in the output from Apple's new Lightning Digital AV Adapter, the Panic Blog sawed it open and found an ARM chip inside. They suspect that video bypasses the cable entirely and instead uses Airplay to stream three inches to make up for the Lightning connector's shortcomings.

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...th-arm-airplay

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Among Servers, Apple's Mac Mini Quietly Gains Ground

March 2nd, 2013, 23:18 Posted By: wraggster

In 2005, the first business to offer colocated Mac Minis inside a data center made its debut, provoking criticism on Slashdot of everything from how the Mini was cooled to the underlying business model. But nowadays, more than half a dozen facilities are either hosting their own Mac Minis for rent, or offering colocation services for individual consumers and businesses. While some vendors declined to give out reliability information, those who did claimed a surprisingly small number of failures. 'If Dell makes a small little machine, you don't know that they'll be making that, in that form factor, six months down the road, or what they're going to do, or how they're going to refresh it,' Jon Schwenn, a network engineer for CyberLynk Networks (which owns Macminivault) said in an interview. 'We've had three model years of Minis that have stayed externally, physically identical.' Customers are using Minis for all sorts of things: providing Mail, iCal, and the Websites for small businesses; databases, like Filemaker or Daylite; as a VPN server for those who want an IP address in the United States; build servers for Xcode; and general personal servers for Plex media streaming and other fun projects. Some are even using it for Windows

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...y-gains-ground

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Apple's $1B Patent Award From Samsung Gets Cut By $450M

March 2nd, 2013, 23:20 Posted By: wraggster

New submitter charlesj68 writes with news that U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh has cut Apple's $1.05 billion patent infringement award from Samsung down by $450.5 million. She also said Samsung deserves a new trial over claims related to some of its smartphones."Koh rejected Apple’s request to enhance the jury’s award, saying the amount Samsung owed was heavily disputed and the jury wasn’t bound to accept either side’s damages estimate. 'It is not the proper role of the court to second-guess the jury’s factual determination as to the proper amount of compensation,' Koh said in her ruling. Apple is entitled to additional damages for sales of infringing products that weren’t considered by the jury, Koh ruled, saying she intends to calculate the amount beginning on Aug. 25, the day after the jury reached its verdict. As the case has been appealed, Koh said she would delay considering evidence of actual post-verdict sales and pre-judgment interest until the appeals are completed.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...ts-cut-by-450m

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Laser Etching an iPhone 5

March 2nd, 2013, 23:23 Posted By: wraggster


CrashBangLabs in Regina recently got their hands on a laser cutter. The Full Spectrum cutter was donated by a local company, who were upgrading to a larger machine.
With no laser cutting experience, [Brett] decided that his first project would be laser engraving his iPhone 5. This is a bit of an ambitious first project, since the power and speed would have to be set correctly to get a good contrast level, and you only have one try to get it right. Also, using too much power might have turn the phone into a laser etched brick.
[Brett] used an older aluminium iPod for testing. Once the laser speed and power was dialed in, he loaded up the artwork for the real thing. The cutter did a pretty good job at etching the art, but as the etching started it became clear that an alignment error had occurred. Fortunately [Brett] decided to not interrupt the cutter, and ended up with a good looking phone, with a slight alignment issue.
After the break, check out a time lapse of the laser cutter doing its thing.

http://hackaday.com/2013/03/02/laser...g-an-iphone-5/

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PwnPad, the pentesting tablet

March 2nd, 2013, 23:25 Posted By: wraggster


Over the last few months, we’ve seen our fair share of pentesting appliances. Whether they’re in the form of a Raspberry Pi with a custom distro, or an innocuous looking Internet-connected wall wart, they’re all great tools for investigating potential security vulnerabilites at home, in the workplace, or in someone else’s workplace. Pwnie Express, manufacturers of pentesting equipment, are now releasing one of the best looking and potentially most useful piece of pentesting equipment we’ve ever seen. It’s called the PwnPad, and it allows you to get your pentesting on while still looking stylish.
Based on Google’s Nexus 7 tablet, the PwnPad combines all the goodies of a really great tablet – the ability to read NFC tags and multiband radios – with open source tools and a USB OTG cable with USB Ethernet, Bluetooth, and WiFi adapters. Everything in the PwnPad is designed for maximum utility for pentesting applications.
Of course, for those of us that already have a $200 Nexus 7, Pwnie Express says they’ll be giving away the source for their software, enabling anyone with knowledge of make to have the same functionality of the PwnPad. Of course you’ll need to get yourself a USB OTG cable and the WiFi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet adapters, but that should only add up to about $100; combined with a $200 Nexus 7, building your own is more than just a bit cheaper than Pwnie Express’ asking pre-order price of $795.

http://hackaday.com/2013/03/01/pwnpa...esting-tablet/

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Android 4.2.2 binaries arrive for AOSP-supported Nexus devices

March 2nd, 2013, 23:27 Posted By: wraggster

Google has just provided a veritable boon to Android devs and custom ROM makers. The Mountain View company has recently uploaded the latest Android 4.2.2 binaries to the Nexus device download page for all AOSP-supported Nexus gear: theNexus 4, the Nexus 7 WiFi, the Nexus 7 3G, the Nexus 10, theglobal version of the Galaxy Nexus and its Verizon equivalent.This also means that the AOSP (Android Open Source Projectbinaries) finally exist for the Nexus 7 3G and the Nexus 4, which had been missing from previous updates. If you've been on the hunt for the latest and greatest drivers for your wares, go ahead and download the binary of your choice from the source below and get to updating it before a certain green pie update comes along.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/01/a...ries-download/

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Samsung teases Galaxy S4 smartphone

March 4th, 2013, 18:48 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung has hinted towards its rumoured Galaxy S4 smartphone in a newly posted video, which teases the firm's upcoming Unpacked event later this month.
Viewers are introduced to a young boy named Jeremy, which the firm labels as the "secret messenger" for the upcoming Unpacked event, set to be held in New York City.
In the video, Jeremy looks inside a box, which appears to contain the Galaxy S4 device. In a Charlie and the Chocolate factory-esque moment, the boy runs home with the box, which ends with a simple "to be continued".
The world's leading phone maker sent out invites for the Unpacked event last month, is highly likely to showcase the new device given its tagline of "Be Ready 4 the Next Galaxy."
Rumours surrounding the Galaxy S4 have been circulating for a while now, particularly ahead of this month's Unpacked event.
The new device is reportedly set to contain a 4.99-inch display and eight-core Exynos processor, along with 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel rear camera with 1080p video compatibility. It is also expected to run Android's latest 4.2.2 Jelly Bean operating system.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...laxy-s4/030405

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Japanese government: 'Don't use Google Play'

March 4th, 2013, 18:49 Posted By: wraggster

Japan is warning its Android users to avoid Google Play and download their apps from third party operator-run stores instead.
The warning comes after a prolific info-stealing app was discovered on Google’s official Play site.
Tokyo’s Information Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) alerted Android users last week of an app named ‘sexy porn model wallpaper’, which had already been downloaded 500,000 times from Google Play before it was removed.
The app requests user permission to access location details, email address and terminal information, which it then sends over to a third part server while distracting you with sexy girls.
The government-backed body has now warned users off Google Play and is urging them to visit app stores run by mobile operators such as KDDI’s ‘au Smart Path’, Docomo’s ‘D Market’ and ‘Softbank’s ‘Yahoo! Market’. “In these markets, operators carry their own checks of the app,” said IPA.
This is not great news for Google, who recently responded to previous security criticism by launching an app verification service for its Play store.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...le-play/030399

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Film studios declare war on Google Play over pirate apps

March 4th, 2013, 22:13 Posted By: wraggster

Warner Bros screams 'you shall not pass,' as fake Hobbit wallpaper hits Android.
Hollywood movie studios Warner Bros, Disney, Marvel, Sony, and Paramount are among those affected by copyright infringement on Google Play, as third party developers unlawfully produce film apps without securing authorisation.
Indeed, Reuters reports that WB recently issued Google with a 'take down' notice after realising a developer launched an unofficial Hobbit 3D Wallpaper HD app, which featured images from the film, on Google Play.
Other pirate film apps include Clash of the Titans, Spider-Man and Green Lantern, while TV shows Glee and Gossip Girl have been infringed too.
Reggie Pierce, CEO of IP Lasso, which monitors brands on mobile apps, said: "We have spoken with studios that represent several of the properties and they are actively monitoring unlicensed mobile apps.
"With the rise of the second screen comes a new band of villains who pose a serious threat to the entertainment industry's move to mobile. Consumers have been led to believe if an app is available through iTunes or Google Play, then it must be safe."
Movie apps are a big business and recent developments have seen DreamWorks enlist Rovio to produce The Croods mobile game, while Gameloft has been selected for Despicable Me 2 by Universal.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...te-apps/020768

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Smartphone shipments to outstrip feature phones in 2013

March 4th, 2013, 22:13 Posted By: wraggster

First time such an occurrence has happened in the mobile phone market on an annual basis.
Smartphone shipments are expected to outship feature phone shipments for the first time ever on an annual basis in 2013, according to market analyst IDC.
The firm predicts that vendors will ship 918.6 million smartphones this year, equating to 50.1 per cent of the total number of global mobile phone shipments.
Furthermore, by the end of 2017, IDC forecasts 1.5 billion smartphones will be shipped worldwide, accounting just over two-thirds of the total mobile phone forecast for the year.
China is set to remain the world's largest market for smartphones; specifically low-cost handsets based on the Android operating system. “While we don't expect China's smartphone growth to maintain the pace of a runaway train as it has over the last two years, there continue to be big drivers to keep the market growing as it leads the way to ever-lower smartphone prices and the country's transition to 4G networks is only just beginning," said Melissa Chau, senior research manager, IDC Asia/Pacific. "Even as China starts to mature, there remains enormous untapped potential in other emerging markets like India, where we expect less than half of all phones shipped there to be smartphones by 2017, and yet it will weigh in as the world's third largest market."
Elsewhere, Brazil is another key market where smartphone growth is expected to remain high over the course of the forecast, as its economic circumstance improves. "Brazilians have yet to turn in their feature phones for smartphones on a wholesale basis," said Bruno Freitas, Consumer Devices Research Manager, IDC Brazil. "The smartphone tide is turning in Brazil though, as wireless service providers and the government have laid the ground work for a strong smartphone foundation that mobile phone manufacturers can build upon."
With smartphone users now accounting for the majority of all mobile phone users in the US, IDC expects slower growth in the coming years. Similarly, the UK’s smartphone market has slowed in recent quarters as penetration has risen and economic growth has failed to gather significant pace.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...in-2013/020771

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White House Urges Reversal of Ban On Cell-Phone Unlocking

March 4th, 2013, 22:15 Posted By: wraggster

"In a dramatic call for action directly prompted by 114,000 signatures on a 'We the People' petition, the Obama Administration moments ago urged the reversal of a federal regulatory decision that had rendered the act of unlocking a cell phone illegal. From the reply: 'The White House agrees with the 114,000+ of you who believe that consumers should be able to unlock their cell phones without risking criminal or other penalties. In fact, we believe the same principle should also apply to tablets, which are increasingly similar to smart phones. And if you have paid for your mobile device, and aren't bound by a service agreement or other obligation, you should be able to use it on another network. It's common sense, crucial for protecting consumer choice, and important for ensuring we continue to have the vibrant, competitive wireless market that delivers innovative products and solid service to meet consumers' needs.' Statements from the FCC and Library of Congress indicate that they back the administration's position.

