Friday, December 31, 2010

AMAZON FINALLY ENABLES BOOK LENDING


Amazon has enabled Kindle book loaning on select titles. Of course, there are caveats: books can be loaned only once, for a period of fourteen days. As you'd suspect, the loaned books can be read using the e-reader itself or the free Kindle app for any of your various devices (including iOS, BlackBerry, Android, PC, and Mac). While a book is being borrowed you can't read it yourself, and the publisher has the final word on which titles are eligible for lending. [Engadget]


NOOK BECOMES BARNES AND NOBLE'S BEST SELLING ITEM OF ALL TIME


The veteran bookseller just announced that the Nook lineup -- 3G, WiFi, and the new Nook Color combined -- has become "the company's biggest bestseller ever in its nearly 40-year history." Unfortunately, we can't say exactly just how many that is, as the press release only announces "millions" being sold. A B&N rep we spoke with told us they likely wouldn't specify any further, nor would there likely be a breakdown of sales by individual model.

Other notable factoids include Nook Color's reign as the company's "number one selling gift of the holiday season" and nearly one million "Nook books" downloaded on Christmas Day. In fact, the company now sells more digital books than it does physical books over BN.com (not brick and mortar stores). [Engadget]


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RUMOR: VERIZON iPHONE TO BE ANNOUNCED BY VALENTINE'S DAY


According to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek on Wednesday, Apple will hold a special event by Valentine’s Day to introduce a new iPhone compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. The report mirrors one of two theories posed by BGR Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Geller earlier this month. Businessweek goes on to suggest that while the launch of an iPhone for Verizon Wireless could have a sizable impact on AT&T’s business, it will not be the “death blow” many have speculated. Even if AT&T loses as many as 6 million subscribers as a result of Verizon’s iPhone launch, Businessweek postulates, the lost revenue will only amount to 4.8% of the carrier’s projected 2011 sales. [BGR]



FACEBOOK MOST SEARCHED TERM AND VISITED SITE OF 2010


Social networking juggernaut Facebook was the most-searched term and most-visited website of 2010, according to Experian Hitwise. Facebook, which was the most searched term in 2009 as well, actually appears four times, in one way or another, on Hitwise’s top ten list; facebook login, facebook.com, and www.facebook.com ranked second, sixth, and ninth respectively. The social network’s site also accounted for 8.93% of all U.S. visits between January and November of 2010 — Experian does note that a combination of all Google-owned properties totals 9.85% of all U.S. page visits during the same period. Facebook beat out Google, Yahoo! Mail, Yahoo!, and Youtube who came in second, third, fourth, and fifth respectively. [Experian Hitwise via BGR]


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RUMOR: SPECS OF VERIZON'S FIRST LTE PHONE


According to HTInside, a German blog, the HTC Thunderbolt (formerly the Incredible HD) will be Verizon's first LTE enabled phone. The specs according to the blog include:


  1. 4.3 inch screen
  2. 1.2GHz Snapdragon dual-core processor
  3. 8 megapixel rear-facing camera with dual LED flash
  4. 5 megapixel front-facing camera
  5. WiFi b/g/n
  6. Bluetooth
  7. GPS
  8. aGPS
  9. 16GB internal storage
  10. micro-SD card slot compatible up to 128GB
  11. 1800mAh battery
  12. Android 2.3
Sounds pretty impressive if it is true. [HTInside translated]


GOOGLE IGNORING ANDROID BUG THAT SENDS SMS MESSAGES TO WRONG PERSON


According to a report from ZDNet blog Hardware 2.0, Google’s Android platform is being plagued by a bug that Google is, for the most part, ignoring. The bug causes SMS messages to be delivered to the wrong recipient and occurrences appear to be random. Relegated to “Priority-Medium” on the Android developer forums, the bug was first reported to Google over six months ago in June, 2010, and yet it has still not been addressed. Perhaps the simplest description of the issue comes from the developer who first reported it:
  1. Send SMS message to RecipientA.
  2. Message appears to be successfully sent to RecipientA.
  3. RecipientX receives message.
  4. ‘View Message Details’ in RecipientA thread, shows ‘To’ field as being RecipientX’s MSISDN (phone number).
Numerous subsequent posts on the thread confirm the bug. In an on-site poll, Hardware 2.0 also asks readers if they have been affected by this SMS bug. At the time this post was written, 30% of poll-takers indicated that the bug has affected their Android phones at some point. [BGR]


