Google has turned Chrome hands free by allowing Chrome users to say "OK, Google" to search the Web.
Feb 28, 2014
Google postpones add-on 'kill switch' for Chrome on Windows
Google yesterday gave Chrome extension developers another two months to register their work with the browser's online store, after which the company will throw a "kill switch" on most add-ons that were installed from other sources.
California court: drivers can use smartphone maps, for now
Unlike talking on a cell phone or texting while driving, a court of appeals rules that using a map app is OK under the law.
Moov Fitness Tracker Aims to be Your Virtual Fitness Coach
Moov can analyze your form as you're exercising and give you real-time tips on how you can improve your workouts.
Volvo Takes a Cue From Tesla For New Tablet-Powered Dash
Volvo’s new touchscreen infotainment system will make its debut on its next SUV Photo: Volvo
Feb 27, 2014
Google Now launcher arrives for older Nexus devices
OWNERS of older Nexus devices are being invited to update the Google Now launcher today, as the latest Android 4.4.2 Kitkat release gains wider availability.
Galaxy S5: Everything you need to know
BARCELONA, Spain -- Unless you were dead-set on a metal design and futuristic features, then Samsung's Galaxy S5 is a worthy successor in the evolving Galaxy S line.
Here at Mobile World Congress, where Samsung introduced its marquee phone to the world, I dove deep into the phone's new fingerprint scanner and heart-rate monitor, tested out the new 16-minute camera, and uncovered a few new features of our own.
I know you still have questions, so I've put together a list of some answers. If you've got more, shout them out in the comments below.
When and where does it go on sale?
Samsung will sell the Galaxy S5 on April 11 in over 150 countries. Samsung's US PR outfit told us that it will come to these carriers: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS, and U.S. Cellular. You'll also be able to pick it up at these retail stores: Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, RadioShack, Sam's Club, Target, and Walmart.
How much will it cost?
Individual carriers and stores will announce pricing on their own, but look for the handset to cost the same amount as the Galaxy S4 did last year. In the U.S., this should be about $200 with a carrier contract and around $600 to $700 unlocked.
Why isn't it made of metal?
Rumors that the Galaxy S5 would be made of metal, or that there would be a metal variant, picked up steam in the run-up to the big unveiling. So you may be a bit disappointed to learn that the GS5's body is all plastic. In the past, Samsung has used reasons of durability, weight, and price to defend its decision.
What's up with the fingerprint scanner?
The Galaxy S5's fingerprint scanner is an optional biometric measure you can use to unlock your phone, and also to pay for services through PayPal. You can log up to three fingerprints.
The swipe zone sits above the phone's home button, and you pull straight down to unlock the phone, which I found easiest to do with my index finger. For even more, check out the photos, video, and extra details here.
Why did Samsung add a heart-rate monitor?
We've seen Samsung update its S Health app, release various fitness bands, and integrate a heart-rate monitor in to the Samsung Gear 2 smartwatch and Gear Fit band. They're clearly banking on the growing convergence of personal health and personal technology.
A clever little sensor on the back of the phone is what logs your vitals, which you can track over time. Samsung isn't trying to replace medical equipment, so the feature is more of a niche one. It doesn't get in the way, and it may give the company a slight competitive advantage over fitness buffs, though I'd think the market for fitness bands and other small wearables is where they'll make the most impact there. (Readmore about the heart-rate monitor here.)
Why did Samsung make the phone water- and dust-resistant?
Waterproofing the Galaxy S5 was a bit of a no-brainer, really. The Galaxy S4 Activevariant proved that Samsung could make a phone like this, which only raised the question: why not just implement this in the first place? And so Samsung did.
So what does water-resistant really mean?
Military spec IP67 means that the phone is rated to stay underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter, or about 3 feet. You'd better make sure your important ports are sealed, too. Some phones can spend more time under the surface without damage, but the standards are there as legal protections and guidelines. (Here's a cool little tidbit on the future of device waterproofing, by the way, with a neat little demo to go with it.)
Does it have wireless charging
Is there anything new to the interface?
Yes! Some details are more subtle than others, but Samsung has sprinkled refreshed bits of its TouchWiz interface throughout. You'll notice this most in the camera app, the notifications tray, and the Settings menu. The virtual keyboard also gets a tweak, and there's some good-looking new wallpaper. You'll also notice that Samsung renamed an app or two, and pulled the Samsung Hub completely. I'm largely a fan of these changes.
Is the Samsung Hub gone for good?
Yes and no. It won't come preloaded on the phone, but you can still download plenty of Samsung apps yourself. The company said it's making a concerted effort to reduce bloatware right out of the gate, so removing the Hub as a preinstallation is a small concession to balance out all of the other space-hungry features that Samsung includes as part of the S5's ouvre.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)
Is the camera really as fast as Samsung claims?
Samsung claims that the Galaxy S5 performs feats of autofocus in 0.3-second. I didn't notice much lag with autofocus, but I can't say that I was cognizant of lightning-fast performance when I tested the camera. It just didn't stand out for me. This is a feature I'll definitely revisit when my review unit comes in.
What does the Ultra Power Saving Mode do?
Samsung claims that its new Ultra Power Saving Mode can keep the phone running 24 hours on 10 percent battery. That's a huge claim, and one I'll have to test over the course of a couple days when the device comes in. A software feature, this works by changing the display color to grayscale, limiting the processor, cutting off GPS, turning off Wi-Fi when the screen goes dark, and putting the kibosh on most of your extraneous apps.
Will Ultra Power Saving Mode come to other Samsung phones?
Samsung is at least considering releasing a software update to give other Samsung phones Ultra Power Saving Mode, and S Health 3.0 as well -- though you wouldn't get the Galaxy S5's baked-in heart rate monitor.
