Tech links: 2013-05-31
Apple two-factor security efforts “half-hearted,” says security researcher — Tech News and Analysis
“Like many large tech companies, Apple has recently introduced a two-step security measure for Apple users. But Elcomsoft software finds that iCloud data and device backups are left unprotected, and that the company needs to do more to improve user protection.”
Want to know why there is no Apple TV yet? Then check out Fan TV — Tech News and Analysis
“Fanhattan introduced a flashy new TV device that promises to combine live pay TV with online streaming – but making this actually work for consumers will be challenging.”
Apple’s Cook explains ‘one-a-year’ iPhone strategy, hints at future models at variable price points
“At the D11 conference on Tuesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook explained why Apple doesn’t release a host of iPhones with varying features like other major handset makers, saying that the tradeoffs in making multiple devices would outweigh the positives of making one solid device.”
Duolingo Launches on Android, Learn a New Language for Free While Also Having Fun – Droid Life
“Learning a new language, especially at an older age, is said to be quite a difficult task. There are probably thousands of different services that will teach you a language, all for a pretty hefty price. Well, if you are attempting to learn a new language, but don’t feel like shelling out cold cash, you should check out Duolingo. This app, which launched for free on Google Play this week, will teach you either German, Spanish, French, Portugese or Italian for free and it’s actually fun. “
A Few Thoughts on This “Nexus Experience” Program – Droid Life
“The “Nexus experience” device appears to be all the rage these days, grabbing headlines left and right. After Google announced the first in this new category at Google I/O as the Samsung Galaxy S4 “Nexus experience,” HTC decided they would like to be a part of this elite crowd as well. This morning, Android leader Sundar Pichai announced the HTC One “Nexus experience” to an applause from tech enthusiasts across the globe. It’s a move I think many of us have hoped for all along – you know, the latest flagship devices running stock Android, receiving timely updates, and having no part of a manufacturer skin.
It’s a dream, right? Mostly, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have questions, concerns, and other thoughts in general. Here are a few that immediately come to mind.”
Apple Shifts Supply Chain Away From Foxconn to Pegatron – WSJ.com
“Pegatron Corp., named after the flying horse Pegasus, will be the primary assembler of a low-cost iPhone expected to be offered later this year. Foxconn’s smaller rival across town became a minor producer of iPhones in 2011 and began making iPad Mini tablet computers last year.
Pegatron’s rise means an end to the monopoly that Foxconn Technology Group “
Hon Hai, Mozilla Plan Mobile Devices – WSJ.com
“Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. plans to make mobile devices using Mozilla’s Firefox mobile operating system, people familiar with the matter said, as the Taiwanese contract manufacturer seeks new avenues of growth and diversifies its customer base beyond Apple Inc.”
Spotdox: Remotely Access Files On Your Mac & Move Them To Dropbox
“With services like Dropbox, you rarely have to worry about not being able to access an important file because of problems in your USB drive, forgetting to bring the drive along, or forgetting to copy files to it. The problem you might have now is forgetting to move an important file to your Dropbox folder in the first place. After all, if the file never synced to your Dropbox account, you most certainly will not be able to access it from elsewhere. For Mac users, there’s a simple solution: Spotdox. It’s a Mac App available for free to the first 10,000 users (no indication of what it will cost after the limit has expired) that allows you to access files on your Mac from any device that has a browser and active internet connection. You can then move any of those files to your Dropbox folder and access them from Dropbox’s web interface or application.”
Apple joins other foreign brands in raising prices in Japan | Reuters
“Apple Inc hiked prices of iPads and iPods in Japan on Friday, becoming the latest and highest-profile brand to join a growing list of foreign firms asking Japanese consumers to pay more as a weakening yen squeezes income.”
“A cracking camera with superb image quality and a brilliant autofocus. A number of small faults prevent it from topping our A-List, however”
Hulu Suitors Line Up – WSJ.com
“Yahoo Inc. submitted a bid on Friday to acquire Hulu, according to a person familiar with the matter, as the Internet company tries to add more high-quality online video that can appeal to advertisers.
Ignored and scorned by peers for years, but now suddenly surrounded by suitors? It’s not the plot of a teen movie, it’s what’s happening with Hulu. Heard on the Street’s Miriam Gottfried joins MoneyBeat. Photo: Getty Images.
As of Friday afternoon, seven companies had submitted bids for Hulu, several of whose interest has been previously reported, the person familiar with the matter said. They include pay-TV operators DirecTV and Time Warner Cable Inc.; Guggenheim Digital Media; private-equity firm KKR; the investment group of former News Corp . President Peter Chernin; and Silver Lake Partners, bidding with William Morris Endeavor, the person said.”