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GEINIMI TROJAN APPEARS IN CHINA; AFFECTS ANDROID DEVICES


A new trojan virus called Geinimi has appeared in China aimed at Android. The trojan is spreading via third party app markets. Geinimi has been repackaged to look like a popular game, but is in fact a trojan virus. The official versions of these games on the Android Market are fine, it’s the repackaged versions on third-party networks that carry the Trojan and need to be avoided. Examples of the games are:

  • Monkey Jump 2
  • Sex Positions
  • President vs. Aliens
  • City Defense
  • Baseball Superstars 2010

Lookout Mobile Security, who identified the threat, is still looking into what Geinimi can do. This is what they have found it can do so far:

  • Send location coordinates (fine location)
  • Send device identifiers (IMEI and IMSI)
  • Download and prompt the user to install an app
  • Prompt the user to uninstall an app
  • Enumerate and send a list of installed apps to the server

Lookout also points out this is the most advanced Trojan they have seen yet for Android even if it was quite obvious to spot by the security company. [Geek]


Thursday, December 30, 2010

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WINDOWS PHONE 7 MARKETPLACE DRM CRACKED



Devious devs have punched a hole in Microsoft's WP7 marketplace DRM, allowing for the free installation of paid apps. The technique is currently just in proof of concept form, as illustrated in the video above—but a public release would mean an app piracy bonanza, if only a brief one. WPCentral says Microsoft is aware of the hole—so it'll be interesting to see whether exploitative software or a patch hits devices first. [Gizmodo]

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LEAKED: ASUS TABLETS TO HAVE SLIDE OUT AND REMOVABLE KEYBOARDS


Details are sparse, and the info is unconfirmed, but screengrabs from Italian site eeepc.it show a chalkboard mockup of a "transforming" tab with a removable physical keyboard, along with the EP102, whose keyboard slides out. We'll have to wait until next week for concrete details, but the prospect of Asus playing with the already stale tablet form factor is exciting. [Gizmodo]



SKYPE VIDEO CALLING FOR iPHONE IS OFFICIAL


In a shocking announcement, Skype has officially confirmed a video calling app for the iPhone and it is available now. Skype's official iOS client has finally sprouted the ability to make video calls, allowing iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, and fourth-generation iPod touch users to share real-time video amongst each other and users of Skype's Windows, Mac, and Linux clients along with the ASUS Videophone (obviously, 3GS users won't have the convenience of a front-facing camera, but they'll still be able to broadcast video from the rear-facing one). Additionally, you'll be able to receive video from others if you're using an iPad or a third-generation iPod touch. The service is free and works over both WiFi and 3G -- and considering Skype's existing PC footprint, we'd argue this stands a very real chance of putting the hurt on FaceTime usage. No word on when Skype will be making video-capable clients available for Android or other mobile platforms, but Skype says that there'll be "plenty more" announcements in Vegas next week, so we wouldn't be surprised. [Engadget]


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RIM RESPONDS TO PLAYBOOK BATTERY ISSUE RUMOR


RIM has responded to the rumors the BlackBerry Playbook is being delayed due to battery life issues and released the following statement to Erictric:
Any testing or observation of battery life to date by anyone outside of RIM would have been performed using pre-beta units that were built without power management implemented. RIM is on track with its schedule to optimize the BlackBerry PlayBook's battery life and looks forward to providing customers with a professional grade tablet that offers superior performance with comparable battery life.
While this is not an outright denial of the rumored issues, it does make it clear that the software being implemented was not in a mature state and any testing was premature.



NOKIA EMPLOYEE DISCOUNTS NOKIA USING WINDOWS PHONE 7 RUMORS


Watts Martin, a Nokia employee, has put the smackdown on a recent rumor Nokia is going to start using the Windows Phone 7 mobile OS on some of its smartphones. The rumors started when former Microsoft executive Stephen Elop became CEO of Nokia. The rumors further heated up last week when Eldar Murtazin, an industry insider, wrote the company might build "an entire line of Windows Phone devices that may go under the name Nokia."