Is the Galaxy S5 better than the iPhone 5S?
I really don't like answering this question, because "better" is so very subjective. Instead, let me say that I do think the Galaxy S5 is shaping up to be a really excellent smartphone -- though I'm withholding final judgment for the full review. Until then, you can compare the specs, along with the LG G Pro 2, in this detailed comparison chart.
Will there be other GS5 variations?
Samsung hasn't said for certain that it will introduce other phones in the Galaxy S5 family, but history indicates yes. This would be the third generation of a scaled-back Mini, and the second generation of both the niche Zoom and Active -- though the GS5's built-in water-resistance makes that Active seem less likely. Look for variants several months after the flagship hits stores.
Buffalo Wings is a Flappy Bird clone and 'a fun little family experiment'
After Dong Nguyen pulled Flappy Bird from the App Store, Tapity developer Jeremy Olson decided the time was right for him to learn how to produce a game
Motorola Moto X coming to India soon
Motorola has launched its budget smartphone Moto G in India few weeks ago. Now, the company plans to bring its flagship device, the Moto X.Institutional ownership of Apple stock reaches new 5-year low
Institutional ownership of large-cap stocks is currently at high levels, but there is one glaring exception to that trend: Apple, which is currently at a five-year low among hedge funds, banks, mutual funds, and other such powerful financial institutions.
Apple iPhone 6 Rumors: Sapphire Provider Confirms Fall Release Date
Apple’s iPhone 6 will be launching this fall; that is, if GT Advance Technologies Inc., Apple’s sapphire supplier for its plant in Mesa, Ariz., is to be believed. GT released its fourth-quarter results on Monday
Microsoft Could Slash Windows Phone Licensing Fees By Up To 70%
Microsoft partner and soon to be subsidiary Nokia introduced Android-powered devices in an apparent bid to go after the low end of the market at MWC this year, but
IBM Wants Its Jeopardy Supercomputer To Feed Your Phone
We know that IBM’s Watson supercomputer is good at trivia. It beat two Jeopardy champions on the iconic TV game show in 2011. But IBM wants far more from this machine. It wants Watson to feed the apps on your cell phone.
Google Now launcher available in the Play Store to Nexus and GPE devices
Want that Nexus 5 feel on your Android device? The Google Now launcher is now available in the Play Store. The launcher, which brings up Google Now with a quick swipe to the left from the home screen, was one of the selling points for KitKat. Now it’s one of the reasons to have an Android device.
Buy a name for yourself - on a Martian crater
A project called Uwingu has begun selling naming rights to 500,000 craters on Mars to try to raise $10 million for science research and education.
Uwingu is selling names to 500,000 classified but unnamed craters on Mars to raise funds for science education and research.
Facebook's WhatsApp deal has unnerved phone companies
Global giants of the sector, such as Samsung and Vodafone, battle for attention with obscure Taiwanese game developers and iPhone case makers. Barcelona’s economy is dominated by the event for a week, its streets are choked with taxis and its tapas restaurants do enough trade to fight on for another year.
Feb 26, 2014
Zuckerberg promises Facebook won't ruin WhatsApp
Entreprenuer’s aim is to keep Facebook and WhatsApp’s policies different and maintain the original services.
Zuckerberg shares his views on his latest acquisition at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. PHOTO: FILE
How much is the Internet of everything worth?
The Internet of everything will have five to tens the impact on society than the Internet itself, says Cisco CEO John Chambers.
Cisco CEO John Chambers speaks at Mobile World Congress while the moderator snaps a quick photo.
(Credit: Roger Cheng/CNET) Samsung Galaxy S5 specs and shipping date.
The Samsung Galaxy S5
It supports LTE Cat-4 mobile broadband and Wi-Fi 802.11ac wireless
networking with one really impressive feature: the "download
booster." This bonds the Wi-Fi and LTE connection to maximize the downlink
bandwidth, which apparently can go as high as 650Mbit/s as a result of the
coupling.
Leaked images show Google smartwatch prototype made by Motorola
Leaked pictures of Google's rumoured smartwatch prototype, made by Motorola, have reportedly surfaced online.
San Francisco woman allegedly attacked and robbed for wearing Google Glass in bar
A San Francisco woman was allegedly attacked and robbed for wearing Google Glass in a bar on Friday night. Sarah Slocum told local CBS affiliate KPIX that as she was demonstrating Google's device for another patron, two women angrily confronted her. Soon after, a man at the bar tore Glass off of her face,
Tesla, Panasonic said to plan $1B investment in US battery plant
Tesla and Panasonic may hook up on a US battery plant with a total investment close to $1 billion, according to a Japan-based report.
The future Tesla Model X. A battery plant is planned for the U.S.(Credit: Tesla)
Apple updates retail store webpage with iOS 7-inspired design
Apple on Monday refreshed the "Apple Retail Store" section of its website with a clean aesthetic inspired by iOS 7, complete with copious white space and Helvetica Neue Ultra Light banner text.
With the new look, Apple has brought the informational retail section more in line with the rest of the company's official website, which has moved from skeuomorphic graphics to a "flatter" design seen in iOS 7. The tweaked page was first spotted by ifo Apple Store.
While the Online Apple Store and other dedicated product pages switched to a white, open look shortly after the launch of iOS 7, the retail location landing page was stuck with a layout from the days of iOS 6.
With a hefty serving of negative space, the retail pages take on a "flatter" look and no longer appear out of date. Gone are the drop shadows, "depressible" blue buttons, gray background and overarching use of global light.
Instead of being segregated into separate "boxes" as seen below, text and images are now merged in a continuous flow of content. For example, the top carousel, which currently rotates through promotional images and text for the iPad, iPhone and MacBook Pro, abuts a wide-screen image of the Amsterdam Apple Store.