Xbox One vs. PlayStation 4: the next console war pits living room against cloud | The Verge
“Microsoft wants its box to be the center of your living room in every way, while Sony is promising a future where you theoretically might not even need a powerful box in your home.”
How to Stop Brands from Using You in their Facebook Ads
“Facebook, unfortunately, doesn’t offer you can an option to opt-out of these social ads so if you like a brand of Facebook, your profile is very likely to show up in sponsored stories appearing on your friends’ newsfeeds.
There is however a workaround – set the privacy of your Facebook Likes as private and thus brands won’t be able to use your likes for ads.
To do so, go to your About page on Facebook and scroll down to the Likes section. Click the Edit button (the one with the Pen icon) and then choose Edit Privacy. Set the privacy of “Other” and “Interests” to “Only Me” and brands won’t be able to use your profile in their sponsored stories.”
Teens are tired of Facebook ‘drama,’ find refuge on Twitter and elsewhere, says Pew | The Verge
Not sure if this really matters yet since the money is in a different demographic.
“With Facebook largely serving as an extension of social patterns formed at school and home (70 percent of teens are friends with their parents on the service), more and more teenagers report turning to other services, where they feel they can express themselves more freely. In particular, 24 percent of teens are now on Twitter — up from 16 percent just a year ago — and nearly two thirds of those post publicly, compared with just 14 percent of Facebook users with completely public profiles. All in all, the report reaffirms what many have been murmuring for months — Facebook undeniably has the numbers, but increasingly, it’s not where teens want to be investing their time.”
HTC Said to Cancel Large Windows RT Tablet on Weak Demand – Bloomberg
“HTC decided not to make the device because it cost too much and demand for RT machines has been weak, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans are private. The company still plans to release a 7-inch tablet running the software, a version of Windows 8 for chips based on ARM Holdings Plc (ARM) (ARM)’s technology, later this year, the people said.”
Rumored HTC T6 specs confirmed by EVLeaks
“According to Mr. Leaks, the HTC T6 will reportedly come with a 5.9-inch full HD display, powered by a 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor (MSM8974). Just like the semi-confirmed and recently leaked HTC M4, the HTC T6 will carry almost identical aesthetics to the HTC One — front facing speakers and all. The UltraPixel camera is also said to return for the T6, only this time around it will be “optically” stabilized and come along with a 2.1MP wide angle front facing camera.”
HTC One and the harsh reality of the Android ecosystem — Tech News and Analysis
This is a very good article on the dynamics of business competition in the mobile space. MUST READ
“HTC was the shining star during the early days of Android. Now it is reeling under the pressure of cheap Androids, a dominant Samsung and a management disarray. It’s a damn shame, as the new HTC One is actually a nice device.”
iPhone to Android: 1 Blogger’s Journey – A former iPhone user’s thoughts on key HTC One features
“The HTC One continues to impress me even three weeks after my purchase. I’m still getting used to the complexities of the camera and Android in general — more on that later. Having said that, I’m happy with my decision to give the HTC One and Android a try.
The hardest part for me with switching phones and platforms has been the notion of starting fresh and not to try and make my new phone look and operate like my iPhone. This will take some getting used to. I plan on being in this for the long haul, so for now, I have found common ground that works for me, but also gives me plenty of room to experiment and try new ways of doing things along the way.”
Airware Raises $10.7M From Andreessen Horowitz To Build Brains For Unmanned Drones | TechCrunch
“To be clear, Airware doesn’t make drones — they make the brains for drones. If you were to order something from Airware, you’d get a logic board (which handles things like auto-pilot, wireless communication, etc.) and all of the actuators and sensors you’d probably want to put in a drone.
The word “drone” can be a bit spooky. The first thing most folks think of when they hear “drone” (or “unmanned aircraft”) is their crazy controversial (and, yes, pretty terrifying) use by the world’s militaries.”
Google overhauls Gmail with automated sorting and new Android UI | Android and Me
“With the new Gmail, your primary inbox is probably the last place you’ll be checking for email from now on. Google has employed algorithms to Gmail that will automatically sort all of your email into one of five categories, each with its own special inbox. The categories include primary, social, promotions, updates and forums. The categories can be turned on and off, or you can back out of the new system completely.
The theory behind the new Gmail is that with the way things were, users had lost control on their inbox. Now, you can leisurely browse through the email you want, when you want. If you’re looking for some coupons from someone like Groupon, the promotions tab is where you’ll want to look. If you’re on the hunt for a credit card statement, check updates. The new categories lack deep customization at the moment, but this is just the beginning.”