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/03/...hone-unlocking

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Apple's iWatch Could Come With IOS, Earn $6 Billion a Year

March 4th, 2013, 22:16 Posted By: wraggster

Apple's long-rumored "iWatch" could earn the company $6 billion a year, if an analyst quoted by Bloomberg proves correct.Citigroup analyst Oliver Chen estimated the global watch industry's annual revenue at $60 billion a year, with gross margins of roughly 60 percent. "This can be a $6 billion opportunity for Apple, with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod," he told the newswire, "something consumers didn't even know they needed." Meanwhile,The Verge reports that Apple has "chosen to rework the full iOS to run on the watch instead of building up the iPod nano's proprietary touch operating system," which has led to battery issues: while Apple would like the device to last "at least 4-5 days" between charges, the current prototypes give somewhat less. While an "Apple TV" long dominated the rumor mill as Apple's next big product, the frequency and detail of "iWatch" rumors over the past few weeks suggests that a timepiece could be the company's next big project.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...billion-a-year

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Samsung's zero-commission app portal for indie developers goes live

March 4th, 2013, 23:33 Posted By: wraggster

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Google Chrome receives minor updates across Windows, Linux, Android and iOS

March 4th, 2013, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster

There you were, using that old and busted version of Google Chrome on your Windows or Linux-based PC, iOS or Android device, when Google decided to hook you up with an update, thus validating your previous assertion about Chrome's old and busted-ness. "Hot dog!" you thought, "The Googleplex wants to give me more free stuff!" But what free stuff will you get? Chrome on iOS is moving to the big two five, adding long-press to the back button for exploring your recent history and a handful of other tweaks; its Android cousin is optimizing scrolling for your super fast fingas fingers. On the full computer side of things, both Windows and Linux are getting 25.0.1364.152, which adds the less thrilling "security and stability improvements along with a number of bug fixes." Now that you've got that new hotness, you're feeling pretty good, right? The future! We're in it!

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/04/g...id-march-2013/

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Galaxy Note II vulnerability lets attackers (briefly) access home screen apps

March 4th, 2013, 23:38 Posted By: wraggster

A security flaw discovered by Terence Eden on the Galaxy Note II with Android 4.1.2 may make that device less secure than you think when it's locked by a code or other method. He discovered that the homescreen can be accessed, albeit it just for a split second, by pressing the "Emergency Call" icon, then the ICE button and finally pressing the physical home key for several seconds. While brief, it's still enough time to click on any of your homescreen apps, which normally wouldn't present a problem since access goes away when the home page disappears again. However, if one of your apps is a "direct dial" widget, for instance, a call can actually be placed by a hacker, and many other programs that perform an action at launch could also leave the device vulnerable. We've confirmed the flaw on our own handsets and the individual who discovered it says that after reporting it five days ago, Samsung has yet to respond. We've reached out to the Korean company ourselves and will let you know about any further developments.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/04/g...vulnerability/

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Microsoft planning 'next release' of Windows Phone

March 4th, 2013, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster

A new job listing over at Microsoft has revealed when the outfit is planning to serve up the next iteration of its smartphone OS. According to the post, work on the current version is being finished up and they're "getting ready for our next release targeting the holiday of this year." Presumably, the update will be part of the wider Blue umbrella of tweaks for Windows. Though a vague "next release" doesn't offer any details in terms of features, it's likely the OS will carry a significant set of changes as the team in need of a developer is responsible for the Start screen experience, the shell, first party apps and more.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/04/m...lease-holiday/

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Sonic Dash is a new endless runner for iOS

March 4th, 2013, 23:41 Posted By: wraggster

Sega has announced Sonic Dash, a new endless runner in development for iOS devices.

A spiritual follow-up to

Sonic Jump

, Sonic Dash is in the works at Hardlight Studios and will be released via the Apple App Store "soon".The game will see players speed through a 3D Seaside Hill, and lets players challenge challenge each other's "best times".No Android version was announced, but Sonic Jump eventually made it to the Google platform so we expect a future multi platform release.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...unner-for-ios/

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The Conduit HD coming to Tegra-powered Android devices March 14

March 4th, 2013, 23:52 Posted By: wraggster

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VGBA 3.9.48 - Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:25 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Showing real game names in File Selector and Gallery.
- Showing all current preference values.
- Fixed crash when returning from Cheat Editor or Cheatopedia.
- Fixed crash when rotating device.
- Fixed crash when Japanese user scrolls Settings.
- File Selector no longer resets when device is rotated.
- Gallery has got a new background.
- You can share Change Log now.
- Added many Dragonball games to the Cheatopedia.
- Added Sonic 2, Sonic 3, Advance Wars 2, and Doom 2 to the Cheatopedia.
News source: https://play.google.com

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Mupen64Plus AE 2.1.1 - Nintendo 64 emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:26 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo 64 emulator for Android has been updated. No changes info available.

News source: https://play.google.com

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Jnes 1.1.12 - NES emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:27 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

NES emulator for Android has been updated. No changes info available.
News source: https://play.google.com

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Speccy/Speccy Deluxe 1.9.2 - ZX Spectrum emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:28 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

ZX Spectrum emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added native MOGA controller support.
- Now automatically starting BASIC tape loader when using a tape.
- Fixed hardware FIREA/FIREB buttons on Xperia Play, MOGA, etc.
- Fixed occassional crash when rotating device.
- Fixed crash when scrolling Settings with Japanese locale.
- Now showing current values of all list preferences.
- File Selector no longer resets when device is rotated.
- You can now share the latest list of changes from the Change Log.
- Gallery has got a new background.
News source: https://play.google.com
News source: https://play.google.com

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VGBA 3.9.49 - Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:29 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added native MOGA gamepad support.
News source: https://play.google.com

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MasterGear 2.7.13 - Sega Master System/Game Gear emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:29 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Sega Master System/Game Gear emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added native MOGA gaming controller support.
- Fixed occassional crash when rotating device.
- Fixed crash when scrolling Settings with Japanese locale.
- Now showing current values of all list preferences.
- File Selector no longer resets when device is rotated.
- You can now share the latest list of changes from the Change Log.
- Gallery has got a new background.
News source: https://play.google.com

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Jnes 1.1.14 - NES emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 01:31 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

NES emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- app stability improvements;
- added auto-save option;
- added turbo buttons for external devices.
News source: https://play.google.com

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VGB 3.7.6 - Nintendo GameBoy/GameBoy Color emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 10:29 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo GameBoy/GameBoy Color emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Added native MOGA gamepad support.
- File Selector and Gallery show real game names.
- Settings shows current preference values.
- Fixed GBC game ID computation.
- Fixed occassional crash when returning from Cheat Editor or Cheatopedia.
- Fixed occassional crash when rotating device.
- Fixed crash when scrolling Settings with Japanese locale.
- File Selector no longer resets when device is rotated.
- Optimized ID-to-name conversion for faster File Selector.
- Gallery has got a new background.
News source: https://play.google.com

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PPSSPP Git (2013/03/04) - PSP Emulator for Android and Windows

March 5th, 2013, 10:47 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

PPSSPP Git (2013/03/04) is compiled. PPSSPP is a fast and portable PSP emulator for Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux, written in C++.

PPSSPP Git Changelog:
* Fix graphical issues. DISABLE INS instruction for now. Fix OR (it was doing AND).
* Merge pull request #859 from unknownbrackets/report-server
Server reporting (off by default)
* Android / iOS buildfix.
* Add some reporting for not yet done dialogs.
* Add some reporting for CPU related stuff.
* Report the format string as a separate param.
This way it can have a "class" of messages more easily.

Download Via Comments

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PC/XT Emulator for Android (2013/03/01)

March 5th, 2013, 11:00 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

PC/XT Emulator for Android (2013/03/01) is released. This is a PC/XT Emulator. IBM PC/XT compatible computers, based on x86 16-bit architecture.

PC/XT Emulator for Android (2013/03/01) Changelog:
- 01.03.2013 (initial version).

http://www.sendspace.com/file/4f6sha

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Korvet Emulator (w/BIOS) for Android (2013/03/02)

March 5th, 2013, 11:01 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Korvet Emulator (w/BIOS) for Android (2013/03/02) is released. This is a Korvet Emulator. Soviet home/school computers, based on PDP-11 architecture.

Korvet Emulator (w/BIOS) for Android (2013/03/02) Changelog:
- 02.03.2013 (bugfixes, improvements).

http://www.sendspace.com/file/38vk4c

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AnVICE v2.4.3 - Commodore 64 Emulator for Android

March 5th, 2013, 11:26 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

AnVICE v2.4.3 is released. AnVICE is a port of the Vice for the Android. VICE is an emulator collection which emulates the C64, the C64-DTV, the C128, the VIC20, almost all PET models, the PLUS4 and the CBM-II (aka C610). It runs on Unix, MS-DOS, Win32, OS/2, Acorn RISC OS, BeOS, QNX 6.x, Amiga, GP2X or Mac OS X machines.

http://www.sendspace.com/file/y4t9qn

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Blackberry Z10 prices cut after less than a month

March 6th, 2013, 01:06 Posted By: wraggster

The Carphone Warehouse and Vodafone have both reduced pricing on the new Blackberry z10 less than a month after it was launched.
According to the Telegraph, Carphone Warehouse has cut the overall contract price of the device by £160, while Vodafone has cut £72 from the contract.
The move comes despite solid reviews for both the device itself and the operating system, which has garnered praise and led many to dub it ‘the device that will save Blackberry’.
Pacific Crest analyst, James Faucette told the Telegraph: “We believe that meaningful price cuts so soon after launch, while probably at the initial discretion of the carriers, is likely to relegate the Z10 to being a mid-tier device with very low gross margins.”

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...a-month/030415

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iPhone 5S with fingerprint sensor set for summer release?

March 6th, 2013, 01:07 Posted By: wraggster

The latest research report from KGI Securities claims Apple is on track to unveil its iPhone 5S in June.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the firm will also reveal a lower-cost iPhone and iOS 7 in June.
“We expect Apple will introduce its new iPhones and iOS7 in June, and start shipping the new iPhones (5S and low-cost model) in the FDD version in July. Both dates are earlier than last year’s roadmap. We attribute this to: (1) an effort to avoid repeating the fatal mistake of last year of the delayed iPhone 5 launch, which gave competitors room to grab market share; and (2) the new iPhones this year are mainly designed on the basis of the current iPhone 5, which suggests development time could be reduced,” said Kuo.
KGI Securities suggests that one of the main differences between the current iPhone 5 and the new 5S will be the addition of a fingerprint chip under the Home button ‘improving security and usability’.
While Kuo’s iPhone claims are very similar to the ones he laid out in his 2013 Apple product roadmap, iMorehas reported that sources familiar with Apple’s plans have revealed that the iPhone 5S will not be released until August. The publication was also told that the next-gen iPad might be released as early as April.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...release/030410

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Samsung Galaxy S4 images leaked

March 6th, 2013, 01:08 Posted By: wraggster

With its launch set to take place in just ten days time, rumours surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S4 are flying.
New images of the device have been 'leaked' by previously reliable rumour site evleaks, which shows of the device along with a number of its anticipated specs.
Taking a look at the rendered shots of the new device, the most noticeable change is the lack of a home button, which has long featured on previous Galaxy device – and most rival smartphones too.
The leaked S4 images also show the handset to drop its previously curved frame in favour of a rectangular body, which results in a slate-like frame.

In comparison, the rendered S4 appears slightly larger than previous devices, whilst similarly sporting a larger screen.