Retail store webpage prior to Monday's redesign.
Previously, second-tier pages like "Shop," "Learn" and "Genius Bar" had their own divisional boxes. The three categories — with the same pictures and corresponding text — are still there, but instead of being segregated, they share a common row of negative space.
Ancillary retail pages have received the same treatment, including the Apple Store locations list.
The update is representative of Apple.com's continual evolution, which usually takes graphical cues from the company's operating systems.
Feb 25, 2014
Samsung is banking on you shaping up this spring.
Samsung is banking on you shaping up this spring.
The company on Monday unveiled its new Galaxy S5 smartphone, which is set to go on sale in April, along with a pair of fitness-themed watches. And many of the features included on the devices focus on fitness.
The company on Monday unveiled its new Galaxy S5 smartphone, which is set to go on sale in April, along with a pair of fitness-themed watches. And many of the features included on the devices focus on fitness.
Considering America’s continued fascination with fitness and fitness products, this is probably a good idea.
Telegram Saw 8M Downloads After WhatsApp Got Acquired
The App Store is a strange and whimsical bedfellow. It is a kingmaker, but with that comes the tears of the anointed, the displaced and the never-rans.
BlackBerry Q20 Smartphone To Feature Trackpad And 3.5" Touchscreen
BlackBerry Limited (BBRY: Quote,BB.TO: Quote) unveiled a new flagship smartphone designed to deliver its full and distinctive QWERTY experience on BlackBerry 10. The company said that the new BlackBerry Q20 smartphone will feature the familiar and classic 'Menu','Back','Send' and 'End' buttons and the integrated trackpad to enable the fast efficient navigation and one-handed use that has endeared the brand to its QWERTY customers.
Verizon: Heavy Web users should pay more
Heavy broadband users should help shoulder the cost of their traffic, but Verizon Communications does not give preferential treatment to some Web traffic, the company’s CEO said Monday.
BlackBerry announces new phones, services
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — BlackBerry will release a low-cost phone in Indonesia in April and plans a broader release of a phone that restores a beloved row of control keys with a track pad.
The Indonesia phone, the Z3, will sell for less than $200 without subsidies, the company said Tuesday. It will later expand to other markets in southeast Asia. BlackBerry Ltd. CEO John Chen said a version with faster, 4G connectivity is planned for the rest of the world "sometime in the future before I die."
The Indonesia phone, the Z3, will sell for less than $200 without subsidies, the company said Tuesday. It will later expand to other markets in southeast Asia. BlackBerry Ltd. CEO John Chen said a version with faster, 4G connectivity is planned for the rest of the world "sometime in the future before I die."
Mark Zuckerberg Says WhatsApp Worth More Than $19 Billion
Facebook Inc. (FB:US) Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said WhatsApp Inc., which his social-media company agreed to buy last week, was “worth more than $19 billion.”
HTC unveils Desire 816 to chase growth in cheaper smartphones
Peter Chou, chief executive officer of HTC Corp., unveils the new HTC Desire 816 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Monday. Photo: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg
Barcelona/Taipei: HTC Corp. unveiled a lower-priced smartphone at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as the unprofitable Taiwanese smartphone maker chases growth in cheaper handsets.
The Desire 816 is a smartphone priced in the mid-tier and will be available in China starting in March and in other countries beginning in April, chief executive officer Peter Chou said at a press conference on Monday.
HTC this month forecast its third consecutive operating loss as shrinking sales and rising competition erode market share. Taoyuan-based HTC is counting on initiatives including wearable devices and a new version of its One handset to help reverse two straight annual declines in revenue as Chinese competitors including Xiaomi Corp. sell smartphones for as little as $100.
“With the HTC One leading in the premium segment, it’s clear that there’s a huge opportunity in the middle of the market,” Chou said. “Many people want to have an affordable smartphone that does not compromise.”
HTC plans to demonstrate the first of three wearable devices this week in Barcelona, a person with direct knowledge of the plans said last week.Smartwatch prototype
A smartwatch prototype based on Qualcomm Inc.’s Toq device will be previewed to carriers at the Mobile World Congress and HTC is also developing a watch using Google Inc.’s Now service, the person said, asking not to be identified because the details haven’t been released.
Separately, the company announced the Desire 610, which it calls a compact entertainment hub, with a 4.7 inch (12 centimeters) screen, a quad-core processor and fourth-generation LTE connectivity. It will be available across Europe from May, according to a press release.
The Desire 816 has a 5.5-inch screen, 1.6 gigahertz quad- core processor and a 13 megapixel rear camera, fourth-generation LTE connectivity. Prices for the devices weren’t disclosed.
Better marketing and customer service this year will help HTC convince consumers to buy its devices, which received strong reviews last year while posting declining sales, chairman Cher Wang said this month.
HTC, one of the few global companies that only makes smartphones, had a 30% drop in sales last year following a 38% decline the year before. Its stock has fallen 8.2% this year and lost 90% since a peak in April 2011.Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg riding high - for now, after WhatsApp deal
Zuckerberg's purchase of WhatsApp places Facebook at the heart of smartphone communications. (File photo)
Google boss Eric Schmidt says Internet censorship could become impossible.
Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt has reportedly said that more revolutions like the one in Ukraine would be seen when another two billion people connect to the Internet in the next five years or so.
Critics verdict: Samsung Galaxy S5 is fast, but fingerprint scanner is clunky
Samsung has finally unveiled its latest flagship device, the Galaxy S5 smartphone at the Mobile World Congress. Samsung hasn’t gone for anything too drastic as far as the phone’s design is concerned, and it looks exactly like the S4 except with a slightly bigger 5.2-inch screen. It has a
4.4 billion-year-old crystal points to chill early Earth
A pretty bit of blue zircon dating back billions of years to the formation of the Earth's crust may be one of the oldest pieces of the planet.