Google’s Sundar Pichai Announces HTC One Google Edition, Available June 26 For $599 | TechCrunch
“Google will make another mobile phone available with stock Android soon. Sundar Pichai, SVP of Android, Chrome, and Apps, announced at the D11 Conference that the company will sell the HTC One Google Edition for $599 on the Google Play store, beginning June 26.
Google has previously announced the availability of the Samsung Galaxy S4 with stock Android through the Play Store, which will retail for $649. That device was announced during I/O, with availability also set for June 26.
“We’re developing a user experience that scales across the world[…],” Pichai said, explaining why the Google Edition devices are now a priority for the company. “We’re making Android the operating system that is consistent across all of these devices.”
“The challenge is related to what is great about Android […] The scale and scope of Android is pretty breathtaking,” Pichai explained further. “From a Google perspective, we care about how users use Android and the user experience.””
“Google keeps adding new information to its Knowledge Graph, and today it is bringing nutrition info to its search results pages. Want to know how many calories there are in an avocado or how much protein there is in your chow mein? Google will now happily provide you with an answer. All of this information is, of course, also available through voice search and this new feature works on the web and mobile.”
Google to unveil Moto X as it takes smartphone battle to Apple | Technology | The Guardian
“Google-owned Motorola hopes to challenge iPhone with autumn launch of new low-cost, futuristic handsets produced in Texas”
I like Samsung’s supermarket approach here. They are filling every available niche they can.
“The mini is smaller than the standard S 4 – the display of which measured a full 5 inches – but at 4.3 inches the device is by no means miniscule. The specs, however, are much more representative of a current-generation mid-range device. It sports a 1.7 GHz dual-core processor, 1.5 GB of RAM, 8 GB of internal memory, an 8 megapixel main camera and a 1.9 megapixel front-facing camera.
The mini lacks some of the full-fledged S 4’s fancier environmental sensors and pedometer, though it contains the usual complement of motion, bearing and light sensors. The 16:9 display uses Samsung’s Super AMOLED technology, but it uses a lower quarter-HD resolution. The smartphone will ship with Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean) installed. The gadget will also contain many of the new software features released with the original S 4.”
Intel scores major win in new Samsung Galaxy tablet -source | Reuters
“Samsung Electronics has chosen an Intel Corp processor to power a new version of one of its top-tier Android tablets, a source with knowledge of the plans told Reuters, in a major victory for the U.S. chipmaker, which is struggling to find its footing in the mobile market.
Samsung has chosen Intel’s Clover Trail+ mobile chip for at least one version of its Galaxy Tab 3 10.1, which competes with Apple Inc’s iPad, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity because the specifications have not been announced.”
T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Exhibit now available
Here Samsung is taking a page out of Apple’s book and releasing older spec models for a cut-rate price. The caveat here is that Samsung is still taking the supermarket approach in offering a mini version of the former top of the line product. Very nice.
“Earlier rumors suggesting we’d see T-Mobile’s Samsung Galaxy Exhibit, which is essentially a Galaxy S3 Mini, by the end of this month seem to have been dead on as Magenta has announced the availability of the device as of today. Folks interested in the device can walk into their T-Mobile store and put just $20 down to walk away with the device (after which they’ll be subject to payments of $9 per month over the course of 24 months). You can also buy it outright for $235.”
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini size comparison shown on video
“We’ve seen the Galaxy S4 Mini every which why by now. We’ve seen it in leaked photos, we’ve seen it in official renders, and now it’s finally time to see it on video. Three UK was the first to give the world a glimpse of the phone in all its glory on video. The all-important size comparison was done, with the host stacking the Galaxy Mega 6.3, the Galaxy S4 and the Galaxy S4 Mini on top of each other to give us a better of idea of just how much smaller it is.
It’s true that 4.3 inches can hardly be considered “mini,” but if you are going by the screen sizes these massive phones boast it definitely feels that way in this day and age. Take it from someone who has been using a Galaxy Note 2 since launch and finding it difficult to go back down to a 4.65 inch Galaxy Nexus – it does start to feel tiny after a while.”
Adobe users to Adobe: take your cloud and shove it — Tech News and Analysis
“Creative Suite users take to Change.org to petition Adobe to abandon what they call a forced march to the cloud.”
Is it the best of times or the worst of times for journalism? Yes — paidContent
“There are plenty of reasons for pessimism about the state of the media and journalism, including repeated layoffs, bankruptcies and so on. But there are also many reasons to be optimistic about the current environment.”
How analyzing Wikipedia page views could help you make money — Tech News and Analysis
“Tweets and other public-facing data have limits, but researchers see new value in Wikipedia page views. That data could inform an investment strategy more closely tied to Dow Jones performance than a random strategy.”