Watts Martin, a LAMP and Django Web developer at Nokia, stated that the idea of Nokia considering Windows Phone 7 as a possible platform for its devices is “stark raving loony.” Martin states that while Symbian and MeeGo are both open source, Nokia demands complete control over its operating systems and there would be no way to achieve that using Microsoft’s mobile platform. Martin does not indicate in his blog post that he speaks for Nokia in any official capacity. [BGR]


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MOBILE PHONE CHARGERS STANDARDIZED....IN EUROPE


Two European standards bodies on Wednesday delivered standards for a universal micro USB phone charger, which will let Europeans use one charger for multiple phones.
The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) this week released charger standards for data-enable mobile phones, or phones that can be connected to a computer.
"I am very happy that the European Standardization Bodies have met our request to develop within a short space of time the technical standards necessary for a common mobile phone charger based on the work done by industry," European Commission vice president Antonio Tajani said in a statement. "Now it is time for industry to show its commitment to sell mobile phones for the new charger. The common charger will make life easier for consumers, reduce waste and benefit businesses. It is a true win-win situation."
The Commission expects the first common chargers and mobile phones compatible with the new standards to hit the European market in early 2011.
In June 2009, more than a dozen mobile phone makers – including Apple, Nokia, and Research in Motion – agreed to standardize on the micro USB plug in Europe. It received the backing of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in October 2009. The European Commission then handed down a mandate in December 2009 requiring CENELEC and ETSI to deliver common charger standards. The groups have now delivered on that requirement.
Other companies that joined the agreement were Emblaze Mobile, Huawei Technologies, LGE, Motorola Mobility, NEC, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, TCT Mobile (ALCATEL), Texas Instruments, and Atmel.
In a statement, the Commission said incompatible chargers are not only an inconvenience for customers, but also an environmental concern. "Users who want to change their mobile phones must usually acquire a new charger and dispose of the old one, even if it is in good condition," the Commission said. [PC Magazine]


Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WHICH ANDROID COMPANY UPDATES THE FASTEST?


Since Google has finally announced version 2.3 of the Android OS, also known as Gingerbread, the time has come for people to start clamoring for an update. Some phones will probably be bumped up fairly quickly, while others will languish in the doldrums of Froyo, or maybe even Éclair. Samsung has been using some vague, discouraging language regarding a Galaxy S update, which is surprising.

Do you have a right to updates?

Unless a phone is advertised as being upgradable to another version of the operating system, you have to take what you get. Even if what you get is a strong suggestion from a handset maker that you go pound sand. When you buy a phone, you are making the decision to buy it based on the feature set it has, not what it could have. You can certainly take into account what you think the update cycle will be like, but that is, unfortunately, on you.

We might prefer that manufacturers always take the time to update all their phones as far as possible. But that doesn't mean they owe you the update, but you don't owe them repeat business either. Manufacturers should be updating phones so users continue to buy from them, and speak highly of their work. It's more of a social contract than you having a right to anything. Instead, the decision to update phones are more often straight business decisions.

When updates don't flow as expected, users will inevitably start complaining. Some might decry this display of impatience, but we understand. You've got no recourse, and some handset makers are just cutting corners with the updates. It's the complaints that can at least keep these companies aware that people are watching how the navigate this new world of speedy software updates. Even though you aren't necessarily entitled to an update, it's right for a manufacturer to provide them.

Look at the involved parties

Since Android phones come from different manufacturers, the updates come from different places. To complicate matters even further, the various carriers have a hand in the process too. First the maker of the phone has to commit to modifying the stock Android OS to work with their phone. There are drivers, UI layers, and built-in apps that must be added. Some of this is more necessary than the rest, but something always needs to be done. It can be a lot of work depending on the phone.

Let's say that a company has decided to make an update for their phone, after it's done, it still isn't really done. The carrier that sells that phone to consumers will have to validate the update to make sure it isn't going to brick thousands of phones, or damage the network. These are both headaches that the carrier would have to deal with, not so much the manufacturer. In both of these phases of getting you update, the companies involved seem to matter a great deal. We’ve noticed some trends you might find useful.

If updates are important to you, stay away from Sony Ericsson Android phones. They've really shown a terrible proclivity for letting phones stagnate while they drag their feet on updates. The Xperia X10 was a hotly anticipated phone when we first saw it in November of 2009. It went on sale for some carriers in spring 2010, but didn't even reach the US until late summer, and it was still running Android 1.6. Some international units got 2.1 updates in November, but US X10 phones are still waiting. Let's remember this is only Android 2.1 here, not 2.2 Froyo. 2.1 was released nearly a year ago, and it's just now hitting Sony Ericsson 's high-end phones?