This shard of zircon is providing valuable information and is also very pretty.
(Credit: John Valley/University of Wisconsin) With Galaxy S5, Samsung hopes substance wins over sizzle
Account of Samsung S5 launch event as compared to S4 launch event.
Samsung put on a streamlined, focused show, and needed to get back to basics if it wants to move past the disappointment that was the GS4.
J.K. Shin unveils the Galaxy S5.
(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET) To diagnose prostate cancer faster, scientists bring aboard engineers
Using computational modeling, a team of doctors and engineers are working together to create a quicker, less-expensive way to help diagnose prostate cancer.
Engineer Brian Denton is working with a team at the University of Michigan to find the most effective prostate cancer biomarkers.
(Credit: Screenshot by Elizabeth Armstrong Moore) HTC chairwoman: Our smartwatch will be ready by Christmas
Here's one more potential item for your holiday wish list. Another project for HTC: Tablets.
HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang.
HTC's smartwatch is indeed real, and it'll be here in time for the Christmas shopping season.That's according to HTC Chairwoman Cher Wang, who confirmed to CNET that the company was working on a smartwatch and that it would be ready for the holiday season.
Feb 24, 2014
WhatsApp Plans Voice App for Devices From IPhone to Android
WhatsApp Inc., the instant-messaging service being bought by Facebook Inc.(FB:US) for $19 billion, plans to add a voice function in the second quarter in a bid to make its application more attractive.
Facebook, Ericsson partner on innovation lab to expand Internet reach
Ericsson will open an "innovation lab" on the Facebook campus to help with the development of apps and services on mobile networks.
Hacker Square at Facebook's Menlo Park campus.
NASA says Muslims Banned From Mars
Space enthusiasts have been chatting for over a year now about the news of Mars One and how nearly anyone can sign up for a one-way trip to Mars in the near future. It can be a difficult decision for some—a chance to start over, the opportunity to be among the first to populate another planet and to possibly live on forever in Martian history. But many others see it as a dangerous trip, one akin to suicide for those who choose to go. That is why according to NASA, Muslim clerics from the United Arab Emirates have banned practicing Muslims from traveling to Mars.
Why the Android-powered Nokia X is great for Microsoft
There are few better ways to prove your impartiality than by letting marquee partner Nokia run a rival platform.
The new Nokia X.
Say the magic words to wake the next generation of voice-controlled devices
A new generation of audio and motion-sensing technology based on the human ear is always listening out for your voice.
In a world of smart watches, fitness trackers and other devices that don't lend themselves to keyboards or touch screens, a new generation of audio and motion technology based on the human ear could see you telling your phone what to do by waving it in the air, tapping on the table, or saying the magic words.
Samsung Galaxy S5 to be unveiled today
Samsung Electronics will unveil its highly-anticipated Galaxy S5 at the event scheduled at the Mobile World Congress on Monday in Barcelona.The Galaxy S5 is variously rumoured to have a fingerprint scanner on the home button; a 5.24-inch, full high-definition display; a water and dust-proof case, possibly metallic, and a 16 megapixel camera.
Samsung has already sent out invitations for "Samsung unPacked 5" event on February 24 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
Feb 23, 2014
Samsung breaks from Android with redesigned, Tizen-powered Gear 2 smartwatches
Korean electronics giant Samsung on Saturday unveiled the second generation of its Gear smartwatch line, updating the wrist-worn device's industrial design and moving from Google's Android to the Samsung-backed Tizen operating system.
Samsung made the Gear 2 slightly thinner than its predecessor and relocated its camera from the strap to the watch's main body, giving users the option of changing straps. A second model, the Galaxy Gear Neo, is mostly identical but does not feature a camera.
In addition, the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo add built-in heart rate sensors alongside a pedometer, features Apple is rumored to include in its so-called "iWatch." Samsung promises real-time feedback "allowing users to develop a customizable fitness routine and monitor their heart rate in order to improve their overall well-being."
Both Samsung wearables sport 1.63-inch Super AMOLED displays and are powered by 1-gigahertz dual-core processors with 512 megabytes of RAM and 4 gigabytes of internal memory. Battery life from the 300 mAh lithium ion battery is said to be 2 to 3 days.
There is no word on why Samsung chose to eschew Android, though there have been reports that relations between Google and its largest OEM partners are strained. Along with the change to Tizen — the development of which is guided jointly by Samsung and Intel — Samsung has added several first-party applications including a standalone music player and television remote control.
As before, the Gear line will only connect to Samsung's own handsets. The company said they are "compatible with more than dozens of Samsung Galaxy smartphones at launch."
Samsung indicated that the Gear 2 and Gear 2 Neo will be available starting in April, though pricing has not yet been revealed. Consumers will be able to purchase the watches in a variety of colors, including Charcoal Black, Gold Brown and Wild Orange for the Gear 2 and Charcoal Black, Mocha Grey and Wild Orange for Gear 2 Neo.
If You Own an Apple Mobile Device, Upgrade Its Software Now
On Friday night (Feb. 21, 2014), Apple announced a major security flaw in their software for mobile devices. And I do mean major—it left users open to a “man in the middle attack”. That’s pretty bad. If you used an insecure WiFi connection (at a coffeehouse, hotel, or airport, etc.), this flaw could allow someone to interject themselves electronically into transactions you make on your iPhone or iPad, allowing them to access a lot of your information you thought was secure (like, say, credit card numbers).
Nerdrage inception.
