Tech News: July 2012

Thursday, 19 July 2012

Grand X Coming Out With Stock Android

ZTE, one of China’s biggest mobile manufacturers, has unveiled the Grand X (formerly known as the Mimosa X), a dual-core 1GHz Tegra 2 smartphone, with a 960×540 qHD resolution for a 4.3″ display, a 5MP camera with auto-focus and flash, VGA front facing camera, and 4GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to another 32GB with a microSD card.

While this sounds more like an early 2011 flagship, it does have one killer feature that not many smartphones have these days – it comes with stock Android 4.0. Since so many manufacturers have skinned their Android implementations, at this point, having stock Android really is a big differentiating feature, especially for people who actually know what an Android phone is.

But the market for the ZTE Grand X could easily expand beyond those types of users, if those users recommend this phone to their friends, which is usually the case. Manufacturers will never give up skinning Android as long as people buy them the way they are, instead of choosing stock Android devices. If there is an increasing demand for stock Android, manufacturers might start changing their minds, and at least offer some good smartphone options that run stock Android. They don’t necessarily have to roll out stock Android across all their whole lineup, although obviously that would be great for us.

ZTE is the first manufacturer to do this in recent times, and I’m hoping other manufacturers will start taking notice, and do the same soon. The fact that the Galaxy Nexus has dropped to just $350, and that there may be at least five Android 5.0 devices launching this fall, gives me hope that a trend will start where both consumers and manufacturers will want more stock Android devices.

The ZTE Grand X may not be the very best phone on the market, but it seems like it will launch at a very reasonable £189.99 in UK on Virgin Media and Phones 4U, starting in August. You could also get it for free with a two year contract for £24 if you’re a new Virgin Media customer, for or £19 if you’re an existing customer.

In US, it will probably cost around $250, unlocked, so around $100 cheaper than Galaxy Nexus. That doesn’t necessarily mean the ZTE Grand X will get updates just as fast or just as many as the Galaxy Nexus, though. It all depends on ZTE, and it would be nice if they offered an upgrade schedule for it.

Fake Version of Skype Released?

A couple of weeks ago Trend Micro spotted a fake version of Skype for offer. Now Microsoft, who own Skype, has published some more details about this malware dressed up as a legitimate app.

How the malware works is like this: once an unsuspecting user installs the app, it sends SMS messages to premium rate numbers without the users’ consent. This costs the user money which goes straight into the malware author’s pockets.

The problem for the victim is that the charges for the premium SMS messages will most likely only be seen once the next bill arrives and long after the app has been uninstalled (as the victim realizes that it isn’t a legit version of Skype). This creates a big incentive for cybercriminals to continue perpetrating this type of fraud.

But why create a fake Skype app? Simple – popularity. There are millions of Skype users and it is a trusted brand. Also, its popularity seems to be growing. Earlier this year, Skype had 40 million users, all signed in, all at once. Quite a technological feat. Combined with the fact that Skype is a telephony app, which means users might not be suspicious of the fake app’s request for SMS permission, this means that less vigilant users can get stung.

Microsoft (and all the team at Android Authority) recommend the following measures:

Download your apps from only legitimate and trusted sources like Google Play and Amazon’s Appstore.

Install a security app on your Android device (see my recent roundup of the best antivirus apps)

If you do need to download an .apk file from a website (rather than one of the trusted stores) then scan the app with your PC’s antivirus before loading it onto your device. You can even use Microsoft Security Essentials (which if free) to do this.

Motorola Droid Razr Maxx Review

The good: Despite a beefed-up battery, the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx has a slim, attractive, and durable design with the same gorgeous display, 1.2GHz dual-core processor, and fast Verizon 4G/LTE data speeds as its predecessor. It retains powerful multimedia chops and tight security features.

The bad: For such an advanced smartphone, the vague promise of a future Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is disappointing. Also, while a stronger battery is great, it's still not user-removable. People with small hands will find it hard to wrap around the phone's wide frame, and the 8-megapixel camera is unimpressive.

The bottom line: The Motorola Droid Razr Maxx proves that a powerful Android superphone can remain thin yet still promise marathon-worthy battery life.

Android Jelly Bean 4.1

Just how sweet is that Bean? The Nexus 7 will be the first device to ship with the latest incarnation of the Android OS, version 4.1, also known as Jelly Bean. Though Android 4.1 on the Nexus 7 is just as customizable as previous incarnations of the OS, the way it's presented here feels much more controlled and focused, and while a bit less intimidating to the uninitiated, it also feels a bit constraining.