Surprisingly, Samsung is also making us a little concerned with their update cycle. The Galaxy S phones started dropping over the summer, and most are still on Android 2.1. Only the international version got its update. US users are still waiting for Froyo goodness. Especially when they are the hardware partner on the Nexus S with Android 2.3. It's a little embarrassing that their other phones are two versions behind. If you buy a Samsung phone that isn't the Nexus S, buy it because you love the handset the way it is.

HTC and Motorola have both been fairly good about software updates. HTC managed to get a Froyo update for the Evo 4G just one month after it launched. Motorola released the Moto Droid 2 with Froyo in late summer, and updated the Droid X immediately thereafter. All quick updates in our book. But even these manufacturers with fairly good records have some upset customers waiting on updates. Some Motorola Milestone users are upset about the update lag the have had to put up with. Fact of the matter is, updates also depend on what specific phone you get.

As for the carriers, we've found both T-Mobile and Sprint to be very fast at certifying updates (in the case of Sprint, see the Evo update). Verizon and AT&T are a little slower on the uptake, but they still get the job done. Verizon in particular is famous for rejecting both phones and software packages if they find bugs. So maybe the final package will be better, but you will have to wait a few extra weeks.

The phone matters too

Unless you have some sort of technological clairvoyance, this is going to be hit and miss unless you take the wait and see approach, but picking a phone that sells a lot of units is the best way to guarantee yourself an update. Companies know that if a user base is large enough, even a vocal minority can shame them pretty severely. Look at the fiasco when the original Droid had to wait over 3 months for the bump up to 2.1. Motorola's next blockbuster phone, the Droid X, got a speedy update from 2.1 to 2.2, and it's running a skin that would have to be modified. So if you buy right away, you might be taking a risk that the phone is a flop, and the manufacturer will resist spending resources on an update.

The "wait and see" approach mentioned above is just fine, but don't wait too long. If you pick up a phone that's been out for more than 6-8 months, it might be about to hit 'end of life' with the carrier. If no one new is buying it, manufacturers are more apt to stop developing for it. This is not only because they don't need to convince new customers to buy it, but because the hardware might be getting out of date. If it takes too much work for them to make an update work on a slower phone, they won't do it. It's more advantageous to move on to the new model. It's this situation that could keep the original Droid from getting Android 2.3.

We've long assumed that longer waits are to be expected for phones running heavy UI skins, like HTC Sense and Moto Blur. We still think this has an effect, but it may be smaller than we had originally thought. Quick updates for the Droid X and Evo 4G over the summer show that a motivated company can bump their flagship phones up faster than expected. Still, stock phones will probably get their updates a little faster because there are fewer custom apps to be QC tested.

Finally, it might be a good idea to spend a little more on that shiny new phone. Sure, buying the $99 mid-range phone might save you a few bucks up front, but you had to sign a two year contract to get that price. A less expensive phone probably isn't going to see the same level of support from carriers of manufacturers. These are commodity phones, and it's the flagship handsets they care about. For example, the Motorola Cliq and Backflip just recently got 2.1 updates from 1.5. Only ten months late there. The more expensive phones will hurt your wallet at first, but if you care about updates, the value of the handset will be much higher.

It's a bit of a jungle out there when it comes to Android updates. You can never be quite sure how things will pan out for you and your phone. You may not have a right to a Gingerbread update, even if you buy a Froyo phone. But we definitely think you should get one. Manufacturers that aren't updating properly are often doing so out of self-interest. You can lessen the impact of this mess by going with handset makers and carriers that are faster with updates. Though, we would emphasize the manufacturer over the carrier here.

Perhaps most important of all, is that you pick a phone with a large, dedicated user base that is not close to the end of its hardware cycle. That will ensure you the best chance of getting the updates you crave. It almost goes without saying, but if you want the fastest updates, the Nexus S is your best bet. The current development platform is going to get new software first. [Tested]



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FORCE YOUR ANDROID PHONE TO CHECK FOR AN UPDATE


You have read, on Teh Gay Geek of course, that an update has been released for your Android phone, but after patiently waiting your phone just sits there doing nothing. Well, now you can force your mobile phone to check for an update just by punching in a few symbols and numbers.

To get your phone into the queue right away, dial *#*#checkin#*#*, substituting the dial pad numbers for the letters. I used it on a Nexus S to pick up a bug-fixing upgrade, and users of other Android phones on different networks, like the Droid Eris on Verizon, have seen some success with it. Let us know in the comments section below if it worked for you. [Gizmodo]



RUMOR: SKYPE LAUNCHING A VIDEO CHAT APP


Skype has a website up with a "What's Next" campaign running on it. It shows random videos of outdoors with the tag line "I wish I could share moments like these." Could this be a teaser of a Skype video chat app? Guess we have to wait until either CES or the Mobile World conference to find out for sure.