This flaw has been around a while (and it looks to me like it was due to a cut-and-paste error in some code), but Apple just issued a patch that should fix it. If you use an Apple mobile device, stop what you’re doing right now and upgrade to the new version of the mobile OS—ZDNet has a good article with details.
It’s easy to do the upgrade (though your kilometerage may vary). All I had to do was plug my device into my computer, open iTunes, click the button for the device I just plugged in, and then looked for the button that says, “Check for update”. Click, and away I went. In your case, it may pop up an alert kickstarting this first when you plug the device in. Another way is to do it on the mobile device itself: Go to Settings, then General, then Software Update. It'll help you from there.
Nerdrage inception.Photo by Phil Plait, used by permission
Of course, it wasn’t that simple for me.
Now having said that, I had some trouble upgrading. I have an iMac that’s up-to-date, an iPhone 4S, and an iPad 2. The iPhone upgraded just fine, and it took about 15-20 minutes.
The iPad upgrade, though, was something of a disaster. The device disconnected itself in the middle of the upgrade for some reason (I really don’t know why; I had it sitting off by itself on the corner of my desk; all I can think of is the cable got bumped). Interrupting the process is never good, and in this case it totallyfreaked out my iPad. I lost everything on it and it wouldn’t even show me my home screen!
Being an alpha geek, though, I had a complete backup stored on my computer, so I didn’t panic. I disconnected the iPad, reconnected it, and then reset it to the factory settings (which is just a button on the iTunes screen when you plug the iPad into your computer). I then simply restored it from the backup…
… which didn’t work. Oh, all my apps came back, but the only music that showed up in my Music app were a handful of albums I recently bought through iTunes. Last year I spent a dreadful weekend importing all my old CDs into iTunes, and those were gone off the iPad. Weirdly, they were still in iTunes on my Mac; they just wouldn’t sync with the iPad.
Then I noticed my videos were gone as well; I have a few I made on my iPhone and camera that I’d moved over to my iPad, and they simply weren’t there (though again, they were in iTunes, and marked specifically to be synched). Nothing I did would sync them back!
I poked around a bit, and saw that in the Music tab for my iPad on iTunes, my Playlists were checked to be synched, but the other lists (Artists, Albums, etc.) were not. Curious. I checked all the boxes listed under Artists, and resynched the iPad to see if at least they would get moved over.
Voilà ! All the music showed up (including the other lists). Not only that, all my videos did too. They were not there before, and then they were. I have no clue why, so I assume it was gnomes (who will, no doubt,jump right to Step 3).
I’ll note that I’ve been using computers a long, long time (the first machine I ever used was a PDP 11 in case you’re tempted to get into a “well I started off using a blah blah blah” war with me), and stuff like this makes me fairly irritated. The original OS error looks like an honest if terrible mistake, and I’m sure some coder at Apple is having their head handed to them right now over this. But it’s when I try to use my stuff as a human being that I can feel my blood pressure rise. Windows, Mac, it doesn’t matter; the interface between human and computer seems to be getting more difficult, not easier. And I’m not pleased I had to spend hours diagnosing this when I have better stuff to do, like write about anti-science and politics and generally things less irritating than computer nerdery.
I don’t know if my iPad upgrade problem is common or not, though one colleague at Slate also had the same thing happen (and he has an iPad 4). I’d hate to be an Apple genius right now; the phone calls will be flooding in, I’d wager.
As it happens, my iPad is getting pretty long in the tooth, and it’s time for me to replace it. I was leaning toward getting the shiniest new iPad (I do like much of the way it works) but this has given me pause. I guess I’ll be hitting teh Interwebs and looking at reviews of what’s out there.
Thus endeth my tale of iWoe. I certainly hope things go more smoothly for you, BABloggees. And as a final note: Whether you use Apple, Windows, or what-have-you, I do suggest getting yourself a VPN. I’m not sure it would’ve helped in this case, but I find it very useful indeed when I travel. Obviously, computer security is a major issue. Our privacy online is getting eroded away, and having beefed up security is simply A Good Idea.
Where do Apple rumors come from? Digitimes explains
Digitimes Research sheds some light on the the Apple supply chain -- the source of many a rumor -- before the release of the product.
(Credit: Mock-up by Brooke Crothers based on iPhone 5S)
With a large-screen iPhone 6 possibly showing up this year, Digitimes Research provides some insight into where and when Apple rumors likely originate.
In an article posted Friday titled Explaining the Chaiwan Model for the Mobile Supply Chain, Digitimes Research talked about, among other things, timing.
"We may provide shipment data for Apple 1-2 months before it even begins selling in the market, because that is when the supply chain delivers it to Apple," Digitimes Research said.
That may explain the crush of relatively reliable rumors that typically hit about a month before the product appears.
But there are stages before that. "When Apple is getting a product ready for the market, the product is in the supply chain pipeline 6-9 months before Apple even announces its launch," Digitimes Research said.
That assertion about a product being at suppliers but still going through changes six to nine months before release sheds light on some of the more dubious rumors that appear early on.
And where does the process begin?
"A brand like Apple or Samsung controls everything in the process of bringing their products to market...For example, it starts with the key component provider, which in the case of smartphones is the application processor."
So, a chip, like the Apple A7, or rumored A8 -- generally referred to as application processors -- may play a big part in the early stages of the product.
In a related discussion, Digitimes Research also notes that there "has been a seismic shift" in the design and manufacturing of products.
If you look at [processor] provider MediaTek, the company no longer follows a strict roadmap. It simply reacts to what the market wants. In 2013, for example, MediaTek sometimes went a couple of months without releasing a new product and then would release two products in the same month. They weren't following a roadmap, they were chasing demand.