Spec-wise, the images are in-line with previous reports, indicating the device will indeed feature up to 2GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel camera and Android's 4.2 operating system.
Interestingly, it appears Samsung will release the S4 in a number of modes with varying storage capacity, including 16GB, 32GB and 64GB.
A rumoured feature of the new device, which could give it the edge over rival devices in the smartphone market, is the inclusion of eye tracking technology.
The New York Times first reported the feature, which uses software to monitor the user's eyes in order to scroll content on screen. Once the device senses the user has finished reading content on the current screen, it is able to page up content, negating the need for users to swipe manually.
However, many have been quick to label the feature as a gimmick. As touch capabiltis become the norm across mobile devices, manufacturers are keen to find new features, which are able to win over consumers. It would seem that Samsung has settled on eye tracking.
With only ten days to go until Samsung finally unveils its latest flagship smartphone at its Unpacked event in New York, expect the rumours to continue coming thick and fast.


http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-leaked/030411

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Samsung Galaxy S IV could allow you to scroll pages with your eyes

March 6th, 2013, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster

Just make sure it doesn't catch you looking at Apple goods - it could just be the last thing you ever do.
Noise is building ahead of Samsung's Unpacked event on March 14th, which is when the Korean firm is thought to reveal the Galaxy S IV.
And now, the NY Times reports the handset could sport anEye Scrolling feature to prevent outlandish and time-consuming swiping when reading messages and other media, with users making pages move down automatically when they look at the bottom of the screen.
The technology doesn't sound entirely out of the question, given that the Galaxy S III runs Smart Stay, which prevents the phone from sleeping as long as the user is looking at it.
What's more, Samsung has already filed for an Eye Scroll trademark, describing the platform as: "Computer application software having a feature of sensing eye movements and scrolling displays of mobile devices, namely, mobile phones, smartphones and tablet computers according to eye movements; digital cameras; mobile telephones; smartphones; tablet computers."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ur-eyes/020773

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Android to power 58 per cent of this year's smartphone app downloads

March 6th, 2013, 01:11 Posted By: wraggster

Smartphone developers to become 'Android-first' in 2013, but iOS will carry the tablet space.
New ABI Research shows that smartphone app downloads will reach 56 billion this year, and Android is set to account for a 58 per cent lion's share ahead iOS bagging a 33 per cent share. Windows Phone, meanwhile, will secure around four per cent, with BlackBerry at three per cent.
However, with tablet app downloads hitting 14 billion this year, Apple's iPad will be responsible for 75 per cent of the amount. Android – excluding Kindle Fire – will reach 17 per cent, while Amazon's tablet line will secure four per cent, as Windows tablets secure two per cent.
Aapo Markkanen, senior analyst, ABI, said: "Arguably the most pressing issue for Google is how much of this handset momentum will ultimately trickle down to tablets, where Apple is holding the fort remarkably well.
"We would argue that in this context Google will actually benefit from the efforts by Amazon, since the presence of Kindle Fire adds a lot of critical ‘code mass’ to Android’s proposition as a platform for tablet applications. It is worth remembering that Android’s so-called fragmentation problem isn’t only a problem, but that it has a certain upside as well."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...wnloads/020770

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Chinese IT Ministry Looks Askance At Google's Control of Android

March 6th, 2013, 01:15 Posted By: wraggster

In what one expert is calling a clear message to China's tech industry that the authorities want to support a homegrown mobile operating system, China's tech regulator warns in a white paper that the country is becoming too dependent on Google's Android OS. 'Our country's mobile operating system research and development is heavily reliant on Android,' reads the white paper from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 'Although the Android system currently remains open source, the core technologies and technology roadmap is strictly controlled by Google.

http://it.slashdot.org/story/13/03/0...rol-of-android

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Android 4 use finally overtakes Gingerbread, Jelly Bean nears 17 percent

March 6th, 2013, 01:41 Posted By: wraggster

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UIU Android launcher targets non-techie users

March 6th, 2013, 01:46 Posted By: wraggster

Emblaze Mobile's First Else may be no more, but its legacy lives on. During MWC we caught up with the company's ex-CEO, Amir Kupervas, who started a company called UIU in June 2011 -- only a month after his departure and almost a year after the tantalizing First Else got canned. Over at UIU, Kupervas and UX strategist Itay Levin (who also took part in the First Else project) have a more humble ambition: to offer an Android launcher and an accompanying cloud management platform that are simple enough for non-techie users. "In the US, smartphones generate twice as much the amount of calls to the customer centers than the featurephones," said Kupervas. "There's a lot of hustle and a lot of confusion on how to work these guys. People are struggling with them, even existing users."

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/05/u...roid-launcher/

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BBC iPlayer coming to UK Windows Phone 7.5 and 8

March 6th, 2013, 01:52 Posted By: wraggster

The BBC's Cyrus Saihan has just hit us with the news thatiPlayer will soon be available on Windows Phones in the UK, following a deal with Microsoft. Technically speaking, it'll be a browser-based shortcut, but it sounds like it should function much like a regular app: it'll be available from the Windows Phone Store and run on WP 7.5 and 8 handsets with its own live tile. According to the BBC's press office, which seems to be a bit more specific with its time frames, the service should become available within the "next few months". Sure, there have been false starts in the past, and various technical hiccupsthat have made it difficult for the Beeb to support Microsoft's mobile OS, but this time -- finally -- it's for real.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/05/b...windows-phone/

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Apple's original iPhone marketers pondered such names as TriPod, Mobi and iPad

March 6th, 2013, 01:55 Posted By: wraggster

Ken Segall, Apple's former advertising head who coined its iProduct naming convention, told students at the University of Arizona that they could be pocketing a "TelePod" right now instead of an iPhone, according to 9to5Mac. That was among the now-strange-sounding names Cupertino pondered for the device, since one of the early concepts was a phone based on Apple's star product at the time, the iPod. Other names considered were "Mobi" and "TriPod," which was bandied about due to the device's three separate functions (phone, internet and iPod), along with iPad -- perhaps because we now know that the original iOS testbed was a tablet. In retrospect, it seems like a good thing that Apple rejected those choices ("let me show you that video on my TriPod"), but we can imagine some fur flying during marketing meet-ups to choose theubiquitous name.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/05/i...-mobi-telepad/

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Vice 2.4.0 - Commodore 64 emulator for Android

March 6th, 2013, 13:45 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Commodore 64 emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- updated Vice to 2.3;
- fixed text input;
- better app2sd.
News source: https://play.google.com

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fMSX/fMSX Deluxe 3.6.9 - MSX emulator for Android

March 6th, 2013, 13:45 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

MSX emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Finally fixed random crashes on startup.
- Added native MOGA gamepad support.
- Optimized File Selector for showing large directories.
- Now showing current values of all list preferences.
- Now properly finding the internal storage directory.
- Fixed paid apps detection..
- Fixed occasional crash when rotating device.
- Fixed crash when scrolling Settings with Japanese locale.
- Fixed alphabetical index in the File Selector.
- File Selector no longer resets when device is rotated.
News source: https://play.google.com
News source: https://play.google.com

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USP 0.0.45 - ZX Spectrum emulator for Android

March 6th, 2013, 13:46 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

ZX Spectrum emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- bugfix with opening tape files when .rzx replay working;
- fixed crash while downloading file from web & display orientation change;
- bugfix: use hq keyboard & joystick on big screens or hdpi;
- android 2.1 compatibility (fix with latest NDK).
News source: https://play.google.com

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iPhone 5S rumoured for August release

March 6th, 2013, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

iPads set for April launch.
Rumour has it that Apple’s iPhone 5S could see the light of day at some point in August, while the next-generation iPad could be set to land as soon as April, Mashable has reported.
According to tech site iMore, sources close to Apple have reported that the company is giving “serious consideration” to launching its new iPad next month. This could also coincide with the launch of the iPad Mini 2.
However, the iPhone 5S, which is predicted to come with a faster processor and improved camera, is thought more likely to arrive some time towards the end of summer.
There are also rumours currently doing the rounds that the iPhone 5S could be available in a variety of screen sizes and colours.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...release/020789

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Apple strengthens lead as top US handset maker in early 2013,

March 7th, 2013, 00:06 Posted By: wraggster

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Galaxy S III bug disables lock screen, grants full access, tests patience

March 7th, 2013, 00:10 Posted By: wraggster

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Apple's education-only 21.5-inch iMac gets bump in specs, now sells for $1,099

March 7th, 2013, 00:14 Posted By: wraggster

We've already seen Cupertino's 21.5-inch iMac up for sale on the company's refurb store, and now it looks like the smaller model of the new all-in-ones is ready to be taken at a cost tailored for educational institutions. Unlike with previouseducation-only deals, however, Apple's pricing its newly redesigned iMac starting at $1,099 instead of $999 -- and that includes Intel's 3.3GHz, dual-core i3 CPU alongside HD Graphics 4000, a 500GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM. While the aforementioned specs are different than the ones found in the pricier entry-level variant for every-day consumers, it's worth mentioning Apple does offer the ability to upgrade some of the iMac's internals, such as memory and built-in storage. Those with the proper credentials can start ordering now from Apple, with, as MacRumors points out, orders being expected to ship within 5-7 business days.

http://store.apple.com/us

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Sonic Dash set to speed onto the App Store 'midnight tonight'

March 7th, 2013, 00:24 Posted By: wraggster

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God of Blades slays Android

March 7th, 2013, 00:25 Posted By: wraggster

God of Blades, the only game that combines brutal sword duels and your local library, is now escaping the bounds of iOS and invading Android. And to celebrate the surprise launch, developer White Whale Games has the new version on sale for 99 cents (normally $3).

God of Blades adds a layer of meaning to its otherworldly sword-hacking by awarding players special swords for visiting libraries in the real world. This connects the game's pulp novel inspirations with the idea of scouring the shelves for some previously undiscovered inspiration of your own, and helping to keep obscure fiction from being forgotten. You don't really have to think about that stuff to play it (just swipe to cut, mostly) but that deeper meaning is there if you want it.

To get a better idea of how the game works, you can play its multiplayer PC/Mac variant Slayershere.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/05/go...slays-android/

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This Week’s iPhone Charts

March 7th, 2013, 00:26 Posted By: wraggster

Imangi Studios' Temple Run: Oz launched on iTunes yesterday morning. Today it's at the number one position on the paid charts, and Mila Kunis isn't even in it. The mind boggles.
I suppose the blockbuster film coming out in two days has something to do with the success of the $.99 app. I mean, Temple Run 2 proper is a free app, and it's slipping off the free charts while this paid tie-in debuts in the top spot.
I do find it nice that a quality movie-based game can hit virtual stores before the movie hits and still deliver a quality experience. Even if it is a copy of another game with a few twists thrown in, it's nice to not be let down.

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VGBA 3.9.50 - Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android

March 7th, 2013, 15:08 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

Nintendo GameBoy Advance emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Fixed support for 16bit ROM patch ActionReplay code.
- Now properly finding the internal storage directory.
- Optimized ID-to-real-name conversion.
- Added cheats to catch any "new" Pokemon type at Route 101 in Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire.
- Added cheats to catch missing "new" Pokemon types in Pokemon Fire Red and Leaf Green.
- Added Robopon 2 Cross and Ring versions to the Cheatopedia.
- Added Powerpuff Girls, Megaman Battle Network 2, Teen Titans 2, and Dexter's Lab to the Cheatopedia.
News source: https://play.google.com

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Samsung Galaxy S3 bug bypasses lock screen; find out if your device is vulnerable

March 7th, 2013, 23:46 Posted By: wraggster

A new bug found on Galaxy S3 handsets lets users bypass the lock screen and access all phone functions.
Discovered by Sean McMillan and posted to the Full Disclosure mailing list, the bug enables the user to access the phones functions by pressing just a few buttons.
McMillan has tested the bypass method on three different S3 handsets and publications Mashable, The Verge, andZDNet have all successfully unlocked phones.
To find out if your Galaxy S3 is vulnerable, here’s McMillan’s bypass method:
- On the code entry screen, press Emergency Call
- Press Emergency Contacts
- Press the Home button once
- Just after pressing the Home button, press the Power button quickly
- If successful, pressing the Power button again will bring you to the S3's home screen
At the time of writing Samsung has not commented on the bug.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...nerable/030448

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Galaxy S4 will hurt Android rivals, face off with new iPhone, predicts analyst

March 7th, 2013, 23:47 Posted By: wraggster

As Samsung prepares to unveil its Galaxy S4 smartphone in ten days time, analysts are already forecasting the impact the device will have.
James Hilton, M&C Saatchi Mobile CEO believes Samsung's new flagship smartphone will outperform its predecessor whilst pushing the leading phone maker to an even greater share of the Android market.
The huge sales of the S3 were surprising to some, yet it proved that consumers were longing for choice at the premium end of the market. The S3's specs were great and, importantly, it looked different but as good as the iPhone. Finally, the S3 was cheaper," Hilton told T3.
That's bad news for HTC, Nokia, LG and Samsung's other rivals in the Android market, who are already struggling to compete with the South Korean firm and its stranglehold on the high-end Android market.
However, Apple, Samsung's biggest rival, is unlikely to be hurt by the device, believes Hilton as the two firms' devices are set to fight it out for smartphone supremacy in 2013.
Whilst the Galaxy S4 will have the jump on Apple's next device, with its release set for ten days time, Apple is rumoured to be readying a new iPhone smartphone for a potential August release.
"Are you an iPhone or a Samsung person? This is a question that sparks passionate debate," he added. "This social element will be fundamental to the S4's adoption and growth, particularly with a new iPhone on the horizon."
Ahead of its launch on March 14th, more images hinting of the Samsung's Galaxy S4's capabilities have leaked.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...analyst/030443

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Freezing your Android smartphone can bypass security