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ANDROID MARKET HAS OVER 200,000 APPS


According to independent Android app tracker AndroLib.com, Google’s Android Market is now home to over 200,000 apps. The site also reports that the Market’s apps have been collectively downloaded over 2.5 billion times. The news should hardly come as a surprise, of course, as developers are becoming increasingly focused on Android, which is poised to become the most popular smartphone platform in the U.S. early next year. Android’s global market share is skyrocketing as well, having gained a whopping 22% of the world’s smartphone market between the third quarters of 2009 and 2010 alone. [BGR]



RUMOR: CLIQ 2 AND DELL STREAK 7 TO LAUNCH JANUARY 9TH ON T-MOBILE


According to an unconfirmed report, T-Mobile will launch two new Android-powered devices in mid-January. Enthusiast blog TmoNews claims that a source has pegged January 19th as the tentative release date for both the Motorola CLIQ 2 and the Dell Streak 7. The CLIQ 2 was last rumored to feature Motorola’s MOTOBLUR UI atop Android 2.2, as well as a unique QWERTY keypad that has no gaps between the keys. The Dell Streak 7 will reportedly be a 7-inch tablet with dual-cameras and version 2.2 of the Android OS. Neither device has been confirmed to be launching next month by T-Mobile or its respective manufacturer, though both are expected to be announced next week at the Consumer Electronics Show. [BGR]


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USE YOUR FACEBOOK PAGE TO CREATE ART


If you don’t have the talent and know-how to construct a visually appealing and improvised Facebook layout like that of French artist Alexandre Oudin, fear not. A new Facebook application dubbed Profile Maker will allow you to easily and painlessly emulate Monsieur Oudin’s thoughtful layouts. So if you’re low on creativity, but still want to impress your friends, give Profile Maker a shot. [BGR]


RUSSIA TO GO OPEN SOURCE


Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has ordered his country to begin switching from closed-source operating systems, like Windows, to open-source ones like Linux. He has given the country's infrastructure managers until 2015 to complete this transition.

In addition he wants to create a national repository of open-source software, similar to Apple's App Store. Russia’s move to divorce its IT infrastructure from relying upon an American company’s operating system seems like another small step away from relying upon America. [Geek]


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RUMOR: 3 MODELS OF iPAD TO BE LAUNCHED IN 2011


According to sources, it seems we can expect three models of the iPad 2. It is believed the models will support Wi-Fi with some also supporting either UMTS or CDMA. Verizon Wireless, which utilizes CDMA technology, began selling Wi-Fi versions of the iPad this year accompanied by MiFi devices to allow the iPad to be utilized on their cellular data network in the absence of a CDMA version. In comparison, AT&T offers the 3G version of the iPad since it is built for use on their network, in addition to the iPhone.

It seems Apple hopes the ability for the iPad 2 to connect to more than one type of wireless network will help meet the demand that Apple is currently seeing with 3G versions of the original iPad. Currently, 60%-65% of iPad shipments are 3G models. Apple also plans for anti-smudge and anti-reflective treatments for the iPad 2 to allow it to better compete with the Kindle.

Mass production of the iPad 2 models are expected to begin in the second half of January 2011 with Apple shipping 500k-530k of its units to its channels by the end of the month. An official launch of the iPad 2 is expected to occur by the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second. Production of the original iPad is expected to stop after January with 2-3 million units rolling over into the new year from 2010.

Based on the success of the original iPad, Apple is planning an agressive push of the iPad 2 with 40 million units expected to ship in 2011. Those shipments will account for 65%-75% of the tablet PC market. [Geek]

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

U.S. HANGING UP ON LANDLINES


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released early estimates from the January-June 2010 National Health Interview Survey. While the survey collects information on health status, health-related behaviors and heal care utilization, it also collects information about household telephones and whether or not anyone in the home has a wireless phone. The trend that has developed over the last few years is that people are ditching their landline phones in favor of wireless service only.

Statistics collected from the first six months of this year show that more than one in four households (26.6%) did not have a landline phone, but did have at least one wireless phone in the home. That number shows growth of 2.1% when compared to the last six months of 2009. The survey also found that one in six U.S. homes (15.9%) received all or almost all of their calls on wireless phones even if they had a landline in the home.