Part of the reason is the way the home screen now works. Well, it works the same as it does on every other Android tablet, allowing you vast customization options, but now if you turn the tablet to landscape mode the screen won't rotate. It rotates fine in apps, but as soon as you tap that home button, you're back in portrait mode. Not the biggest deal in the world, but it does contribute to a slight tinge of claustrophobia when navigating and can be quite annoying. To me, at least. Google may see it as a safety net: if you get scared or confused, just press this home button and return to the comforting bosom of the home screen in the same orientation you remember. Not a bad compromise if Google is indeed going after a mass audience with this tablet.

The dock on the bottom of the home screen is filled mostly with Google services apps like Play, Music, Books, and Magazines. There's also a folder housing Chrome -- the default browser -- as well as Google Maps, Google Plus, Gmail, and other services. Directly in the middle of the tray is the apps button. Swiping up from the home button and across the apps button takes you to Google Now, Google's new predictive personalized helper.

Google Now displays information like the current weather, local bus schedules, and nearby restaurants you may be interested in. While this can be useful on the Nexus 7 if you're near a Wi-Fi connection, it loses its appeal if you're already outside, waiting for a bus, and is much more useful on a phone.

Google Nexus 7 Review

The good: The Nexus 7's quad-core Tegra 3 processor delivers fast performance and a beautiful and responsive screen. Also, it's comfortable to hold and Android 4.1 brings a surplus of welcome additions. At only $200, the Nexus 7 is a steal.

The bad: The lack of built-in expandable storage and omission of HDMI are disappointing, and the design follows the plain, black tablet mold. The top and bottom bezels are a bit too thick.

The bottom line: With a beautiful screen, fast performance, a comfortable design, and overall great media options, the Nexus 7 is easily the best 7-inch tablet available and one of the top tablets on the market.

Sony STR-DN1030 Review

The good: The Sony STR-DN1030 is the only midrange receiver with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Its networking features also include built-in AirPlay, plus plus support for DLNA, Pandora, and Slacker. And the STR-DN1030's sound quality is excellent.

The bad: The STR-DN1030's five HDMI inputs are fewer than many competitors have. The user interface is particularly bad and makes it frustrating to use some of the streaming music services. And the STR-DN1030's multiroom functionality is very limited.

The bottom line: The Sony STR-DN1030 is the only midrange AV receiver with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, making it one of best receiver values this year.

OLED evolution in Samsung Galaxy S smartphones

While I’m sure that most of you will be interested primarily in the head-to-head battle between the S Series’ screens, DisplayMate’s report actually insists more on Samsung’s OLED evolution and in suggesting ways to drive the technology forward in the future.

If you’ll take a look at the report in full, you’ll notice that its author, Dr. Raymond Soneira, is mentioning more than just a couple of times that the technology “needs work”. Samsung’s “marketing policy” is especially criticized for crippling the OLED evolution, as most of S3’s issues come from the company’s desire to make the most competitive, brightest and power efficient display while keeping its thickness obscenely low.

Galaxy S vs S2 vs S3 screens

By far the juiciest part of DisplayMate’s analysis is the comparison between the S, S2 and S3 displays. As expected, the Galaxy S3 comes on top quite clearly, but surprisingly (for many) the differences between Samsung’s latest flagship and the S2’s screen are not exactly “critical”.

It was a widely known fact that the S3 HD Super AMOLED screen comes with more pixels and sub-pixels per inch than the S2 Super AMOLED Plus panel, but when talking about brightness the new “beast” is actually not as competitive as the old one. In fact, the S3 comes with a poorer measured maximum brightness than even the original Galaxy S, so that’s not very good for Samsung. Then again, the screen reflectance helps make the S3’s brightness downsides not as visible in real use as you would think by looking at the raw numbers.

Samsung Galaxy S3 pros and cons

The good: The Samsung Galaxy S3 comes fully loaded with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, 4G LTE/HSPA+ 42 capability, a zippy dual-core processor, and a strong 8-megapixel camera. S Beam is an excellent software enhancement, and the handset's price is right.

The bad: The Galaxy S3's screen is too dim, and Samsung's Siri competitor, S Voice, disappointed.

The bottom line: Pumped with high-performing hardware and creative software features, the Samsung Galaxy S3 is an excellent, top-end phone that's neck and neck with the HTC One X.

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Nexus 7 new release date

We’ve had incredible demand for our new Nexus 7 tablet and are shipping them as quickly as possible. When your device ships you will receive a notification from Google Play with a shipping tracking number. We will have all orders placed through July 13 processed and shipped soon. Orders placed after July 13 will ship according to the quoted timeframe when you purchased and we will update you with a tracking number when we've shipped. Thanks for your patience.

Record-Breaking Laser Hits 500 Trillion Watts

Laser physicists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have broken the record for the highest-power laser shot with a collection of beams delivering more than 500 trillion watts of peak power.