March 7th, 2013, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

German researchers have found a bizarre new way of breaking Android encryption model.
Ever wondered what would happen to your smartphone if you stored it in the freezer? Well, according to a group of German researchers, it actually allows the user to bypass the phone’s security locks, Cellular-News has reported.
Ironically enough, it is the Ice Cream Sandwich version of the Android operating system that can be frozen and subsequently cracked.
This particular operating system transparently scrambles user partitions to protect sensitive user information from targeted attacks, which can bypass screen locks.
However, this has proved to be something of a problem in the world of crime forensics, so researchers at Erlangen's Friedrich-Alexander University set about discovering how to break that functionality.
Testing their equally appropriately named Frost software on a Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphone, they were able to retrieve sensitive information, including contact lists, visited web sites, and photos from the device’s memory.
The method required the smartphone to be placed in a freezer for at least an hour at minus15 degrees Celsius while it was still switched on. Quickly reset by removing the battery for less than half a second, there are several key presses to force the phone into a fast-boot mode.
At this stage, hooking the phone up to the Frost software allows the user to access the phone memory and download the content for later analysis.
So, a quick and easy process, then. At least for those of us in possession of the ever-popular, forensic-grade Frost software.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...ecurity/020806

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BlackBerry to supply BB10 devices to mental health trust

March 7th, 2013, 23:58 Posted By: wraggster

Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation to receive 1,800 Z10 devices for its staff.
BlackBerry has inked an agreement to supply staff at the Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust with 1,800 Z10 smartphones.
The BlackBerry Z10 devices will be delivered to the mental health trust throughout the year, with 700 arriving during April and May, and a further 1,000 to be rolled out in the second half of 2013.
Stephen Asante-Boakye, head of technical services at BSMHFT, commented: “BlackBerry has been our mobile enterprise solution of choice for a number of years and we’re committed to a full-scale BlackBerry 10 deployment.
“The combination of BlackBerry’s tried and trusted security and manageability with the new BlackBerry Z10 smartphone gives us confidence that we can continue to deliver a best-in class mobile enterprise experience, which ultimately enables the delivery of a better service to our patients.”
According to BlackBerry, there are currently more than 100 UK public and private sector firms trialling BlackBerry 10. These include BT, the Co-operative Group and Aviva.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...h-trust/020802

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Disney dominates the top three spots on the paid iPad apps chart

March 7th, 2013, 23:59 Posted By: wraggster

Mobile adaptions of movie franchises prove to be a big draw for Brits.
Disney is celebrating a first, reporting that three of its mobile games have bagged the top three spots on the UK Top 10 Paid iPad Apps Chart.
Temple Run: Oz has bagged the top spot after launching earlier this week, while fellow new release Toy Story: Smash It! is in second place, followed by Wreck-It Ralphin third.
Imangi Studios' Temple Run franchise is hugely popular, and Temple Run 2 recently broke Angry Birds' record andreached 50m downloads in 13 days.
Oz: The Great and Powerful, which is what Temple Run: Oz is based on, doesn't actually hit cinemas until Friday, March 8th, and yet this doesn't seem to have any impact on consumers embracing the game with zeal.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...s-chart/020797

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Google Play marks first birthday with 18m songs, 5m e-books, 700k apps

March 8th, 2013, 00:01 Posted By: wraggster

Time spent as Android Market is now something of a distant memory.
Exactly one year ago, Google rebranded Android Market as Google Play, citing a vision to make its mobile media content more attractive and accessible – across phones, tablets, PC – to Android device users.
At the time of the launch, Google boasted 20,000 songs, 450,000 apps/games, and 'the world's largest selection of ebooks'. With the search giant now celebrating the first birthday of its new baby, it claims Google Play has over 18 million songs, more than five million ebooks and over 700,000 apps.
It seems the rebrand has paid off massively, while the marketplace will have also flourished as OEMs continue to adopt the Android OS for their devices. In fact, Android is set to power 58 per cent of this year's smartphone app downloads, prompting developers to become Android-first.
Jamie Rosenberg, VP of digital content, Google Play, said: "Google Play has grown rapidly in the last year, bringing you more content in more languages and places around the globe. We’ve partnered with all of the major music companies, movie studios and publishers to bring you the music, movies, TV shows, books and magazines you love. And we’ve added more ways for you to buy them, including paying through your phone bill and gift cards, which we're beginning to roll out in the U.K. this week.
"Since no birthday is complete without presents, we’re celebrating with a bunch of special offers across the store on songs, TV shows, movies and books. We’re even offering a collection of games with some fun birthday surprises created by developers."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...0k-apps/020798

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Apple Patent Describes iTunes Reselling and Loaning System

March 8th, 2013, 00:04 Posted By: wraggster

An Apple patent granted on 7 March details a system allowing customers to resell iTunes and iBooks content to other users at a reduced price, or to loan the content temporarily for free. Such a system could pave the way for second hand content being made available on iTunes for a discounted price."(Note: Beware the auto-playing video ad, with sound.)

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...loaning-system

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Android In Space: STRaND-1 Satellite To Activate Nexus One

March 8th, 2013, 00:08 Posted By: wraggster

In as little as a few days, the British-made Surrey Training, Research, and Nanosatellite Demonstrator (STRaND-1) satellite will begin transitioning its key systems over to a completely stock Android Nexus One smartphone that's been bolted to the bottom of it. The mission is designed to test the endurance of off-the-shelf consumer hardware, and to validate Android as a viable platform for controlling low-cost spacecraft. STRaND-1 managed to beat NASA's own 'PhoneSat' mission to the punch, which will see a Nexus One and Nexus S launched into space aboard the April test flight of the Orbital Sciences Antares commercial launch vehicle, the prime competitor to SpaceX's Falcon 9."

http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/1...vate-nexus-one

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BlackBerry patent application shows the dual-screen phone that thankfully never was

March 8th, 2013, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster

Going dual-screen is really the nuclear option for smartphone design -- it's what you use to draw attention when your regular, single-screen phones aren't thriving. We're at once unsurprised and appreciative, then, that BlackBerry has applied for a patent on a dual-screen phone concept that hasn't gone further than a filing. As shown, it would embrace the familiar concept of running separate apps on each screen, with a slight twist: it could recognize touch gestures that span both displays, such as a pinch to switch app positions. Naturally, it could recognize distinct gestures on only one side or put a keyboard on one display for typing on the other. Given BlackBerry's current design directions and very different gesture concepts, the application is more of a what-might-have-been than any kind of roadmap. It's just as well when many twin-screen smartphones haven't exactly panned out.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/07/b...-screen-phone/

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Ouya store ready for launch, will highlight devs with short documentaries

March 8th, 2013, 00:32 Posted By: wraggster

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Samsung loses UK lawsuit against Apple over 3G data

March 8th, 2013, 00:33 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung hasn't been catching many breaks in its court battles with Apple as of late, and that trend isn't quite over yet. A UK court just tossed out claims that Apple violates three Samsungstandards-essential patents relating to 3G data transmission, tentatively leaving the American firm free to sell iPhones and other cellular devices in the country -- as long as other lawsuits don't get in the way. Samsung hasn't determined whether or not it will appeal, but a second try isn't as surefire as it might be elsewhere, not when the Galaxy maker has a less-than-stellar record in winning cases where 3G is involved. We'd just like the whole mess to be over.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/07/s...-over-3g-data/

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Box Windows Phone, Windows 8 apps get new features, including file previews

March 8th, 2013, 00:36 Posted By: wraggster

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Sonic Dash out now on iOS App Store

March 8th, 2013, 00:38 Posted By: wraggster

Sega has released its new endless runner game Sonic Dash via the iOS App Store for $1.99.

A spiritual follow-up to

Sonic Jump

, Sonic Dash was developed by at Hardlight Studios and sees players run into the screen through 3D environments, dodging obstacles and enemies and collecting rings.Online connectivity lets players challenge each other's "best times" and scores, and Sega promises "free updates" to come in future.It's compatible with iPhone 4 and newer, iPod Touch 4th-gen and newer, iPad 2 and newer and iPad Mini. It has been optimised for iPhone 5's wider screen.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com...ios-app-store/

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The 7th Guest: 3 is currently in development for PC, Mac, iOS and Android

March 8th, 2013, 00:50 Posted By: wraggster

The third game in the first-person point-and-click puzzle adventure series The 7th Guest is currently in development for PC, Mac, iOS and Android.Charlie McHenry, co-founder of Trilobyte, the studio behind the 1993 adventure and its 1995 sequel The 11th Hour, made the announcement earlier today in an interview with Polygon.This third outing in the classic series will return players to the haunted Stauf Mansion where you'll explore a creepy manor riddled with brain-teasers."In the world of The 7th Guest: 3, you will re-enter the mysterious and magical mansion, newly restored with games, puzzles and artifacts," McHenry explained. "But it is still haunted, as players will soon discover. You will learn more about what happened on that terrible night, and discover the real story and previously hidden secrets of the gaming world's most mysterious toymaker."Trilobyte still consists of some of the original series creators, though plenty of new talent has been brought on board. The studio is aiming to complete the game in the next 12-18 months. McHenry noted that the team is "discussing collaborations with some funding partners" and is planning to release a Kickstarter campaign next month if it can't find enough financial backing elsewhere.A port of the original 7th Guest can now be found on the App Store or purchased at GoG.http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...os-and-android

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Could the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S4 have wireless charging capabilities?

March 10th, 2013, 15:51 Posted By: wraggster

Digitimes has reported that both Samsung and Apple are set to follow in the footsteps of Nokia by adding wireless charging capabilities to their 2013 flagship models.
‘Industry sources’ told the publication that Samsung is expected to adopt Qi wireless charging technology for the Galaxy S4, and Apple is working on its own version of the technology.
“Apple is likely to adopt the wireless charging technology developed internally, but it remains unknown if the next-generation iPhone will come with built-in wireless charging capability or with other attached accessories,” said the sources.
Digitimes reports that Samsung’s next flagship smartphone, which will be unveiled on March 14th, may not come with embedded wireless charging capabilities, but rather owners will be required to buy replacement back covers once the new technology is unveiled.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ilities/030461

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Apple reportedly set to ditch Samsung in favour of Intel chips

March 10th, 2013, 15:53 Posted By: wraggster

Apple is believed to be in talks with Intel over plans for the firm to replace Samsung as the chip-maker for its future mobile devices.
Despite the heated rivalry that has developed between Apple and Samsung over multiple patent court cases and IP infringement lawsuits, the firm's continue to be linked by a contract, which sees Samsung produce its mobile processors for Apple's flagship devices.
Currently, the iPhone 5 features the South Korean firm's A6 CPU, whilst its A6X chip powers Apple’s newest iPad 4.
Whilst Apple would certainly like to ditch Samsung amidst the two's strained relationship, the move would make even more sense for Intel in order to bolster its presence in the mobile device market.
Even though Intel remains the world's largest and most valuable chip-maker, it's current portfolio boasts little in the mobile processor market, working only with manufacturers such as ZTE.
A potential deal would almost certainly provide a boost to Intel, with Macquarie analyst Shawn Webster predicting a deal could generate an additional $4.2 billion in revenue for the firm in 2015.
Meanwhile, Apple would benefit by maintaining a relationship with a quality chip-maker for its upcoming mobile devices.
However, whilst a Reuters source claims that the firms have held preliminary talks, a deal had yet to be reached and could potentially be a long way off.
With rumours indicating that Apple is already hard at work on its next iPhone and iPad offerings, which are said to be launching later this year, it's safe to assume that the device will continue to feat Samsung chips – at least for the time being.
Intel continues to refuse comment on the speculation.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...l-chips/030458

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Ouya accepting game submissions

March 10th, 2013, 15:57 Posted By: wraggster

Top three titles during first six weeks of launch to be featured in documentary


Tiny hackable Android console Ouya is now taking game submissions in preparation for the hardware’s launch on March 28th.

Any games uploaded by developers before the date will have their titles available for sale when the console is released, should they pass the approval process.
A number of developers had uploaded games during a recent test period of the Ouya marketplace, but the store has now been reset in anticipation of a new wave of titles.
Although the console will be released to the hardware’s Kickstarter backers from March 28th, the console will not launch for general sale till June.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...me-submissions

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Apple Finally Fixes Unencrypted App Store Login

March 10th, 2013, 16:04 Posted By: wraggster

More than eighteen months after being first brought to Cupertino's attention, Apple gets around to addressing insecure logins to the App Store. In theory, this could be used to view lists of installed apps and make unauthorized purchases."Yep, they were sending login information over plain http.