What Is TWRP Recovery & How To Install & Use It On Android [Guide]
“Till just over a year back, ClockworkMod (aka CWM) was the go-to custom recovery for pretty much every mainstream Android device. Things have changed a lot since, with a newer player entering the game and gaining a lot of critical acclaim, as well as a huge user base. TeamWin Recovery Project – or TWRP for short – is a fully touch-based custom recovery that was initially developed for Nexus devices, but has since been made available for countless other smartphones and tablets as well, in form of both official and third-party builds. Just like we took you through a very detailed tour of ClockworkMod recovery and its features, we’re going to guide you through all the features of TWRP right after the jump”
The first 10 Android apps I install when I get a new phone | Android and Me
“I am not your average smartphone user. Every other week I get a new Android device and I’m constantly swapping out SIM cards to test out a new smartphone. Android has a feature that syncs up your apps from Google Play, but I always cancel it out since I have hundreds of junk apps that I download to my devices. I have found that I normally install the same groups of apps over and over, so I felt like I should share them. These are the first 10 Android apps I install when I get a new device.”
“According to numerous sources close to the situation, Yahoo has bid from $600 million to $800 million for the premium video site Hulu.
The reason for the wide range is due to the fact that the Silicon Valley Internet giant — similar to most bidders in the new effort to acquire Hulu — has proposed several different prices based on a variety of circumstances. That includes the length of the licensing rights for content and how much control the programming companies selling Hulu have over their media.
At the same time and separately, according to sources inside the company, Yahoo is also contemplating at least two other significant purchases — in the $150 million to $200 million range — each for a mobile and a communications company.”
“successful large acquisitions of web communities or services are so rare – rare enough that almost everyone can only point to a single example: namely, Google buying YouTube (although Facebook’s acquisition of Instagram is looking like it may be another one). The question for Yahoo and Mayer is whether Tumblr can be kept as a distinct entity and yet still monetized, as YouTube has been, or whether the process of monetization will inevitably turn Tumblr into the latest example of a MySpace-style failure.
YouTube managed to avoid the natural desire to build all sorts of easy-win monetization methods into the platform, and focused instead on longer-term approaches that were harder to sell in the early going but built more value. If Yahoo sees Tumblr as a way to bulk up its banner ad or other programs, it could wind up making the exact same mistake that YouTube was able to avoid.”
Yahoo Deal for Tumblr Won’t Move Internet Giant’s Needle – WSJ.com
“Tumblr isn’t going to earn Yahoo orders of magnitude more revenue—or even a new revenue stream.
Ms. Mayer and Yahoo executives have vowed to add new types of ads that run seamlessly on the site, rather than plaster Tumblr blogs with traditional display ads. But Yahoo’s seasoned salespeople can’t change the fact that the ads sold against Tumblr text and photos aren’t big moneymakers.”
“Some of the criticism Yahoo has gotten about its Flickr relaunch likely comes from users who are resistant to change of any kind — but critics have also raised some good questions about it changes the service’s focus.”
BT dumps Yahoo! email after hacking claims – Telegraph
“BT has dumped Yahoo! as email provider to its six million broadband customers following months of customer complaints over hacking.”
Why Tumblr Was a Massive Steal for Yahoo – Adam Rifkin – Voices – AllThingsD
“The blockbuster acquisition of Tumblr by Yahoo for $1.1 billion — all cash — has been portrayed as a gigantic gamble on the part of the acquirer. However, for those of us who believe there can be specific guidelines around the valuation of interest graphs, it looks more like it might turn into a game-changing steal. Let’s look at some of the factors which might lead a big company to value Tumblr more highly than Instagram.”
Yahoo! ‘makes bid for Hulu’ – Telegraph
“Just days after Yahoo! sealed its $1.1bn for Tumblr, the technology company has reportedly made a bid for Hulu, the online video site partly owned by News Corporation.”
Yahoo Acquires Gaming Infrastructure Startup PlayerScale | TechCrunch
“Another day, another acquisition by Yahoo.
Yahoo said this morning it’s acquired PlayerScale, a California-based startup that makes software infrastructure for cross-platform gaming. Financial details haven’t been disclosed.”
Evernote Adds Reminders To Help Users With To-Do’s, Tasks & Projects | TechCrunch
“For those who use Evernote as a to-do list application, the service just became more useful today with the launch of a much-requested feature: reminders. Available to both Evernote and Evernote Business users on Mac, iOS and web (to start), the option now appears as an alarm clock icon at the top-right of the note on Mac and web, and the bottom of the note on mobile (iPhone and iPad).”
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