Finally, Digitimes Research also spells out how Apple (and Samsung) have a different approach to mobile (smartphones and tablets) as opposed to laptops.
Huge brands like Apple and Samsung...continue to pursue a vertical integration strategy whereby they can control more of the design...in order to give them differentiation...However, this is a much different business model than that seen in the notebook industry, where ODMs provide designs to the brands and choose their own components. ODMs do a lot of heavy lifting in terms of product development, while EMS firms simply provide manufacturing services. The brands have much more control over the overall design and component choice.
Early Apple rumors, like the concept video above of an "iPad Pro," are usually pure speculation.
Feb 22, 2014
Microsoft to reportedly cut Windows pricing by 70% as Apple, Google eat PC marketshare
As the mobile device market — led by device from Apple and Google — continues to devour traditional PC marketshare, Microsoft is reportedly looking cheaper Windows licensing fees in a bid to stop the hemorrhaging.
Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg reports Microsoft will slash Windows licensing fees by 70 percent for low-cost hardware manufacturers in an attempt to regain marketshare lost to devices running iOS, Android and Chrome.
Under the supposed pricing scheme, OEMs will pay $15 to preinstall Windows 8.1 on devices that sell for less than $250. The fee is down from a traditional rate of $50 per device. Further, Microsoft will not impose restrictions on hardware size or form factor as long as the final product meets the required low retail price.
In addition to the lower fees, Microsoft will also relax its licensing standards by allowing manufacturers using the cheaper rates to forego logo certification. Usually, hardware compatibility is vetted by the Redmond, Wash., company. In addition, these sub-$250 products do not have to be touch enabled.
Recently-appointed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is said to be pushing for accelerated development and launch timelines for new Windows devices. The rumored licensing price cuts may be part of that plan.
Friday's report follows rumors that Microsoft is "seriously considerding" allowing Android apps to run on both the PC and mobile iterations of Windows. The move would allow the Windows maker to tap into Google's immense share of the mobile device market.
Apple snaps up app-testing company Burstly
(Credit: James Martin/CNET )
Apple is said to have acquired the app-testing and analytics startup Burstly, and on Friday all but confirmed it:"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans," an Apple spokesperson told CNET.
Burstly is the operator of popular developer services like TestFlight, which lets app makers deploy an app to a small amount of users for field testing before wider release. That way, developers can work out kinks and monitor things like in-app purchases and the app's durability against crashing, without having to put the product up for full release on an app store.The startup also announced this week that it would end TestFlight's support of Android apps on the platform -- a clear indication of Apple asserting its new ownership, taking a dig at iOS's arch rival. Android support will officially end on March 21st.
TechCrunch, which first reported news of the deal, also said that the startup's engineers have already begun working at Apple.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Apple is clearly continuing its trend of scooping up smaller companies for technological gains, as opposed to bigger, splashier buys, like Facebook made this week in its jaw-dropping purchase of messaging service WhatsApp for over $16 billion.
Apple is the next Microsoft, analyst says
Barclays analyst Ben Reitzes says he just doesn't see growth in Cupertino's future, whether it's from a watch or a TV.
Is this really Steve Ballmer?
(Credit: James Martin/CNET)The first time I ever talked to an analyst, she told me that I was perfectly sane, but merely needed a few hundred Prozac to lighten my burden.
This early, troubling experience has tended to color my encounters with the word "analyst."
However, in the venal world of money, every time an analyst speaks, numbers seem to twirl on Wall Street in nervous reaction.
I am surprised, therefore, that Wall Street and half of California didn't endure electrical faults on hearing that an analyst had declared Apple heading down Microsoft Way.
As Business Insider reports, Barclays' Ben Reitzes sniffed that Apple's shares were, you know, alright to have and to hold, but only if you're prepared for richer or poorer.
"Frankly, we just couldn't quite bring ourselves to use smart watches or TVs as reasons to raise numbers," he said. "Nor were we fully convinced that these products could move the needle like new categories did in the old days."
Ah, the old days. When iPods were exciting and Barclays was just a bank.
Reitzes, though, continued to make the one comparison that will energize the bile of many who believe Apple to be the way, the truth, and the life.
He said: "We look at a valuation analogy vs. Microsoft from 2000 to about 2010 and see no precedent that large-size tech companies simply start to broadly outperform again after a tough year or two if the law of large numbers is catching up to them and margins have peaked."
In essence, Apple is just like Microsoft, merely steps away from a flattened mediocrity, and ready to elect a hoodie-wearing cricket fan to the CEO's throne.
Reitzes might turn out to be right. It may well be that Apple slips into a fallow irrelevance, as other competitors (who?) stomp upon it with innovation (what innovation?).
Still, analysts make many predictions so that at least some of them might turn out to be right. Some analysts, I understand, even put their money on the very opposite side of where there mouth is. It's called being clever or something.
Your fickle is their normal.
Why, just two years ago, an analyst issued an upgrade note on Apple. He used phrases like "solid momentum," "pent-up demand" and "bloody hell, there's money to be made here."
Actually, I made the last one up.
What I'm not making up is that the optimistic analyst of 2012 was Barclays' Ben Reitzes.
Has it really all gone so wrong for Apple in these last two years?
One analyst says "perhaps." Another says "perhaps not."
Feb 21, 2014
Samsung Materials Affiliates Hold Investment Due to Slow Business
It has been about four months since the electronic material research center of the Samsung Group was opened in Suwon City, Gyeonggi Province. However, its subsidiaries’ move-in is continuing to be delayed. Besides, the recent poor performances of Cheil Industries, Samsung SDI, and Samsung Fine Chemicals and their investment postponement announcements are adding difficulties to the Samsung Group’s plan for the promotion of its material business segment.