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SXSW: How Emotions Determine Android's Design

March 10th, 2013, 16:04 Posted By: wraggster

At a SXSW panel titled, 'Android's Principles for Designing the Future,' Helena Roeber (who headed up Android's UX research from 2007 through 2012) and Rachel Garb (who leads interaction design for Android apps at Google) discussed the complex philosophy behind Android's design. Roeber went back to the very beginning, recounting Google's Android Baseline Study, in which the team made in-home visits to study how people use technology. 'We saw the profound effect that technological design has on people's lives,' she said. 'Technology had become so pervasive that people had started to schedule and enforce deliberate offline moments to spend time with their family and friends.' From that study, the team learned that users were often overwhelmed by their options and 'limitless flexibility,' leading them to consider how to design a mobile operating system that wouldn't beat those users over the head (at least in the proverbial sense) on a minute-by-minute basis. Instead, they focused on an interface capable of serving features to users only when needed. That meant creating an interface that only interrupts users when needed; that does the 'heavy lifting' of the user's tasks and scheduling; that emphasizes 'real objects' over buttons and menus; and that offers lots of chances for customization. All those elements— and many more — eventually ended up in Android's trio of design principles: 'Enchant Me, Simplify My Life, and Make Me Amazing.

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/03...ndroids-design

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No Firefox For iOS, Says Mozilla's Product Head

March 10th, 2013, 21:20 Posted By: wraggster

Jay Sullivan, Mozilla's VP of Product, has revealed that the non-for-profit organization is not going to build an iOS version of its Firefox web browser as long as Apple doesn't mend its unfriendly ways towards third party browsers. Speaking at SXSW in a mobile browser wars panel Sullivan said that Mozilla is neither building nor planning to build a Firefox version for Apple's iOS. Mozilla pulled Firefox Home from the App Store back in September 2012 following Apple's not so accommodating attitude

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...s-product-head

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BlackBerry Q10 prototype caught in the wild with a rubberized back

March 10th, 2013, 22:11 Posted By: wraggster

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Palm Top Theater turns your iPhone into a mini-3D display

March 10th, 2013, 22:12 Posted By: wraggster

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Lenovo S920 and S820 leak, could pack Android 4.2.1, quad-core CPUs and dual-SIM slot

March 10th, 2013, 22:23 Posted By: wraggster

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My Boy!/My Boy! Free 1.2.3 - GameBoy Advance emulator for Android

March 11th, 2013, 13:52 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

GameBoy Advance emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- Key-touch vibration intensity is now consistent with system settings.
- Added "Best-scaling" option (shown when long pressing on the video represent) in the screen layout editor. It could be 1x/2x/4x/8x depending on screen resolution.
- Added "0.2x" to "Fast-forward speed" list.
- Fixed D-pad not working for certain external controllers.
- Fixed some minor bugs in the screen layout editor.
News source: https://play.google.com
News source: https://play.google.com

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John NES/Lite 1.64 - NES emulator for Android

March 11th, 2013, 13:53 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

NES emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- improved cheat UI.
News source: http://play.google.com
News source: http://play.google.com

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John GBC/Lite 1.64 - GameBoy/GameBoy Color emulator for Android

March 11th, 2013, 13:54 Posted By: wraggster

via http://emu-russia.net/en/

GameBoy/GameBoy Color emulator for Android has been updated. Changes:
- improved cheat UI.
News source: http://play.google.com
News source: http://play.google.com

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Jnes v1.1.14 for Android - Nes Emulator for Android

March 11th, 2013, 14:24 Posted By: wraggster

via http://www.emucr.com/

Jnes v1.1.14 for Android is released. Jnes is a NES emulator that brings the console experience to your Android device. It is a port of the popular Jnes for Windows emulator, developed over many years, containing the same high quality emulation core and many of the same features.

• Fast emulation, natively compiled, great battery life
• Enjoyable user interface for phones and tablets
• NTSC and PAL support
• On screen multi-touch gamepad
• Stereo Sound
• Key remapping for external input devices such as the Sony Xperia
• Save progress with instant save states

Jnes v1.1.14 for Android Changelog:
3/3/2013
• app stability improvements
• added auto-save option
• added turbo buttons for external devices
2/26/2013
• fixed xperia back button
• fixed crash loading unsupported files
2/23/2013
• rendering is now hardware accelerated
• fixed sorting multiple rom directories
• added touch gamepad size setting
• added graphics filter setting
• added save slots option during play
2/13/2013
• handle unexpected IO errors

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d....jabosoft.jnes

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Samsung Galaxy S4 launch to be streamed live on YouTube

March 11th, 2013, 22:16 Posted By: wraggster

Fans will be able to view the launch of Samsung’s next flagship model live from the Korean firm’s YouTube account.
The event, officially titled ‘Samsung Unpacked 2013 Episode 1’, takes place in New York on Thursday March 14th.
Although Samsung has not officially revealed what will be launched, a series of image and spec leaks, ‘source quotes’, and the fact that the invitation says “Ready 4 the show” and “come and meet the next galaxy”, it seems an almost certainty that the event will be the launch of the follow on smartphone from the Galaxy S3.
Watch the live stream of the Samsung Unpacked event at www.youtube.com/SamsungMobile on March 14th.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...youtube/030476

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BT: 'Mobile-phobia' is contaminating the UK

March 11th, 2013, 22:20 Posted By: wraggster

Just six per cent of Brit device users feel happy making calls abroad.
BT says operators should be concerned about a growing condition dubbed 'mobile-phobia,' which has consumed 93 per cent of Brits, rendering them to significantly reduce their usual mobile phone use when abroad.
79 per cent say they're worried about expensive fees and have no idea how much they'll be charged, while 62 per cent go 'cold turkey' and uses phones sparingly or not at all, and one-fith leaves their mobiles at home.
Furthermore, 57 per cent of people only answer calls that can't be postponed and two-thirds only reply to important texts, although 23 per cent never answer calls and 18 per cent never respond to texts.
While 58 per cent of Brits want to keep in touch with friends and family at home, 62 per cent use email or SMS, and just six per cent feel comfortable making calls daily.
Pete Oliver, commercial director of BT’s consumer division, said: "We know how important it is to stay in touch when you’re away from home – especially when you’re abroad. Our new SmartTalkapp allows customers to take their calling plan with them, so they can continue to save money away from home."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-the-uk/020826

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71 per cent of smartphone users complain of glitches

March 11th, 2013, 22:21 Posted By: wraggster

Price comparison company uSwitch.com finds that 71 per cent of UK smartphone users have experienced issues with their handsets. 48 per cent cite short battery life, 31 per cent have internet/3G failure, 23 per cent experience frozen screens, and 14 per cent encounter software faults.
Battery life and poor 3G coverage are the biggest gripes for users, but there's also problems with basic commands as 12 and seven per cent have issues sending and receiving texts, while 13 per cent find calls cutting out.
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at uSwitch.com, said: "As phones have got smarter, they have also got more temperamental. And, while manufacturers continue to push the boundaries with new designs, consumers shelling out for top of the range devices will be frustrated that they aren’t getting the most out of them."

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...litches/020825

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Samsung leads China's smartphone market for the first time

March 11th, 2013, 22:22 Posted By: wraggster

New data from Strategy Analytics (via Yonhap News) shows that South Korean OEM Samsung has topped the Chinese smartphone market in 2012, which is said to be the first time it's led the region since it started selling devices in 2009.
The company sold 10.9 million units in China in 2011, while sales rose threefold to 30.06m – 17.7 per cent – last year. Former leader Nokia, however, fell from 29.9 per cent in 2011 to just 3.7 per cent last year, and now sits in seventh place.
Samsung's surge comes as the company continues to be a key player in the global smartphone market to achieve brand recognition, while it's secured partnerships with a number of Chinese networks.
Meanwhile, local vendor Lenovo is number two with 13.2 per cent, up from four per cent in 2011, while Apple is third with 11 per cent, Huawei in fourth with 9.9 per cent and Coolpad 9.7 per cent in fifth.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...st-time/020820

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Apple Bringing Second Lawsuit To Samsung, Won't Wait For Appeal

March 11th, 2013, 22:24 Posted By: wraggster

Hot on the heels of last year's Apple win over Samsung, Apple is geared up for its second attempt at knocking Samsung's alleged copy-cat products off the store shelves. District Judge Lucy Koh asked both parties if they could stay the new case while the first one goes up on Appeal. Apple denied citing a delay would "seriously and irreparably prejudice Apple." The company "will likely suffer a long-term loss of market share and of downstream sales". Samsung replied with a statement saying "Apple will be unable to meet its burden of proving infringement without resorting to the same improper 'representative product' strategy," [that shouldn't have been allowed in the first case.] Although some may think this is a good move for business on Apple's part, some claim the litigation is responsible for Apple's dipping sales and stock prices as well as Increased visibility of Samsung. In the end however, all this litigation is most likely going to be shouldered on the pocketbook of the consumer'"

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...ait-for-appeal

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OUYA holding official unveiling on March 28th in San Francisco

March 12th, 2013, 00:11 Posted By: wraggster

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Is this the Samsung Galaxy S IV or is it in disguise again?

March 12th, 2013, 00:14 Posted By: wraggster

Mere days before Samsung unveils its newest phone, a Chinese forum post has offered some purported shots of the Galaxy S IV. Now it's worth mentioning from the outset that Samsung plays a good game of subterfuge. It masked the Galaxy S IIIahead of its reveal last year in a blockier plastic frame and it could be that this phone, with a very Note-esque face and outline, is also a filler ahead of the final reveal. It could also be yet another phone that will slot in elsewhere in Samsung'sever-expanding Galaxy family, or even a Shenzhen knock-off that's jumped the gun -- we spotted that the front-facing camera hole doesn't quite align properly.
However, with that said, there's still plenty here to muse on.The shots appear to be taken in a phone unlocking shop somewhere in China, with this GT-i9502 model apparently bound for carrier China Unicom. Interestingly (at least for a flagship), it appears to be a dual-SIM version, with the mono-SIM version apparently picking up model number GT-i9500 -- a number that would fit in with the series so far. According to the leak, it's running a fresh version of Android (4.2.1) with a 1080p display (no word on dimensions just yet), 2GB of RAM and a 13-megapixel camera on the back. The mention of a "5410" CPU suggests it's Samsung's Exynos Octa chip powering it and while AnTuTu might only recognize that as a quad-core chip, we noted during our hands-on with the new chipset that only four cores were being used at a time. We're still hoping Samsung's final design pushes the envelope a little further than a repositioned camera sensor and a new glossy texture -- we've added a shot of this after the break. Rest assured, Jeremy will be letting us in on the big secret later this week.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/11/i...v-leak-images/

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Latest Apple TV reveals smaller A5 chip

March 12th, 2013, 00:15 Posted By: wraggster

Quiet, mid-cycle component upgrades are a thing with Apple, and they're sometimes worth watching out for. The iPad 2 got a chip update last year, for example, which significantly extended its battery life by using a 32nm A5 SoC instead of a 45nm one. Well, much as expected, a very similar processor update has just come to the Apple TV. MacRumors popped open the latest version, known as "AppleTV3,2", and found good evidence of a further die shrink: the central block of silicon is just 6 mm x 6 mm, which is even smaller than the 8 mm x 8 mm chip in the newest iPad 2. This inevitably leads to speculation that Apple has shifted to a 28nm fabrication process, possibly snubbing Samsung's 32nm foundries, but we'd need a proper silicon-level analysis to be certain. In the meantime, though, we'd guess that this update may not be worth hunting down to the degree that the new iPad 2 was -- the level of shrinkage here doesn't seem enough to have a huge impact on power draw, and in any case that's less of an issue for a device that's fed from the wall.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/11/a...-a5-processor/

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Cave Story creator reveals his upcoming iOS platformer Gero Blaster

March 12th, 2013, 01:37 Posted By: wraggster

Cave Story creator Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya unveiled his upcoming iOS platformer Gero Blaster.
As detailed by Polygon, the adventure will star a frog protagonist named Kaeru who's tyring to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, who happens to be a cat.According to Amaya's , Gero Blaster is shooting for a May release, though that's just an estimate.Intriguingly, the indie dev noted that while Gero Blaster is currently an iOS title, he's "currently investigating other platforms." Tyrone Rodriguez, head of publisher Nicalis - who handled Cave Story and is now working on Amaya's Ikachan remake - tweeted a picture of Gero Blaster being played on 3DS. The official Nicalis Twitter account later tweeted, "Do you want Gero Blaster on 3DS and PS Vita?" Naturally, fans replied that they would.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...r-gero-blaster

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Next MineCon 'most definitely in the US'

March 12th, 2013, 01:50 Posted By: wraggster

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Samsung tweets mysterious Galaxy S4 photo