When you dig into the survey’s numbers even more you discover that this survey marks the first time that the number of adults in wireless-only homes have exceeded those in landline households when looking at any range. More than half of adults (51.3%), ages 25-29 years, live in wireless-only households. Another interesting statistic, and one with the highest prevalence rate for population subgroups examined, showed that two in three adults (69.4%) living only with an unrelated adult roomate, had just a wireless phone in the household. Considering the pain it is to split up a landline bill, let alone take messages for a roomate, I think many of us can understand why.

The trend of U.S. homes going wireless-only will no doubt continue in the years to come and helps demonstrate why many telecommunication companies fought hard to add wireless service to their menu of products so that they might retain customers ditching traditional landlines. [Geek]


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LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST APPLE AND APP MAKERS FOR SECRET USER TRACKING


Apple and a number of iPhone app makers including Pandora and Dictionary.com were sued Monday for allegedly helping advertisers secretly create profiles of iPhone users, including their location, without their consent.

The suit, filed in federal court in Northern California, seeks both a court order to stop the profiling and monetary damages.

At issue is the practice of some app makers of passing identifying and location information about an app user to companies that show advertisements inside the apps. The apps do not ask permission to do so, nor do they make it clear to users that such information is being sent to third parties.

Other apps named in the suit include Toss It, Text4Plus, The Weather Channel, Talking Tom Cat, and Pimple Popper Lite.

The tracking is possible because Apple assigns a UDID (Unique Device Identifier) to each iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, and apps can access that number. Advertising companies figured out this number – akin to a social security number for a phone - can be used for tracking, much like a cookie in a browser.

If an app passes along that number to an advertisers, the advertising company can use it to build up a profile of the user, as well as keep track of which ads it has shown to a user before and which of those ads a user clicked on.

With browser cookies, however, a user can easily block them or delete them, essentially cutting off the profile. Neither is possible with apps that use UDIDs, since that number can't be changed.

The suit contends that apps that send that UDID, along with location information, to third-parties violate computer and business fraud laws. Apple is likewise responsible, the suit argues, because it approves all apps for the iPhone.

"Apple knew this was an issue," said Majed Nachawati, one of the lawyers who filed the suit. "They had a duty to warn consumers and at a minimum, if they intend to profit from this, they need to let people know and get their consent."

Apple's developer rules were changed in the spring to prohibit apps from passing data to third party advertisers, a prohibition that many saw as favoring Apple's own in-app advertising program and which has not been enforced.

The practice of apps sending location data and the UDID came to light thanks to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal, published earlier this month.

Apple, unlike Google, approves every app that can be installed on a iPhone through the app store. While Apple says that's to protect users and the ecosystem, it's also the reason the company is named in the suit.
Defendant Apple, by exercising significant control over App developers and sharing profits with them, has created a "community of interest" with the other Defendants to render them joint venturers, who are responsible for each other's torts. Defendant Apple has also aided and abetted the remaining Defendants in the commission of their legal wrongs against Plaintiffs and the proposed class.
The suit also comes just weeks after the Commerce department and the Federal Trade Commission separately released reports calling for online advertising companies to clean up their acts and be more transparent with users. [Gizmodo]


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MCAFEE RELEASES 2011 TOP CYBER ATTACK TARGETS


McAfee, just acquired by Intel, has released its list of top cyber attach targets for 2011. Topping the list is URL Shortners followed by GeoLocation and Mobile.

URL Shorteners:
McAfee Labs says that URL-shortening services, which create more than 3,000 URLs per minute, will be a significant target for cyber criminals in 2011. Because social media sites are already riddles with cyber criminals, these links are going to be used for spam, scamming and other malicious purposes, says the company. Interestingly, McAfee recently launched its own URL shortener, McAf.ee

GeoLocation Services:
Geolocation services, such as Foursquare, Gowalla and Facebook Places, are expected to also be a security target as cybercriminals can see in real time who is Tweeting, where they are located, what they are saying, what their interests are, and what operating systems and applications they are using. McAfee says this personal information that is publicly shared allows cyber criminals to create a targeted attack.

Mobile:
mobile is expected to a huge target in 2011 as more consumers and businesses use smartphones. McAfee says that this increase in usage, combined with “historically fragile cellular infrastructure and slow strides toward encryption,” will put user data on mobile phones at high risk for an attack.