At present, Cheil Industries has yet to complete its relocation, and Samsung Fine Chemicals is planning to be housed there from next month, according to its plan to move the headquarters to Suwon. Only Samsung SDI has finished the relocation so far.
Under the circumstances, some industry insiders point out that the Samsung Group has failed to draw up a big picture for the restructuring of its materials business arms. “The overhaul is likely to be led by Samsung Electronics, but no specific plan has been suggested yet,” said one of them, adding, “It seems that Samsung is suffering from the lack of a control tower.”
The trouble has been compounded by the subsidiaries’ less-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter of last year. Not a few investment plans have been put on hold, signaling some change in their long-term business strategies. Cheil Industries and Samsung SDI recorded losses in that quarter while Samsung Fine Chemicals’ annual operating profits fell below zero. The first has decided to reexamine its 1.8 trillion won (US$1.68 billion) investment plan for the next three years. The third is going to pace itself as well in manufacturing polysilicon and positive electrode active materials for secondary batteries.
Things were quite different earlier last year. At that time, Cheil Industries took over Novaled, which owns OLED patents, and sold its fashion business unit to Samsung Everland to speed up the reorganization. However, the pace has been significantly slowed, due mainly to the poor performance of Samsung Electronics, one of its major clients.
The group has not come up with any countermeasures, either. This means that the future of the subsidiaries of Samsung is not entirely rosy in the short term.
Samsung Fine Chemicals is moving ahead with its polysilicon and active material businesses, through collaboration with SunEdison (formerly MEMC) of the US and TODA of Japan. Samsung SDI, in the meantime, is producing products based on its PDP patent contracts with Seiko, Asahi, Sony, etc. Although they have hundreds of patents and their own R&D teams and projects, these are easily eclipsed by its rivals like LG Chem.
This is why some employees of the companies are claiming that the chemical business unit, rather than electronics, lead the development of the materials business in view of its own characteristics, that is, at least five to 10 years is taken for at least some tangible results. Then, it is Cheil Industries that is to assume the central role. Still, it remains to be seen whether or not Cheil Industries is capable enough when its business showings and relations with the National Pension Service, the largest shareholder, are taken into consideration.
At present, Cheil Industries has yet to complete its relocation, and Samsung Fine Chemicals is planning to be housed there from next month, according to its plan to move the headquarters to Suwon. Only Samsung SDI has finished the relocation so far.
Under the circumstances, some industry insiders point out that the Samsung Group has failed to draw up a big picture for the restructuring of its materials business arms. “The overhaul is likely to be led by Samsung Electronics, but no specific plan has been suggested yet,” said one of them, adding, “It seems that Samsung is suffering from the lack of a control tower.”
The trouble has been compounded by the subsidiaries’ less-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter of last year. Not a few investment plans have been put on hold, signaling some change in their long-term business strategies. Cheil Industries and Samsung SDI recorded losses in that quarter while Samsung Fine Chemicals’ annual operating profits fell below zero. The first has decided to reexamine its 1.8 trillion won (US$1.68 billion) investment plan for the next three years. The third is going to pace itself as well in manufacturing polysilicon and positive electrode active materials for secondary batteries.
Things were quite different earlier last year. At that time, Cheil Industries took over Novaled, which owns OLED patents, and sold its fashion business unit to Samsung Everland to speed up the reorganization. However, the pace has been significantly slowed, due mainly to the poor performance of Samsung Electronics, one of its major clients.
The group has not come up with any countermeasures, either. This means that the future of the subsidiaries of Samsung is not entirely rosy in the short term.
Samsung Fine Chemicals is moving ahead with its polysilicon and active material businesses, through collaboration with SunEdison (formerly MEMC) of the US and TODA of Japan. Samsung SDI, in the meantime, is producing products based on its PDP patent contracts with Seiko, Asahi, Sony, etc. Although they have hundreds of patents and their own R&D teams and projects, these are easily eclipsed by its rivals like LG Chem.
This is why some employees of the companies are claiming that the chemical business unit, rather than electronics, lead the development of the materials business in view of its own characteristics, that is, at least five to 10 years is taken for at least some tangible results. Then, it is Cheil Industries that is to assume the central role. Still, it remains to be seen whether or not Cheil Industries is capable enough when its business showings and relations with the National Pension Service, the largest shareholder, are taken into consideration.
Samsung Group seems to have a vision with NX30, Galaxy Camera 2
Samsung Galaxy Camera 2 price to be announced around launch
Samsung NX30 has 20.3MP APS-C CMOS Sensor, can capture fast-paced moments in perfect clarity.
At the Samsung Group Forum in Bali, the buzz was all around the updraded versions of a bunch of its mobile devices as well as the enterprise oriented tablets. However, the Korean tech giant also showed that it means business in a segment that it has not really been able to monopolise so far.
The Samsung Group announced the Samsung NX30 and the Samsung Galaxy Camera 2. The first a compact system camera delivering high quality images and the second a sequel to the Galaxy Camera line-up that brings smartphone-like sharing to imaging devices.
The NX30 has an advanced 20.3MP APS-C CMOS Sensor and can capture fast-paced moments in perfect clarity thanks to its 1/8000 sec Shutter speed and the 9 frame per seconds (FPS) continuous shooting function. The NX30's NFC and Wi-Fi capabilities creates a 'eTag & Go'f function that lets users tap and share photos instantly and easily. The Photo Beam feature allows users to transfer images or videos between smartphones or tablets by simply touching devices together.
The Galaxy Camera 2 lets users enjoy the full benefits of the Android platform. Its 16M BSI CMOS Sensor is supported by a 21x Optical Zoom. It also featured an upgraded 1.6 GHz Quad-Core processor supported by a massive 2.0 GB of RAM. The Galaxy Camera 2's 121.2mm (4.8-inch) HD Super Clear Touch LCD adds to the experience.