March 12th, 2013, 14:45 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung has tweeted a photo of a new smartphone ahead of its ‘Unpacked’ event on March 14th.
The tweet from @SamsungMobileUS read: “The Countdown for #TheNextBigThing had begun. Who’s ready for the Global Unpacked Event on March 14th?”
The accompanying image doesn’t really give much away, showing a vague outline of a handset mysteriously hiding in the shadows.
But fear not, there’s been a bunch of leaked photos anyway, some of which you can view here.
Samsung is set to formally unveil its next-gen Galaxy smartphone on March 14th in New York.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...4-photo/030484

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25 per cent of tablet users to pay bills via their device by 2017

March 12th, 2013, 14:46 Posted By: wraggster

With tablet adoption and user acceptance of ‘push’ mobile banking on the rise, it is thought that by 2017, one in four tablet users will be paying bills via their device, according to a new report from Juniper Research.
The report suggests that these factors will drive users of transactional tablet banking services to almost 200 million in 2017; representing around 19 per cent of total mobile banking customers in 2017, as opposed to nine per cent in 2013.
It is also noted in the report that the adoption of bill presentment and payment (MBPP) transactional banking by tablet users will be higher than mobile handset users, particularly in developed areas where there is a higher adoption rate of tablet devices.
Juniper found that there will be a significant migration of purchasing and transaction activity from laptops and desktops to tablet devices as tablet adoption continues to grow.
“With online payments accounting for a significant proportion of all bill payments, especially in developed markets, BPP (Bill Presentment and Payment) transactions will indeed migrate from the desktop towards tablet devices. Consumers often prefer managing bill payment and transactions via tablet devices compared to smartphones”, said report author Nitin Bhas.
Elsewhere, the study revealed that mobile banking users will top one billion in 2017, accounting for 15 per cent of global mobile handset users, while the developed markets of East Asia and China, North America and Western Europe will boast the highest penetration of banking users in 2017.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...by-2017/020828

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Lots of online functionality missing from Ouya at launch

March 12th, 2013, 14:55 Posted By: wraggster

Ouya consoles will be shipped out to Kickstarter backers later this month, but key online functions will not be enabled until the end of the year.
The Verge reports that online chat, friends lists and achievements won’t be ready, even for the retail release in June. The site had originally reported that online multiplayer would also be absent, although apparently this is not in fact the case.
"We will definitely be supporting online multiplayer – developers just need to build in the functionality," a rep confirmed.
The team behind the Android console also confirmed that while the system will remain predominantly open, some content filtering will be enforced to block adult content and IP violation.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/lots-...launch/0112265

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Automatic Link converts your iPhone into a personal driving assistant

March 13th, 2013, 00:39 Posted By: wraggster

That OBD II port that has been installed on just about every US-bound automobile since 1996? It's potential has just been tapped. For years, ambiguous dashboard lights have clued motorists in on internal issues, but driving to a body shop just to borrow a data port reader is so last decade. Enter the Automatic Link -- a simplistic nub that plugs into said port and utilizes Bluetooth 4.0 to connect to your iPhone 4S or 5 (prior iPhones use older versions of the BT stack). Once linked, it'll monitor your driving habits and routes, sending gentle reminders to not brake so suddenly or accelerate so quickly in a bid to save fuel. Moreover, it'll dial 911 and alert your relatives should you get in an accident, and perhaps most intriguingly, it'll send full diagnostic reports to your iPhone whenever a warning indicator lights up. Heck, it'll let you clear the code through your phone once you've remedied whatever has gone wrong.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/12/a...sistant-video/

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Intel releases Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 dev code, adds dual-boot option for Windows 8

March 13th, 2013, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster

Intel's in the tricky position of playing Android iteration catch-up -- but it's getting better at it. Releases are now appearing every six months, with the latest release of Android (4.2.2) now Intel-optimized -- at least at a pre-alpha stage. The company's Open Source Technology Center devs have been working on the Android Open-Source Project to ensure it works well on Intel-powered devices, whether that's PCs for debugging and testing or those still-rare Intel smartphones. Now powered by the Linux 3.8 kernel, there's a new interactive installer, plus the new ability to dual-boot on a Windows 8 system. So it's all good news for developers, but it should drip down to more immediate updates on the likes of Motorola's RAZR i and any future Android hardware Intel's planning to power.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/12/i...-2-2-dev-code/

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Galaxy Note II info ticker, pop-up browser and ICE menu combo reveal flaw

March 13th, 2013, 00:45 Posted By: wraggster

The emergency contacts (ICE) menu is proving to be a Pandora's Box of lock screen vulnerabilities on several Samsung Galaxy handsets. Users are finding ways to exploit this weak point and the latest flaw that's come to our attention employs the pop-up browser on the Note II as an accomplice. It requires the information ticker to be active (found in lock screen settings) so news bites and such are displayed on the screen you encounter when waking the device. Touch upon something to find out more and you're sent to the lock screen; from there, head to the ICE menu to find a pop-up browser window containing the item you chose in the ticker. Within that window, anyone can access the handset's clipboard or point the browser to sites holding personal data. Sure, it isn't as bad as the bug that completely disables the lock screen -- identified on the Galaxy S III, but also found to work on the Note II -- but is just another reason to hope the mythical box is almost empty and at the bottom lies a fix.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/12/g...k-screen-flaw/

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Humble Android Bundle 5 adds Sword and Sworcery, Splice, Crayon Physics Deluxe

March 13th, 2013, 01:53 Posted By: wraggster

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HTC One delayed until April

March 13th, 2013, 23:11 Posted By: wraggster

Potential buyers awaiting the release of the HTC One will have to wait just a little longer, as the firm has announced it is pushing back the device's release.
HTC revealed that consumers who had already pre-ordered would receive their device by the end of March, whilst the One wouldn't appear in additional markets until some time in April.
The delay will no doubt hurt HTC, as the firm continues to battle against flagging profits and poor. HTC had hoped that the new device would be a turning point for the firm but the recently announced delays may cause further problems.
Timing couldn't be worse for the HTC as Samsung gears up to unveil its own flagship Galaxy S4 handset tomorrow, which is sure to dominate the smartphone market much like its predecessors in the Galaxy range.
An earlier release of the One may have provided a much needed boost for HTC, but if the device is released in direct competition with the Galaxy S4, whilst word of a new iPhone later this year continues to linger, it's difficult to see the handset garnering much attention.
HTC hasn't revealed its reasons for the delay, but it is widely believed to be a result of the lengthy and complicated manufacturing process behind the One. The firm confessed to CNET last month that the all-metal frame takes 200 minutes to produce for each individual unit.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...l-april/030497

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EE and Three confirm Samsung Galaxy S4, offer pre-orders

March 13th, 2013, 23:15 Posted By: wraggster

Despite the device's reveal not taking place until tomorrow, both UK providers have confirmed they will offer the Galaxy S4 on release.
Samsung is scheduled to launch the newest addition to its flagship smartphone range tomorrow at an Unpacked event held in New York.
However, both EE and Three have beaten the South Korean phone maker to the punch by outright confirming its existence.
Whilst refraining from naming the device, Three said: "The latest flagship addition to the popular Galaxy range of mobile devices will be revealed to the world in New York on March 14th."
Meanwhile, rival UK provider EE took to Twitter to join the S4 speculation, all be it in cryptic fashion. The firm posted a picture of the Galaxy banner currently on show in Times Square to its Twitter feed, whilst telling followers: "Get ready – #theNextGalaxy is on its way…".
Both providers have even gone as far to begin offering pre-orders for the device, which potential buyers can do so here. Unsurprisingly, neither EE or Three confirmed pricing or a potential release date for the device.
The Galaxy S4 is the worst kept secret in the tech world right now, so today's 'leaks' by EE and Three won't have much of an effect. Everyone knows it is coming, and despite actually confirming its latest device as the S4, Samsung has gone as far to hype the device as the newest addition to the Galaxy range.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...-orders/030495

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Samsung flash mob descends on New York ahead of Galaxy S4 announcement

March 13th, 2013, 23:16 Posted By: wraggster

Just in case you’ve been living under a rock for the past month, Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ event takes place tomorrow.
Samsung has been pushing hard to get everyone excited about its next-gen smartphone. Yesterday it tweeted a mysterious photo of what’s to come, and today it decided to disrupt everyone in Time Square with a flash mob.
And just incase you hadn’t got the hint yet from the invite cards, tweets and leaked photos, all the dancers had black and white suits emblazoned with the number ‘4’. If that wasn’t enough to get the message through that the Galaxy S4 is to be unveiled tomorrow the dancers were also prancing around a giant display saying ‘BE READY 4 THE NEXT GALAXY’.
I think we get it.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ncement/030494

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Android tablets to destroy iPad domination in 2013

March 13th, 2013, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster

Android is the leading go-to OS for OEMs such as Samsung, which doesn't possess its own operating system, with the open Google platform supporting third party smartphones and tablets alike.
And with Android possessing such widespread ubiquity in the tablet space via the Kindle Fire, Galaxy Tab and beyond, IDC says the Google OS will topple the iPad's domination of the tablet space this year.
The researcher predicts that the Android share of the tablet space will hit 48.8 per cent in 2013, which is a revision of the previously expected 41.5 per cent share, following a 2012 sales growth. Meanwhile, Apple's iPad has long reigned supreme and bagged a 51 per cent market share in 2012, which is set to decline to 46 per cent this year.
In the long term, both iOS and Android will lose share to Windows tablets, though Android will still lead when 2017 rolls around. The switch from iOS to Android leadership comes as the latter offers more variety on the market, particularly with cheaper priced options.
Low-cost tablets are also expected to damage the eReader market, which is thought to have peaked in 2011 with 26.4m units, as a gradual and permanent decline will begin in 2015. IDC also expects the 2013 worldwide tablet market to end with 190.9m tablets shipped, a revision of an earlier 172.4m units.
Jitesh Ubrani, research analyst for IDC's Tablet Tracker, said: "One in every two tablets shipped this quarter was below eight inches in screen size. And in terms of shipments, we expect smaller tablets to continue growing in 2013 and beyond.
"Vendors are moving quickly to compete in this space as consumers realise that these small devices are often more ideal than larger tablets for their daily consumption habits."
Tom Mainelli, research director of tablets. IDC, added: "Microsoft's decision to push two different tablet operating systems, Windows 8 and Windows RT, has yielded poor results in the market so far.
"Consumers aren't buying Windows RT's value proposition, and long term we think Microsoft and its partners would be better served by focusing their attention on improving Windows 8. Such a focus could drive better share growth in the tablet category down the road.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...in-2013/020852

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78 per cent of US teens own a mobile phone; 23 per cent own a tablet

March 13th, 2013, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster

And 37 per cent possess a phone of the smart variety.
Pew Research has surveyed a group of American teens aged 12-17 and finds that 78 per cent of them own a mobile phone. The number declines to 37 per cent for smartphone ownership, but the number is up significantly from 23 per cent in 2011.
Such widespread access to their own devices means that one in four teens say they are now mobile-mostly web users, browsing by their phones rather than desktops and laptops. Meanwhile, 23 per cent of teens own a tablet.
Mary Madden, senior researcher for the Pew Research Center’s Internet Project and co-author of the report, said: "The nature of teens’ internet use has transformed dramatically — from stationary connections tied to shared desktops in the home to always-on connections that move with them throughout the day.
"In many ways, teens represent the leading edge of mobile connectivity, and the patterns of their technology use often signal future changes in the adult population."
The results are based on data carried out during Q3 2012.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...-tablet/020851

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Andy Rubin Steps Down As Chief of Google Android

March 13th, 2013, 23:46 Posted By: wraggster

Andy Rubin is stepping down as head of Google's Android division, according to the company. 'Having exceeded even the crazy ambitious goals we dreamed of for Android — and with a really strong leadership team in place — Andy's decided it's time to hand over the reins and start a new chapter at Google,' Google CEO Larry Page wrote in a March 13 note on Google's official blog. 'Going forward, Sundar Pichai will lead Android, in addition to his existing work with Chrome and Apps.' If Rubin had any other reasons for departing, the blog posting left them unexplained. Android has been activated on 750 million devices around the world, according to Google, on top of some 25 billion apps downloaded from the Google Play storefront. It remains to be seen whether 'start a new chapter at Google' is some sort of polite corporate euphemism for Rubin's eventual departure from the company, or if he really is taking over another project or division. Page suggested in his blog posting that Pichai 'will do a tremendous job doubling down on Android as we work to push the ecosystem forward,' which doesn't offer a lot about the operating system's future direction: Pichai does have direct control over three core platforms, raising the possibility that Google could try and exploit further crossovers between the three. But what form that will take is anyone's guess.