McAfee also named Apple as a target. The Mac OS platform has been known for warding off cyber criminals but the McAfee Labs warns that Mac-targeted malware will continue to increase in sophistication in 2011. And as iPads and iPhones populate businesses, there is the risk for data and identity exposure.

With the dawn of controversial site Wikileaks, McAfee says that next year will also bring more politically motivated attacks to the web. McAfee Labs says that “hacktivism” will become the a new form of political demonstration. [TechCrunch]

RUMOR: APPLE TO RECEIVE 5-6 MILLION VERIZON iPHONES Q1 2011


According to DigiTimes, citing sources from Taiwanese component manufacturers, Apple's shipment goal from their manufacturer of CDMA iPhones is set at 5-6 million units. This shipment goal is for CDMA iPhones, which will be launched in North America and Asia Pacific in the first quarter of 2011.

Overall, Apple has raised the shipment goal for all iPhones from 19 million units to 20-21 million units in first quarter 2011. [DigiTimes]


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LEAKED: NEW MEDIA PLAYER IN ANDROID



The default media player in the Android mobile OS is mediocre at best, but that could all be changing. A group of folks over at XDA Developers forum has gotten their hands on a release of Honeycomb, the next Android update after Gingerbread, that shows a new media player.

The new player will have a lot more color, flourishes like volume meters next to the currently playing song, and a more visual album view that looks similar to Android’s image viewer. Also according to some comments on the XDA forums, the new app does have streaming capabilities but it is not currently turned on. [TechCrunch]




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SEARS TO LAUNCH NETFLIX COMPETITOR


Sears, who also own Kmart, has just announced they will be launching a movie streaming service. They have partnered with Rovi who has just purchased Sonic Solutions. The new streaming platform will be named Alphaline and allow Sears and Kmart consumers to download movies and TV shows online. The service will be available on a number of devices including mobile according to the announcement.

A number of Sears’ competitors including Walmart have already started to dabble in the online movies space. Walmart recently bought Vudu, a service that streams movies to internet-connected TVs. BestBuy teamed up with Sonic to put its movie library in all of the Web-connected devices the company sells at its stores.

But when it comes to actual movie rentals from the web, these companies haven’t been able to compete with giants like Netflix. [TechCrunch]


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Monday, December 27, 2010

NISSAN LEAF ALLOWS DRIVERS TO EARN TROPHIES


Taking a page from Xbox Live or the Playstation Network, the Nissan Leaf allows drivers to compete with other Leaf owners in their area for trophies. The Regional Rankings page of the Carwings system rates drivers on driving efficiency against others in their area. Drivers can earn bronze, silver, gold and platinum trophies. [Engadget]


GAMESTOP TAKING PRE-ORDERS FOR NINTENDO 3DS


GameStop has started taking pre-orders for Nintendo's handheld 3DS. It appears the deposit varies by location (a store in NY wants $50 and store in AZ wants $25) and no word on final price, although it has been widely believed to be close to $300. If your local GameStop doesn't know what you are talking about, have them enter the SKU number '020132' in their computer. Orders will begin shipping in March. [Engadget]


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FACEBOOK OVERTAKES YAHOO TO BECOME #3 WEBSITE


Yahoo’s downward spiral continues. As an early Christmas present to some of its employees, the company laid off 650-700 employees in an effort to rightsize the company in the wake of disappointing financial results. Most of the layoffs were targeted at the company’s product division as a part of a strategy to shut down websites which are not profitable for Yahoo!

Many people would assume that Yahoo’s chief rival would be Google. Though Google is indeed a target that Yahoo! needs to keep its eyes on, it seems that the company’s most immediate threat is coming from Facebook as backed up by comments from Yahoo’s CEO and the latest numbers from comScore. comScore’s November results show that Facebook has now taken the title as the world’s third largest website from Yahoo! Facebook has been slowly creeping up into the number three spot as demonstrated by previously published results for October.

For November, Facebook posted 648 million unique visitors compared to Yahoo’s 630 million. Remaining in the top two spots are #2 Microsoft with 869 million unique visitors and #1 Google with with 970 million. That’s not the only lump Facebook would give Yahoo! in November, though.

During the same month, Facebook also supplanted Yahoo! to become the second largest video website in the U.S., but don’t expect a fight from Yahoo! anytime soon to take back its video website title. The company has already decided to kill its Yahoo! Video website and point users to its Flickr property.

To be fair though, it’s not all doom and gloom for Yahoo! The company is still #1 in total U.S. monthly visitors with 181 million compared to Facebook which sits in the #4 spot with 152 million. [Geek]


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FINANCIAL TIMES NAMES STEVE JOBS PERSON OF 2010


Steve Jobs has been named person of the year by The Financial Times, a UK news organization. In January, Jobs took to the stage at San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center to launch what would become known as the iPad. Few would argue about the waves the iPad created in the technology sector and among news organizations as it cemented the evolution of news from being offered via magazines and newspapers to digital delivery. The event also became a pinnacle moment in the comeback of Jobs professionally after taking a six-month leave of absence the year before.

Jobs’ medical leave was a result of failing health leading to a loss of weight and his eventual liver transplant. Before leaving, Jobs put Apple’s leadership in the hands of the company’s COO, Tim Cook. Jobs would later ask Apple’s Board to award him handsomely for his leadership during a rocky time for the company which included a drop in the company’s stock price when Jobs announced his departure. Since the event in January, Jobs has gone on to lead Apple from a stock price above $200 in January to above $300 as we close out the year.

Considering Jobs’ personal and professional successes in 2010, along with his leadership in offering the transformational iPad, it becomes clear why the Financial Times believes Steve Jobs is worthy of its 2010 Person of the Year award. [Geek]


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FREE iPAD 3G WITH 2-YEAR DATA CONTRACT


Since the iPad has emerged we have gotten use to seeing them discounted by mobile carriers provided you sign up for a data plan for a number of years. Now, Japanese carrier SoftBank has heavily discounted the Apple tablet all the way down to zero. If you sign up for a 2-year data plan, you get the 16GB iPad for free. Want the 32GB unit, it will costs you $115 and the 64GB will set you back $230, both still well under buying the unit outright.

Of course, Apple could care less. SoftBank still buys the iPad for the same price and Apple still makes money off every app sold. Apple probably really likes this since it will help to get more and more iPads out in the market.

The offer from SoftBank only lasts until February so if you are in Japan and want/need an iPad, head on over and snatch one up. Wonder if AT&T or Verizon are watching this promotion?

APPLE SEES 3D AND HOLOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS AS NEXT FRONTIER


According to The Telegraph, Apple has recently been granted a patent for a system to produce 3D effects with the need for glasses. Apple's system uses a special screen dotted with tiny pixel-sized domes that deflect images taken from slightly different angles into the right and left eye of the viewer.

By presenting images taken from slightly different angles to the right and left eye, this creates a stereoscopic image that the brain interprets as three-dimensional. It could be used in computer monitors, televisions and cinema screens.

Apple also proposes using 3D imaging technology to track the movements of multiple viewers and the positions of their eyes so that the direction the image is deflected by the screen can be subtly adjusted to ensure the picture remains sharp and in 3D.

The patent claims this technology would also create images that appear to be holographic because of the ability to track the observers movements.
It states: "An exceptional aspect of the invention is that it can produce viewing experiences that are virtually indistinguishable from viewing a true hologram.
"Such a "pseudo-holographic" image is a direct result of the ability to track and respond to observer movements.

"By tracking movements of the eye locations of the observer, the left and right 3D sub-images are adjusted in response to the tracked eye movements to produce images that mimic a real hologram.

"The invention can accordingly continuously project a 3D image to the observer that recreates the actual viewing experience that the observer would have when moving in space around and in the vicinity of various virtual objects displayed therein. This is the same experiential viewing effect that is afforded by a hologram.

"It allows the observer, for example, to move around a virtual object and top observe multiple sides from different angles."

Most of the current technology requires viewers to where some type of special glasses to see the 3D effect. Apple's patent, however, has now raised speculation that the computer giant may be aiming to branch into the 3D domain by looking to abolish the need for glasses and even go further by offering the chance for holographic films.

Holographic movies, however, would require new filming techniques currently not being used by the movie industry to ensure actors are filmed from multiple angles.

Initially the holographic displays may be used for computers and the patent suggests a solution to allow users to walk around an object without ever having to go behind a screen.
It proposes using "holographic acceleration" – where the image moves faster relative to the observers' own movement so they would only need to walk in a small arc to see all the way around the holographic object.

Leander Kahney, a consumer technology expert and author of the Cult of Mac, said: "At present, Apple seems an unlikely company to get into the 3D TV business, which is struggling, but if Apple cracks the technology it could help make 3D the dominant display technology. It certainly does away with the biggest problem – the 3D glasses. [The Telegraph]


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