The National Ignition Facility fired 192 beams at the same time, delivering 1.85 megajoules of ultraviolet laser light to a target a mere two millimeters in diameter.
To put those numbers into perspective, the 500 terawatt figure is 12,500 times greater than the demand for electricity in 2006 in Britain, which averaged out at 40 gigawatts.

“For scientists across the nation and the world who, like ourselves, are actively pursuing fundamental science under extreme conditions and the goal of laboratory fusion ignition, this is a remarkable and exciting achievement,” said Richard Petrasso, senior research scientist and division head of high energy density physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in a press release. “The 500 TW shot is an extraordinary accomplishment by the NIF Team, creating unprecedented conditions in the laboratory that hitherto only existed deep in stellar interiors,”

The National Ignition Facility is the world’s foremost laser research establishment, producing lasers than can regularly carry more than 100 times the energy of any other laser. The 500 terawatt firing hits a milestone set in the late 90s when the facility was being planned, and takes researchers a step closer to the goal of igniting hydrogen fusion.

German court rules Motorola Xoom doesn't violate Apple's iPad design patent

Apple filed a stealth lawsuit last summer alleging that the Motorola Xoom violated the design patent that underpins the iPad. While Apple has had some success leveling its big patent gun against Samsung, the same can't be said for Motorola: a German court just declared that the reference Android tablet doesn't infringe on Apple's design claim. The ruling isn't a complete win for Motorola, however, as the court wouldn't invalidate the patent -- it could theoretically be leveled against other tablets in the future. The loss will still sting for Apple, which now has to resort to a multi-touch patent claim (among others) if it wants to make Motorola feel the heat in Mannheim.

Dropbox users get spammed via personal e-mail accounts

Some European users of the online file storage service are receiving junk e-mail from online casinos -- this may be due to a Dropbox address leak or some type of malware.

David P. was the first Dropbox user to post on the company's Web site forum titled "Email-Address leaked from Dropbox" yesterday. He wrote that he received spam from an email address he uses only for Dropbox.

"So I guess you have a security problem with your user account data," he wrote. "And this sucks a lot."

Electric Car Breaks 800km Barrier

The arguments against an electric car are growing fewer. A vehicle in development by ECOmove – a consortium of Danish car builders – has unveiled a car that can travel 500 miles without refueling. Once a sticking point for electric vehicles, distance could be ticked off the list of grievances the driving populace has with electrics. Fuel prices have moved drivers to turn to hybrid and clean diesel but advances in electric technology could signal the rise of electrics as a space for entrepreneurs and established companies alike.

Mozilla releases Firefox 14 and encrypts Google searches by default

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER Mozilla has released Firefox 14 for desktop operating systems.
Mozilla's Firefox web browser has received its six-week update with Firefox 14 automatically encrypting Google searches and supporting the Pointer Lock API. Mozilla has also included support for fullscreen mode in Mac OS X 10.7.
Mozilla said it encrypts Google search data by default, adding that users can now easily verify the identity of a web site by clicking on an icon to the left of the URL. According to Mozilla, the addition of search encryption is particularly handy for those using Firefox on wireless connections.
Firefox 14 support of Pointer Lock will improve mouse control for internet based applications and in particular games, Mozilla said. It cited its own HTML5 Browserquest game as an example of improved performance. With HTML5 expected to become the markup language of choice for web-based games developers, it seems a very good time for Firefox to support it.
Since Mozilla has put Firefox on its six-week rapid release schedule the organisation has come in for vocal criticism, with some people within Mozilla's developer community questioning whether the move has resulted in users flocking to Chrome. Although Mozilla has produced an extended support release of Firefox, the problems Mozilla has had getting users to download and install the standard version suggest that only the most informed users will move to the long-term release.

Mozilla's Firefox 14 is available for download now.

Facebook stock drops on news of decline in user base

Facebook stock dropped 2.8 percent this morning after an investment firm indicated that the social network's number of users have fallen over the last six months, Bloomberg reported.

The shares of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Facebook decreased 2.8 percent to $27.45 at 10:53 a.m. ET, Bloomberg said, while the shares of Zynga, which has games that are mostly played on Facebook, dropped 6.1 percent to $4.54. Perhaps the panic was short-lived, as the stock ended the day at $28.09, a 0.55 percent decline.

This comes on top of the stock's 8.1 percent decline yesterday.

The Capstone report, written by analyst Rory Maher, revealed that Facebook's user base in the U.S. decreased 1.1 percent over the past six months. Additionally, 14 of the 23 markets where Facebook has been successful saw a decline or little growth over the past three months.

These numbers add to the slew of stats on Facebook's declining member base. ComScore numbers from late June showed a decline of unique U.S. visitors to the site in a three-month period -- from 158.9 million in March to 158.01 million in May. Another analytics company, ForeSee, said user satisfaction also continues to decline.

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