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/03...google-android

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US Government May Not Be Able To Fix Cell Phone Unlocking Problem

March 13th, 2013, 23:49 Posted By: wraggster

We recently discussed what appeared to be a positive response from the Obama administration on the legality of cell phone unlocking. Unfortunately, the Obama administration may not be able to do anything about it. It has already signed away our rights under a trade agreement with South Korea. Lawyer Jonathan Band, who works for the Association of Research Libraries, wrote, 'The White House position, however, may be inconsistent with the U.S. proposal in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and existing obligations in the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS) and other free trade agreements to which the United States is a party. This demonstrates the danger of including in international agreements rigid provisions that do not accommodate technological development.'You can read more about this issue in a short eight page legal primer by Jonathan Band (PDF). An interesting, related note that the U.S.-KOREA FTA is possibly inconsistent with our domestic patent/drug law in the Hatch-Waxman Act as well. The trade agreement requires us to grant injunctions until the patent is invalidated as opposed to thirty months under current domestic law.

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/03/...ocking-problem

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Apple refunds parents whose kid blew £980 on Tapped Out donuts

March 14th, 2013, 00:27 Posted By: wraggster

Haven’t we been here before?
The Daily Mail has today run yet another story of a child racking up a overdraft-smashing bill on a free-to-play iOS title. This time it’s The Simpsons Tapped out, in which eight-year-old Theo Rowland-Fry spent £980 on virtual donuts.
“It was only when my wife rang me and asked where all the money had gone that we found out what had happened,” Theo’s dad said. “She got a statement and saw there were more than 100 purchases on iTunes for between £1.50 and £75, from the middle of January and the beginning of this month.
“We received no emails alerting us to what was happening. If you buy something on Amazon you have to agree to pay for it, enter additional information to pay and then get a confirmation email so you can keep track. With the iPad it seems to be a free-for-all.
“I appreciate children are their target audience but it is not right and there needs to be specific controls in place to stop this from happening. I dread to think how many people this has happened to and how many it has happened to and they don't even know about it because perhaps it was £50 and they didn't realise.”
Apple has already agreed to refund the cash.
Dad added: “iPads can be great for keeping them occupied but there has to be more control.” Which presumably means the in-built parental control settings?
That is, unless he’s too busy to take those precautions. “We got Theo and his sister Evie an iPad to help with their schoolwork but Theo's is away in a drawer at the moment,” dad said. “We just don't have time to monitor what they are playing.”
If that’s true then perhaps the kids shouldn’t have been given their own iPad in the first place.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/apple...donuts/0112347

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Apple exec hits out at Samsung Galaxy S4

March 14th, 2013, 23:27 Posted By: wraggster

Ahead of Samsung's planned launch of the Galaxy S4 tonight, an Apple executive has slammed the new device over its "year-old" operating system.
Phil Schiler, senior vice president of worldwide marketing at Apple, hit out at the device
Typically unlike Apple, Phil Schiler, the firm's senior vice president of worldwide marketing, hit out at the device over it dated Android operating system.
Schiler also highlighted that just 16 per cent of Android users are using the platform's latest version.
"And that extends to the news we are hearing this week that the Samsung Galaxy S4 is being rumoured to ship with an OS that is nearly a year old," he added. "Customers will have to wait to get an update," Schiler told Reuters.
Despite the claims, the Android platform continues to overpower Apple's and its iOS software in the smartphone market, as the former continues to boast higher sales.
The comments further indicate the importance of the Galaxy S4 to Apple, prompting an uncharacteristic jibe from the firm.
Both Apple and Samsung are set to continue their bitter rivalry throughout the year, as Samsung unveils the highly anticipated S4 later today, whilst Apple reportedly readies its latest iPhone for an August 2013 release.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...laxy-s4/030506

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LG trolls Samsung Galaxy S4 Times Square billboard

March 14th, 2013, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster

With Samsung’s ‘Unpacked’ event is just hours away, LG has decided to photobomb the Galaxy S4 billboard with its own Optimus G ads.
Although LG has occupied a billboard at Times Square for 20 years, it has decided to update its ad to mock Samsung’s ‘4’ theme, just in time for tonight's event.
The LG ad now says ‘LG Optimus G is here 4 you now!’, and is placed directly above Samsung’s ‘Be ready 4 the next Galaxy’ ad. It’s even been cheeky enough to copy the black and white colour scheme.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...llboard/030504

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Unnamed BlackBerry partner buys 1m BB10 handsets

March 14th, 2013, 23:31 Posted By: wraggster

BlackBerry has revealed that one of its ‘established partners’ has placed an order for one million BlackBerry 10 devices.
The company claims this is the largest ever single purchase order in the firm’s history.
“An order for one million devices is a tremendous vote of confidence in BlackBerry 10,” said Rick Costanzo, EVP Global Sales, BlackBerry. “Consumers are ready for a new user experience, and BlackBerry 10 delivers. With strong partner support, coupled with this truly re-invented new platform, we have a powerful recipe for success.”
BlackBerry refuses to name who the partner is, but the huge order is a good sign for the smartphone maker, who also reported recently that the German government is adopting the BlackBerry Z10 as its phone of choice.
The firm will be reporting its Q4 and year-end results on March 28th.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...andsets/030501

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25 per cent of iPhone users may switch to a Samsung Galaxy S4

March 14th, 2013, 23:35 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy S4 tonight, we think, and 25 per cent of UK iPhone users are considering ditching their Apple smartphone in exchange for the mysterious mobile from the South Korean rival, according to shopping offers service VoucherCodes.co.uk.
The rumoured 13MP camera and eye-scrolling features are among reasons for the new interest, though 59 per cent of existing iPhone users claim they'll stand by their iOS device, while 30 per cent of BlackBerry users will stick with BB.
It seems Samsung should bear 45-54 year-olds in mind when marketing future devices, with 69 per cent of the demographic planning on switching to the brand for their next upgrade. 50 per cent of men, meanwhile, also fancy a spot of Samsung action.
Additionally, VoucherCodes says it experienced a 24 per cent spike in traffic coming to the site from Samsung devices.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...laxy-s4/020867

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UK consumers taking mobile security into their own hands

March 14th, 2013, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster

Mobile web users across the UK are increasingly downloading VPN (virtual private network) apps in a bid to safeguard their online sessions, new research from Internet security firm AnchorFree has revealed.
The Silicon Valley-based company found that active mobile users of its free Hotspot Shield VPN increased by 434 per cent in the UK last year, while the number of total installs spiked by 865 per cent globally.
This surge in global downloads can be attributed to increasing awareness of cyber threats. In 2011 the UK alone fell victim to 44 million attacks, leading a number consumers to download the app in order to securely browse the web and access content often unavailable in certain countries.
AnchorFree’s findings reflect the global appetite for all things mobile, with Gartner estimating that mobile devices will overtake personal computers to become the most common web access tools this year. Furthermore, with three billion people predicted to use the Internet by 2016, the annual cost of UK cybercrime could reach £27 billion. With this in mind, hackers and cyber criminals are continuing to exploit unprotected Wi-Fi and lax mobile web security.
“The UK is a big growth opportunity for VPN providers, as users are really starting to understand the risks of unsecure browsing – particularly from public Wi-Fi hotspots,” said David Gorodyansky, CEO, AnchorFree.
“Anti-virus software alone just isn’t cutting it when it comes to effectively repelling malware threats and identity theft. This is why our active user base is expanding so rapidly – particularly in the mobility space. Hotspot Shield is all about protecting you and your online identity.”

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...n-hands/020864

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100% Indie game tops Samsung Apps chart

March 14th, 2013, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster

Samurai Rush hits number one spot in Korea, France and the Philippines.
Launched just ten days ago by Chillingo and Samsung, the 100% Indie initiative has had its first number one hit in the Samsung Apps chart.
Developer Anton Hultdin has seen his hack ‘n’ slash runner game Samurai Rush race to the top of the Samsung Apps chart in Korea, France and the Philippines, as well as reaching the number two spot in Germany and Russia. It has also made the top ten across several other territories.
The 100% Indie project is aimed at helping to inspire and create opportunities for developers, offering them unprecedented revenue yields.
Hultdin commented on the success of Samurai Rush: “This was a nice surprise! I did not think my game would become so popular on Samsung Apps. It feels great getting all this positive response; it really encourages me to continue making games. I've had great support from 100% Indie on this. Their initiative caught my eyes and I'm glad I signed up!”

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...s-chart/020859

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Unity 4.1 released with AirPlay support

March 14th, 2013, 23:44 Posted By: wraggster

New update allows iPads and iPhones to be used as game controllers

Unity 4.1, the first update for the Unity 4 engine and toolset, is now available to download, and includes support for Apple AirPlay.
There has been an overhaul of the memory profile tool to make it more powerful, so developers know exactly where a device’s memory is going when a game is running.

The update brings developers multi-screen AirPlay support. iOS device users running version 4.3 or later can use AirPlay to stream content direct to an HDTV, and use their iPad or iPhone as a game controller – running and controlling the game from their iOS handheld device whilst watching the action unfold on screen.
Unity’s animation system Mecanim has been updated to allow developers to create blend trees using fewer nodes and in a more flexible and intuitive way with 2D blend nodes. It is possible to use 2D blend nodes to blend animations based on two parameters in a single node.
There have also been some shader updates that Unity said will help save time thanks to material-specific shader keywords and a need for less code. A shader with a number of different flags can be enabled and disabled, either via the API or by using the new Custom Material Editor functionality.

http://www.develop-online.net/news/4...irPlay-support

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Take Hands-Free 360 Degree Panoramic Photos With an iPhone

March 15th, 2013, 00:16 Posted By: wraggster

In a way, this app is nothing but a cute gimmick. There are many apps that allow you tomake panoramic photos on an iPhone, not to mention the panorama feature built into iOS6 -- andplenty for Android, too. But Cycloramic makes your iPhone spin around while standing on edge (on a smooth surface), which is a fine stunt and a great party trick. And it's endorsed by Steve Wozniak, which is a boast few iPhone apps can make. He calls it "Unexpected, fanciful, and useful all at the same time!" Even if it had no practical value whatsoever, you might want to blow 99 cents on Cyclorama just to watch your phone make you dizzy. Most Android phones won't stand on edge. (Tim's won't and neither will mine.) So an Android version would require a stand. Or at least a pattern so we could make our own stands out of cardboard or sheet plastic. But that's a "maybe," and apparently not likely to come along soon. For the moment we'll just have to envy iPhone owners as their phones magically spin around, taking photos now and then as they turn.

http://mobile.slashdot.org/story/13/...n-iphone-video

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 preview: a flagship with some familiar roots

March 15th, 2013, 00:43 Posted By: wraggster

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Samsung unveils the Galaxy S 4's software tricks: camera modes, Story Album, S Transl

March 15th, 2013, 00:44 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung is revealing what Smart software additions the Galaxy S 4 will bring to the table, and they're well beyond what's been rumored. The camera is one of the biggest focuses, borrowing much from the Galaxy Camera: Cinema Photo captures still images with moving backgrounds, a Drama Shot burst mode that creates animated GIFs, an Eraser mode to remove unwanted background subjects, and a Sound & Shot mode that puts audio in the background. A Story Album automatically creates photo albums based on common details such as location and time.
That's just the start: AirView now works with your finger, rather than a pen, and starts right from the lock screen. Adapt Display automatically tunes the display for viewing conditions to be more comfortable. S Translate, meanwhile will take both spoken and written words and translate them through several languages, inside of multiple apps.

http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/14/s...ftware-tricks/

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Samsung Galaxy S 4 official: 5-inch 1080p display, Octa-core Exynos chip and 13MP cam

March 15th, 2013, 00:45 Posted By: wraggster

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CBS brings full episode streaming in HD to iPad, iPhone and iPod touch

March 15th, 2013, 00:47 Posted By: wraggster

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YouTube Capture iOS app updated with iPad / iPad mini support

March 15th, 2013, 00:48 Posted By: wraggster

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Apple proposes iPad wireless charging with a difference