Samsung will announces the prices closer to the India launch dates.
Apple eyes smart magnets to attach accessories to your iPad
The iPad already houses magnets that can hold smart covers and cases. Now, a newly-published Apple patent filing envisions a greater attraction for the technology.
(Credit: Apple/USPTO)
(Credit: Apple/USPTO)
The iPad's magnetic personality could help users attach an array of accessories to their tablets.
Published Thursday by the US Patent and Trademark Office, a patent fittingly named "Magnetic Attachment Unit" describes how the iPad's current magnet system could be expanded to hook up with docks, stands, touchpads, joysticks, cameras, other iPads, and even a special magnetic ring. iPad owners would be able to couple the tablet with an accessory without having to rely on the dock connector.
Accessories would connect to any side of the iPad, including the bottom, letting the tablet attach to compatible docks and stands. Apple's iOS would support the technology, so iPad users could attach or detach an accessory by pressing the home button.
Two iPads might even hook up with each other to expand their capabilities. Content displayed on the screen would extend from one iPad to the other. You could also view the screen on one iPad and use the virtual keyboard on the other iPad. Finally, the patent filing describes a magnetic ring that would let you swipe your hand over the screen to activate certain features.
As always, a patent filing doesn't mean the technology will ever appear in the real world. However, since magnets are already built into the iPad to support smart covers, expanding that idea to other accessories seems a natural next step.
And whether or not Apple moves forward on this front, at least one other company wants to tap into the power of magnets. Unveiled by Nano Magnetics at CES in January, a patent-pending device called Nanoport would use magnets to connect mobile devices with each other and with separate accessories.
Barclays downgrades rating on Apple stock due to maturing smartphone market, tells investors to 'step aside'
Shares of Apple stock slid Thursday morning after investment firm Barclays Capital lowered its rating on shares of the iPhone maker, saying it doesn't expect the stock to break out of its current trading range within the next year, and suggesting its performance could become comparable to that of rival Microsoft.
Analyst Ben A. Reitzes issued a note to investors, provided to AppleInsider, in which he advised them to "step aside," citing a maturing smartphone market that he believes presents limited future growth potential for Apple's iPhone. And without a new "revolutionary" product, he doesn't believe shares of Apple will see a boost anytime soon.
"Frankly, we just couldn't quite bring ourselves to use smart watches or TVs as reasons to raise numbers — nor were we fully convinced that these products could move the needle like new categories did in the old days," Reitzes wrote on Thursday.
The analyst said that as an iPhone user, he's "very excited" about some of the company's new products in the pipeline, with potential innovations in mobile payments, geolocation, and wearable devices. But as an investor, he doesn't see Apple introducing anything as groundbreaking from a financial perspective as the iPhone or iPad.
"We believe Apple's story is all about iPhones and 'new categories' seem to be designed to make the iPhone more useful — but don't necessarily reaccelerate growth in the iPhone category to sustainable double-digit levels," he wrote. "If we were to see evidence that payments and/or new content deals enhance the Web services aspect of Apple vs. Google and others long-term, we may need to reassess this opinion."
Reitzes then went on to cite the valuation of Apple's rival Microsoft from 2000 to 2010, and suggested that Apple might see a similar pattern. The analyst said that he sees "no precedent" that large tech companies can broadly outperform once again after "a tough year or two."
In his eyes, the "law of large numbers" may have caught up with Apple, and the company's gross margins may have peaked.
"As a result, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with saying shares could be range-bound as we move from product cycle to product cycle until we can see Apple creating entirely new markets in the cloud," he said.
Accordingly, Barclays has downgraded Apple from an "overweight" rating to "equal weight," with a continued "neutral" outlook for the company. The firm's price target for shares of AAPL is $570, or about $35 higher than where it is trading as of Thursday morning.
Analyst Ben A. Reitzes issued a note to investors, provided to AppleInsider, in which he advised them to "step aside," citing a maturing smartphone market that he believes presents limited future growth potential for Apple's iPhone. And without a new "revolutionary" product, he doesn't believe shares of Apple will see a boost anytime soon.
"Frankly, we just couldn't quite bring ourselves to use smart watches or TVs as reasons to raise numbers — nor were we fully convinced that these products could move the needle like new categories did in the old days," Reitzes wrote on Thursday.
The analyst said that as an iPhone user, he's "very excited" about some of the company's new products in the pipeline, with potential innovations in mobile payments, geolocation, and wearable devices. But as an investor, he doesn't see Apple introducing anything as groundbreaking from a financial perspective as the iPhone or iPad.
"We believe Apple's story is all about iPhones and 'new categories' seem to be designed to make the iPhone more useful — but don't necessarily reaccelerate growth in the iPhone category to sustainable double-digit levels," he wrote. "If we were to see evidence that payments and/or new content deals enhance the Web services aspect of Apple vs. Google and others long-term, we may need to reassess this opinion."
Reitzes then went on to cite the valuation of Apple's rival Microsoft from 2000 to 2010, and suggested that Apple might see a similar pattern. The analyst said that he sees "no precedent" that large tech companies can broadly outperform once again after "a tough year or two."
In his eyes, the "law of large numbers" may have caught up with Apple, and the company's gross margins may have peaked.
"As a result, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with saying shares could be range-bound as we move from product cycle to product cycle until we can see Apple creating entirely new markets in the cloud," he said.
Accordingly, Barclays has downgraded Apple from an "overweight" rating to "equal weight," with a continued "neutral" outlook for the company. The firm's price target for shares of AAPL is $570, or about $35 higher than where it is trading as of Thursday morning.
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