March 15th, 2013, 00:50 Posted By: wraggster

Remember when Apple's Phil Schiller mentioned he wasn't into wireless charging? Well, what he specifically said was that he didn't dig "having to create another [charging] device you have to plug into the wall." In other words, Apple is probably looking for a simpler way to make the idea work -- and that's exactly what we're looking at in the patent drawings above, which are currently being weighed up by the USPTO after having been submitted back in 2011. They show an iPad's Smart Covertricked out with an "inductive power transmitter" arranged to "wirelessly pass power" to a receiver housed within the tablet itself. The application mainly focuses on the use of magnetic attachments to trigger charging when the cover is closed, but it looks like the ultimate goal might be to use the cover as an additional battery that can keep an iPad charged up while it's on the move. That certainly sounds practical enough -- and it'd do away with the need for an additional charging accessory, which ought to keep Schiller happy for a while.
http://www.engadget.com/2013/03/14/a...arging-patent/

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Duke Nukem 2 coming to iOS next month

March 15th, 2013, 01:01 Posted By: wraggster

Before Duke Nukem arose as one of gaming's crudest characters he starred in a couple of relatively innocuousness 2D platformers. The second of which, Duke Nukem 2, is heading to iOS this April to celebrate its 20th anniversary.It will cost $1.99.The iOS port is being handled by Interceptor Entertainment in conjunction with 3D Realms. This is actually the second Apogee game Interceptor will have worked on as it's currently in the process of remaking Apogee's 1994 FPS Rise of the Triad.Duke Nukem 2 spans 32 stages and this enhanced port will feature new music and artwork with "insane VGA graphics.""Before Duke Nukem 3D, before the sunglasses, before the one-liners, and before the strippers - many gamers never knew there was another incredible alien ass-kicking Duke game, a cutting-edge game for its time that still holds up 20 years later," said CEO and co-founder of 3D Realms, Scott Miller.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ios-next-month

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Badland roams free on iOS April 4

March 15th, 2013, 01:03 Posted By: wraggster

On April 4, former RedLynx developers at indie studio Frogmind will release their first game, Badland, on the iOS App store. The vivid side-scroller wasoriginally slated to launch in March.

Frogmind is a two-man outfit: Johannes Vuorinen, who programmed the editor in Trials Evolution, and Juhana Myllys, who handled art and design onMotoHeroz. Badland is a self-described "atmospheric side-scrolling action adventure located in a gorgeous forest," with support for up to four players in local, single-device multiplayer.

In the latest gameplay trailer above, you can catch a glimpse of how power-ups work.

http://www.joystiq.com/2013/03/14/ba...n-ios-april-4/

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Samsung Galaxy S4 unveiled with eye recognition technology

March 15th, 2013, 21:49 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung’s next-gen smartphone gives you the ability to control the screen with your eyes and scroll up and down with the wave of a hand.
After weeks of speculation as to what exactly the new Galaxy device would have to offer, Samsung finally unveiled its latest offering in New York last night.
With a five-inch screen, the Galaxy S4 comes with an even larger display than that of its predecessor, the Galaxy S3. It is also slimmer, measuring 7.9mm and weighing in at 130g.
Among the most notable of the Samsung Galaxy S4’s features are its eye recognition and gesturing functions.
‘Smart Pause’ automatically pauses video footage when the user looks away from the screen, then starts it up again as soon as they look back. There’s also ‘Smart Scroll’, which allows one to scroll the browser or emails up and down simply by registering eye movements.
Meanwhile, ‘Air View’ allows users to preview the content of an email, S Planner, image gallery or video by just hovering their fingers over the screen, while ‘Air Gesture’ enables you to change a music track, scroll up and down a web page, or accept a call with the wave of a hand.
Elsewhere, the Galaxy S4 comes equipped with a 13-megapixel rear camera and a new a ‘Dual Camera’ function that allows both rear and front cameras to take simultaneous photos and videos. When capturing moments, one can choose from a variety of frame effects that blend the two pictures naturally to create a collage of small and large images.
Simon Stanford, vice president of IM division, Samsung Electronics UK & Ireland, commented: “At Samsung, we are restless about innovation, and are constantly striving to create unique experiences for our customers that will transform their lives. The Galaxy S4 does just that. We have listened to what consumers around the world want and taken the intuitive technology from the Galaxy S III a step further. Combining this with superior hardware has led us to develop the Galaxy S4, the ultimate smartphone inspired by our customers.”
The Samsung Galaxy S4 will be available from April 26th in the UK from the Samsung Experience Store at Westfield Stratford City and all other major operators. European availability is through Deutsche Telecom, EE, H3G, Orange, Telenor, Telia Sonera, Telefonica, and Vodafone.
http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...hnology/030511

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Samsung and Nokia race ahead of Apple in emerging markets

March 15th, 2013, 21:53 Posted By: wraggster

Apple handsets not quite so desirable outside of the western world.
A new report from marketing technology firm Upstream has revealed that Apple handsets have slumped to third place in the popularity stakes in the world’s emerging markets, with Samsung and Nokia racing ahead of the pack.
Following last night’s launch of the Samsung Galaxy S 4, Apple could well be in for a scrap on its own turf if it hopes to maintain its current market share. However, in the world’s emerging markets, it already appears to have lost its battle with Samsung, allowing Nokia to capitalise and make its presence felt as the main contender to the Korean manufacturer in these regions.
Upstream’s 2013 Emerging Markets Mobile Attitudes Report, which commissioned YouGov and Vanson Bourne to poll the views of a representative sample of 3,670 adults in Brazil, India, Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, showed that Apple (21 per cent) only secures third place on emerging market consumers’ wish lists - behind Samsung (32 per cent) and Nokia (22 per cent).
In spite of its declining status in Western markets over recent years, Nokia has been named the brand most Nigerians would like to own (37 per cent), and second most popular in Brazil after Samsung.
Elsewhere, the report revealed that while an appetite for high-end smartphone devices exists throughout emerging markets - 16 per cent are willing to spend more than $450 on a device –brand desirability cannot guarantee success in these areas. It also found that 27 per cent of consumers with less purchasing power will ultimately bypass their favourite brands and purchase devices with similar functionality, but at a cheaper price.

http://www.mobile-ent.biz/news/read/...markets/020874

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Samsung Galaxy S4 game pad: blurring the lines between core and casual

March 15th, 2013, 22:08 Posted By: wraggster

The Samsung Galaxy S4 arrived in New York on Thursday in a blaze of glory that did its utmost to hide the fact that this new phone, although probably establishing itself at the top of the phone world for a while, was by no means going to blow our minds.Of course, as those that have been following Apple for any length of time will know, it’s not easy to blow people’s minds with a phone: there’s only so much you can crow about a new processor, a different material or a bigger screen.Which means that manufacturers are turning to other areas to try to convince us that their shiny slab of silicon, aluminium and glass is better than another’s.One of the big things showcased by Samsung for their Galaxy S4 was a gaming peripheral called the Game Pad – an uninspiring chunk of white plastic and garish buttons – which will turn your no-longer humble smartphone into a games system.If you are rolling your eyes at this then you may well not have been paying attention to the changing landscape of phone gaming. With Ouya, Nvidia’s Project Shield and GameStick all leaning heavily on Android, this is a platform that is transcending its casual roots and showing the green shoots of a sophisticated gaming system.Yes, it’s early days – but let’s remember that these phones are perfectly capable of the kinds of graphics and raw processing power that wouldn’t have seemed out of plave on a desktop PC only a handful of years ago.The S4 has an octo-core processor, 2GB of RAM and a HD resolution screen. If you put those stats on a mythical Xbox Mobile, games players would be champing at the bit to get their hands on it.There are drawbacks, of course. Not being a dedicated gaming device brings its own set of issues, not least the ever-present spectre of battery life. It’s still okay for your gaming device to die after a strenuous gaming session, less so your primary communication device.These problems, though still relevant, are becoming less so. As devices become bigger and more powerful they have more redundancy and that creates room for gaming. When you only need a tiny percentage of your handset’s power to work as an actual phone, you start to think about other things to do with that extra power.So when Samsung is pushing a Game Pad, it’s clear that the company is well aware that its mobile devices may well begin to compete for gamers’ attention.And it doesn’t stop with the S4. For those that think (just under) 5 inches of Super AMOLED screen is simply not enough for their portable gaming, you’ll be pleased to know that the official site suggests that it will work for devices with a 6.3 inch screen. That’s almost certain to be Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 – a pocket-busting device that won’t even be announced until later this year.With PS Vita not setting the world alight, dedicated gaming handhelds are not guaranteed to have a strong future, but mobile gaming certainly will, and phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 will surely blur the lines even further between core gaming and casual.

http://www.edge-online.com/features/...re-and-casual/

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Samsung Galaxy S4: the pundits’ verdict

March 15th, 2013, 22:10 Posted By: wraggster

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S4, a new handset pitched directly against iPhone as the must-have high-end smartphone.It will be released on April 26th, accompanied by an inescapable global marketing and PR frenzy. We asked experts from TechRadar, T3 and Gizmodo UK for their hype-free view on the new handset’s stand-out features, and what it means for Apple’s iPhone.Patrick Goss, editor in chief UK, TechRadar:“It may be iteration and not revolution, but the Samsung Galaxy S4 looks set to be the best phone around when it arrives, despite some hot competition from HTC’s One. The powerful processor will be a main selling point, along with a much-improved screen and both will be a major boon to gamers and the burgeoning Android gaming landscape.The Game Pad peripheral may fall a little short in the looks department, but the effort being put in by Samsung to bring mobile gaming to its phones is a big indicator of how it sees the market changing, and there’s even little bit of a hint about the Galaxy Note 3 being compatible with a whopping 6.3 inch screen.Of course, in phone terms, the iPhone 5 is looking a little long in the tooth now, and actually even the Galaxy S3 had the edge in terms of power, so we’re all expecting (or in some cases demanding) something significant from Cupertino when it shows off the iPhone 6 or 5S in the summer.”Andrew Wooden, news editor, T3 magazine:“The main things to point out are the new ways you can interact with the phone. You can now scroll, preview messages and answer calls without touching the screen – which is all suitably Minorioty Report to get people’s attention. The eye tracking software – which, for example, pauses a video if you look away from the screen – is certainly innovative, but we’ll have to see how users take to it.The camera has a few new rhinestones, like the ability to shoot with the front and rear camera simultaneously. These are all impressive enough, but there may be a fairly low ceiling on how much people actually want to use that sort of thing.There’s a lot of other more conventional – or in this fast moving industry what we can suddenly but reasonably define as such – features packed in, such as the ability to control your TV and track your exercise.For the rest of it, we can see the continued expansion of what we consider a reasonably sized screen for a phone. Five inches is huge, but large-screened devices are fast becoming the norm in the high-end smartphone world.”

http://www.edge-online.com/news/sams...ndits-verdict/

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Apple Faces Lawsuit For Retina MacBook Pro 'Ghosting' Issue

March 15th, 2013, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster

Apple is facing a potential class action suit in San Francisco's California Northern District Court after an owner of its MacBook Pro with Retina display accused the computer company on Wednesday of 'tricking' consumers into paying for a poor-quality screen, citing an increasingly common problem that causes images to be burned into the display, also known as 'image persistence' or 'ghosting.' The lawsuit claims only LG-made screens are affected by this problem, but 'none of Apple's advertisements or representations disclose that it produces display screens that exhibit different levels of performance and quality.' Even though only one man filed the lawsuit, it can become a class action suit if others decide to join him in his claim, which might not be an issue: An Apple.com support thread for this particular problem, entitled 'MacBook Pro Retina display burn-in,' currently has more than 7,200 replies and 367,000 views across more than 500 pages.

http://apple.slashdot.org/story/13/0...ghosting-issue

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Apple's claim to iPhone trademark in Mexico gets a nail in the appeals coffin

March 15th, 2013, 23:45 Posted By: wraggster

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Samsung's JK Shin: there's 'lackluster demand' for Windows-based phones, tablets

March 15th, 2013, 23:50 Posted By: wraggster

You don't need to be Captain Subtext to understand that a few manufacturers (and developers) aren't best pleased with Microsoft's latest mobile products. The latest to damn Redmond with faint praise is Samsung's newly-minted Co-CEO, JK Shin, who told The Wall Street Journal that demand for Windows-based phones and tablets isn't sending the company's accountants cross-eyed with glee. When asked about Samsung's relationship with Microsoft after the latter deepened its ties with Nokia, Shin said: