Google Finds More Malware from it's Own Google Play Store.
Google is hard at work killing more Fake ad networks in some more Apps found on their own Play Store. These directed users to install malware disguised as free applications
Yesterday, the folks over at Lookout divulged their latest find. 32 applications, mostly Russian language, were found to contain what Lookout calls "BadNews" -- a new piece of code that facilitates easy installation of malware onto users phones who have it installed. They estimate that apps containing BadNews have been installed over 2,000,000 times. While this is but a small drop compared to the hundreds of millions of Android devices and 25+ Billion apps installed from the Play store, it's still quite the eye popping number.
BadNews is disguised as an ad network. Besides serving ads for other less popular apps containing the BadNews code, it has the ability to send some of your private data (including your phone number and IMEI) to a server. It also displays fake news messages about app updates and links to actual malware that a user could install outside Google Play.
The offending applications, distributed across four different developer accounts, have been purged from Google Play. If you think you may have been affected, or are running one of the apps, Lookout's security application can assist in identifying the things you need to remove.
We appreciate a well researched and legitimate look at malware like this news, and don't want it to get buried like the so many FUD stories around the Internet that are speculation with no numbers. For a list of the applications, and a look at how this was discovered, click the source link below. Carry past the break for some further discussion.
Source: Lookout
Now to talk a bit about how and why this happened, and what users could have done differently to protect themselves. To start with, over 2,000,000 people downloaded an application from Google Play, and said "yes" when asked if they wanted to allow the downloaded application to have access to their phone number. We understand that all the app permissions can be confusing, and that often there are legitimate reasons for apps to request permissions to sensitive information. But we have to be diligent and read those permissions, every time, and pass on the apps we think have requests that sound fishy. While this means that we'll likely have to pass on a few apps that are innocent, it also means we won't have some spammy app sending all our contact data off to some server in the Russian Federation. This is the price of having an open application store, and while Google can come back and remove apps that have gone wild after they are found, we have to practice a little care of our own.
The second one is a no-brainer. If you click an ad banner that promises an update to an app that you downloaded from Google Play, or directs you to download and install any files to your phone, you have to say no. This is why it was a big deal when Facebook decided to go rogue and update their app in an unapproved manner, and why many folks were calling for their heads and removal of their app from Google Play for doing so. If you allow things like this to happen, nobody can help you. This time, these apps would have been detected by a security app like Lookout, but next time they may not. Just Say No.
It's relatively easy to write malicious code and inject it into an application that users want. It's not so easy to distribute it from Google Play, and as a result we see convoluted methods like BadNews to get the job done. Be diligent, be safe, and whenever you're in doubt ask for advice in the forums. We may be bickering between ourselves over whether Samsung or HTC makes the better phone, but we all work together when a friend is in need.
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Google slammed, ordered by FTC to change it's practices.
The FTC has stated that Google is going to have to make a number of changes to its business practices -- especially regarding search.
The FTC ordered Google to stop using patents purchased by Motorola to exclude competitors. These patents cover "standardized technologies" across smartphones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles.
During the presentation from FTC headquarters in Washington D.C., FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz described these patents as "the cornerstone of interoperability" that enable mobile phones to talk to each other.
Leibowitz said that Google's settlement with the FTC requires the company to offer a license based on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to any company that wants to use these technologies.
The FTC's stance on this is that, "if left unchecked," these patents could give way to higher prices "as companies may pay higher royalties for the use of Google’s patents because of the threat of an injunction, and then pass those higher prices on to consumers."
The worst-case scenario, according to the FTC, would be for the technology industry to abandon standards, limiting innovation and investment altogether.
But again, the bigger changes focus on search. The FTC has ordered that Google stop "scraping" the content of its rivals for specialized search results. Businesses should now be able to opt out of Google products such as Shopping and Local without being penalized in how their companies pop up in search results.
Therefore, Leibowitz continued, this will create "organic search," which he asserted will make search engines more "vibrant" and "competitive."
Additionally, the FTC has stipulated that "Google has agreed to remove restrictions on the use of its online search advertising platform, AdWords, that may make it more difficult for advertisers to coordinate online advertising campaigns across multiple platforms."
Google's senior vice president and chief legal officer, David Drummond, published Google's response in a blog post on Thursday, explaining that businesses "will now be able to mix and copy ad campaign data within third-party services that use our AdWords API."
Drummond added:
In addition, we’ve agreed with the FTC (PDF) that we will seek to resolve standard-essential patent disputes through a neutral third party before seeking injunctions. This agreement establishes clear rules of the road for standards essential patents going forward.
Leibowitz asserted that these decisions follow "an exhaustive investigation into Google's business practices." Arguing that many competitors -- including those locked in legal battles with Google around the world -- likely wanted the FTC to go further, Leibowitz said it is "time to move on here" and that the investigation is officially closed.
He added that Google has agreed to comply to all of these changes to its business practices, and that the FTC will "vigorously monitor" the corporation to make sure these adjustments are made.
Drummond outlined the changes in a commitment letter, also published online on Thursday. Here's an overview of some of what we can expect:
• Google will make a web-based notice form for website owners to opt-out of Google's Covered Webpages (i.e. Shopping, Local, Flights, etc.) within 90 days.
• Google will remove AdWords API Terms and Conditions concerning input and copying restrictions for all AdWords API licenses within the United States within 60 days.
• Google will file an update with the FTC's Compliance Division within 60 days.
Trying to put a positive spin on the rulings, Leibowitz said that Google can go back to focusing on innovation and new products -- but that it must do so fairly.
To recall, the government agency designed to protect consumers has been investigating the Internet giant over charges of "alleged anticompetitive conduct."
This is essentially in reference to the core of Google's business -- search -- which is deeply integrated throughout the Mountain View, Calif.-based corporation's vast portfolio of products.
Up until now, it has been said that both the FTC and the European Commission have been delaying any formal decision in their respective Google/antitrust investigations.
Back in October, it was reported that the FTC was close, but it was basically the same story through November into December. Bloomberg also reported in November that the FTC was pressing Google with an "ultimatum" that consisted of the following two options: settle with the agency now or wait for the inevitable lawsuit.
So Thursday's abrupt announcement that there would be an announcement at all today might have come as a bit of a surprise to followers of the case.
The FTC ordered Google to stop using patents purchased by Motorola to exclude competitors. These patents cover "standardized technologies" across smartphones, laptops, tablets, and gaming consoles.
During the presentation from FTC headquarters in Washington D.C., FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz described these patents as "the cornerstone of interoperability" that enable mobile phones to talk to each other.
Leibowitz said that Google's settlement with the FTC requires the company to offer a license based on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to any company that wants to use these technologies.
The FTC's stance on this is that, "if left unchecked," these patents could give way to higher prices "as companies may pay higher royalties for the use of Google’s patents because of the threat of an injunction, and then pass those higher prices on to consumers."
The worst-case scenario, according to the FTC, would be for the technology industry to abandon standards, limiting innovation and investment altogether.
But again, the bigger changes focus on search. The FTC has ordered that Google stop "scraping" the content of its rivals for specialized search results. Businesses should now be able to opt out of Google products such as Shopping and Local without being penalized in how their companies pop up in search results.
Therefore, Leibowitz continued, this will create "organic search," which he asserted will make search engines more "vibrant" and "competitive."
Additionally, the FTC has stipulated that "Google has agreed to remove restrictions on the use of its online search advertising platform, AdWords, that may make it more difficult for advertisers to coordinate online advertising campaigns across multiple platforms."
Google's senior vice president and chief legal officer, David Drummond, published Google's response in a blog post on Thursday, explaining that businesses "will now be able to mix and copy ad campaign data within third-party services that use our AdWords API."
Drummond added:
In addition, we’ve agreed with the FTC (PDF) that we will seek to resolve standard-essential patent disputes through a neutral third party before seeking injunctions. This agreement establishes clear rules of the road for standards essential patents going forward.
Leibowitz asserted that these decisions follow "an exhaustive investigation into Google's business practices." Arguing that many competitors -- including those locked in legal battles with Google around the world -- likely wanted the FTC to go further, Leibowitz said it is "time to move on here" and that the investigation is officially closed.
He added that Google has agreed to comply to all of these changes to its business practices, and that the FTC will "vigorously monitor" the corporation to make sure these adjustments are made.
Drummond outlined the changes in a commitment letter, also published online on Thursday. Here's an overview of some of what we can expect:
• Google will make a web-based notice form for website owners to opt-out of Google's Covered Webpages (i.e. Shopping, Local, Flights, etc.) within 90 days.
• Google will remove AdWords API Terms and Conditions concerning input and copying restrictions for all AdWords API licenses within the United States within 60 days.
• Google will file an update with the FTC's Compliance Division within 60 days.
Trying to put a positive spin on the rulings, Leibowitz said that Google can go back to focusing on innovation and new products -- but that it must do so fairly.
To recall, the government agency designed to protect consumers has been investigating the Internet giant over charges of "alleged anticompetitive conduct."
This is essentially in reference to the core of Google's business -- search -- which is deeply integrated throughout the Mountain View, Calif.-based corporation's vast portfolio of products.
Up until now, it has been said that both the FTC and the European Commission have been delaying any formal decision in their respective Google/antitrust investigations.
Back in October, it was reported that the FTC was close, but it was basically the same story through November into December. Bloomberg also reported in November that the FTC was pressing Google with an "ultimatum" that consisted of the following two options: settle with the agency now or wait for the inevitable lawsuit.
So Thursday's abrupt announcement that there would be an announcement at all today might have come as a bit of a surprise to followers of the case.
Android Malware: Only 15% of it Detected By Google !
Last month, Google unveiled a new security feature that sought to stop what experts have warned is a growing problem on Android phones: malware.
But a security researcher on Tuesday said the service fails to detect the vast majority of harmful apps.
Smartphone owners running Android 4.2 and later with Google Play installed can use the new security service, which is supposed to flag unsafe apps and send users messages that say, “Installing this app may harm your phone” or “Installation has been blocked.” If a user receives the latter message, Google prevents the app from being installed.
But Xuxian Jiang, an associate professor computer science at North Carolina State University, tested Google’s new security service and found it detected only 15 percent of known malicious apps as being dangerous. His research was based on 1,260 samples of malicious code from the Android Malware Genome Project, an initiative run by the university to analyze cybersecurity threats on mobile devices.
He noted that VirusTotal, a cybersecurity software company that Google bought in September, worked better than the security feature that Google unveiled last month. However, VirusTotal has not yet been integrated into Google's new app verification service.
A Google spokesperson said the findings focused on a group of malware "that may not be representative of actual conditions," while Google's new app security service "uses real-world data and multiple detection techniques to protect against Android malware."
"We go after threats users are most likely to face," the spokesperson said.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that the number of malicious Android apps is growing, partly because Google’s method for policing its mobile app store has been less stringent than Apple’s system for keeping malware out of its mobile app store.
Such claims have prompted Google to unveil new mobile security features over the past year. In February, Google unveiled “Bouncer,” which was supposed to flags bad apps before they entered Google’s app store, known as Google Play.
In June, security researchers claimed they had found a workaround that allows hackers to sneak dangerous apps past Bouncer.
"No security approach is foolproof, and added scrutiny can often lead to important improvements," Hiroshi Lockheimer, Android vice president of engineering, wrote in February.
Google Forgot About December
Mon, Nov 19 2012 03:07
| Software, Andriod, Smartphones, Google
SOFTWARE
By Richard Devine | Nov 18 2012 | 7:58 am | 16 COMMENTS
With new versions released of Android, there's bound to be a few little bugs hidden within. While Google will test, test and test again, there's always likely to be something that slips the net, many of which most users never come across. What we find in Android 4.2 however, definitely belongs on some kind of blooper reel. They forgot December.
Google Calendar is unaffected, so we're all good on that front. But, when adding events to profiles within your People application, there is no option to add dates in December. Loved ones birthdays, Christmas, New Years Eve, all don't exist, at least in this part of Android 4.2 anyway. If nothing else, it's pretty embarrassing. The issue has been reported to the Android bug tracker, and we can imagine that a fix will be rolled out in the not too distant future.
FTC recommending US government sue Google
The Federal Trade Commission has reportedly recommended that the US government pursue legal remedies against Google for violating antitrust laws. The review sprung from fears that Google is demanding sales embargoes against products that use patents required to be licensed under fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms (FRAND) terms rather than engage in the required good-faith negotiations legally required by owners holding standards-essential patents.
Google and fully-owned subsidiary Motorola Mobile are embroiled in many suits with Apple and Microsoft among others, each alleging that their patents are being infringed by other companies, generally involving smartphone and tablet technology. In most cases, the suits request that infringing products be prevented from sale in or import to the US. FTC Chariman Jon Leibowitz said in the middle of September that he expected a decision in the investigation to be reached by the end of 2012. Google declined to discuss the report, claiming that "we take our commitments to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms very seriously."
When the Justice Department approved the Google acquisition of Motorola Mobility, and the Nortel Network patents by a group spearheaded by Apple and Microsoft, it said it would monitor for patent misuse by any of the companies. Apple and Microsoft pledged that they wouldn't prevent any FRAND licensing of standards-essential patents. Google promised the same, as long as good-faith negotiations for the patents were underway, but maintained the right to seek court relief if no agreement could be reached on licensing.
Critics argue that this exception has allowed Motorola (and by extension Google) to avoid negotiating in good faith and demand unreasonable terms. When negotiations fail, the company files suit and claims that potential licensees refuse reasonable terms.
Motorola has historically asked for 2.25 percent of the cost of an entire device that uses even one of its patents, and rather than a rate based on just the value of the patent. For example, the current requested rate for Microsoft's Xbox 360 is $4.50 of the $200 retail price per unit sold.
Previous demands for Windows' use of the H.264 patent asked for 2.25 percent of each PC sold, and not just the retail value of Windows. Conservative estimates by Microsoft have placed the amount they would owe for the video playback patent alone in the billions of dollars, assuming the average PC was conservatively worth $500. The rate Motorola demands is several orders of magnitude larger than the capped license fee maximum of $6.5 million per year demanded for the patent by the MPEG LA group.
Google and fully-owned subsidiary Motorola Mobile are embroiled in many suits with Apple and Microsoft among others, each alleging that their patents are being infringed by other companies, generally involving smartphone and tablet technology. In most cases, the suits request that infringing products be prevented from sale in or import to the US. FTC Chariman Jon Leibowitz said in the middle of September that he expected a decision in the investigation to be reached by the end of 2012. Google declined to discuss the report, claiming that "we take our commitments to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms very seriously."
When the Justice Department approved the Google acquisition of Motorola Mobility, and the Nortel Network patents by a group spearheaded by Apple and Microsoft, it said it would monitor for patent misuse by any of the companies. Apple and Microsoft pledged that they wouldn't prevent any FRAND licensing of standards-essential patents. Google promised the same, as long as good-faith negotiations for the patents were underway, but maintained the right to seek court relief if no agreement could be reached on licensing.
Critics argue that this exception has allowed Motorola (and by extension Google) to avoid negotiating in good faith and demand unreasonable terms. When negotiations fail, the company files suit and claims that potential licensees refuse reasonable terms.
Motorola has historically asked for 2.25 percent of the cost of an entire device that uses even one of its patents, and rather than a rate based on just the value of the patent. For example, the current requested rate for Microsoft's Xbox 360 is $4.50 of the $200 retail price per unit sold.
Previous demands for Windows' use of the H.264 patent asked for 2.25 percent of each PC sold, and not just the retail value of Windows. Conservative estimates by Microsoft have placed the amount they would owe for the video playback patent alone in the billions of dollars, assuming the average PC was conservatively worth $500. The rate Motorola demands is several orders of magnitude larger than the capped license fee maximum of $6.5 million per year demanded for the patent by the MPEG LA group.
Massive Encryption Faults in Android Apps Used by 185 Million Users exposing Bank Details etc.
Computer science researchers have found that Android apps used by upwards of 185 million people can expose online banking and social network credentials, as well as emails and IM content.
The researchers, from Germany's Leibniz University of Hannover and Philipps University of Marburg, have identified 41 apps available on the Play store which leak sensitive information as it travels between phones and servers. The team recreated real-life app use on a local area network and then used existing security exploits to garner confidential information, reports Ars Technica. The researchers write:
"We could gather bank account information, payment credentials for PayPal, American Express and others. Furthermore, Facebook, email and cloud storage credentials and messages were leaked, access to IP cameras was gained and control channels for apps and remote servers could be subverted."
The researchers haven't identified which apps are at fault, though they do note that some of them have been downloaded up to 185 million times. They do hint at the kind of software they found was insecure, though, detailing examples of the vulnerabilities they found. Ars Technica gives a round-up:
The researchers, from Germany's Leibniz University of Hannover and Philipps University of Marburg, have identified 41 apps available on the Play store which leak sensitive information as it travels between phones and servers. The team recreated real-life app use on a local area network and then used existing security exploits to garner confidential information, reports Ars Technica. The researchers write:
"We could gather bank account information, payment credentials for PayPal, American Express and others. Furthermore, Facebook, email and cloud storage credentials and messages were leaked, access to IP cameras was gained and control channels for apps and remote servers could be subverted."
The researchers haven't identified which apps are at fault, though they do note that some of them have been downloaded up to 185 million times. They do hint at the kind of software they found was insecure, though, detailing examples of the vulnerabilities they found. Ars Technica gives a round-up:
- An anti-virus app that accepted invalid certificates when validating the connection supplying new malware signatures. By exploiting that trust, the researchers were able to feed the app their own malicious signature.
- An app with an install base of 1 million to 5 million users that was billed as a "simple and secure" way to upload and download cloud-based data that exposed login credentials. The leakage was the result of a "broken SSL channel."
- A client app for a popular Web 2.0 site with up to 1 million users, which appears to be offered by a third-party developer. It leaked Facebook and Google credentials when logging in to those sites.
- A "very popular cross-platform messaging service" with an install base of 10 million to 50 million users exposed telephone numbers from the address book.
Google Street View available in your mobile browser
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Google’s popular Street View feature is set to arrive for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad by way of the Web version of Google Maps, according to Walt Mossberg of AllThingsD.
The feature, which will be available at http://maps.google.com using a mobile Web browser, displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior views of certain businesses.
Mossberg also confirms that Google is working on a new Google Maps app for iOS, one that would “be offered as an optional download.” This version, which will support the iPhone and iPad, should arrive in the App Store by the end of the year.
This news comes less than a week after Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized for the iOS 6 version of Maps app. The often criticized version replaced the Google Maps-based app that came standard on iOS through version 5.
According to the report, Street View will arrive tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 4.
Google’s popular Street View feature is set to arrive for the iPhone/iPod touch and iPad by way of the Web version of Google Maps, according to Walt Mossberg of AllThingsD.
The feature, which will be available at http://maps.google.com using a mobile Web browser, displays 360-degree photographic street views of selected locations, and interior views of certain businesses.
Mossberg also confirms that Google is working on a new Google Maps app for iOS, one that would “be offered as an optional download.” This version, which will support the iPhone and iPad, should arrive in the App Store by the end of the year.
This news comes less than a week after Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized for the iOS 6 version of Maps app. The often criticized version replaced the Google Maps-based app that came standard on iOS through version 5.
According to the report, Street View will arrive tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 4.
Googles Project Glass Reviewed
Thu, Sep 13 2012 04:14
| Google
www.tech-sanity.com
The Wall Street Journal's Spencer Ante was lucky enough to try a pair of the glasses out for 10 minutes, and his verdict is mixed.
He explains that the glasses weigh just a few ounces, with an embedded camera and that all-important heads-up display we've long been hoping for, which projects data into the user's field of vision on a small screen above the right eye. He explains what they're like to use:
In all, the glasses are like a wearable smartphone, allowing the user to take pictures, send messages and perform other functions via voice-activated commands. For instance, say "OK, Glass" into one of the glasses' two microphones and a menu pops off to the side of your vision showing icons that will let you take a picture, record a video, use Google Maps or make a phone call.
After 10 minutes of playing with the glasses-which the company prefers to call Google Glass, since they don't have lenses-I could see their long-term potential. The device fit well. It was easy to snap a picture or video without taking my smartphone out of my pocket. It was cool to see the information there in front of my right eye, though a little disorienting. I kept closing my left eye, which was uncomfortable.
All told, it's clearly too early to tell how good the glasses will be, because the software that will provide most of their functionality isn't finished yet. Sergey Brin explained to Ante that the HUD mapping system wasn't ready, nor was the phone functionality. With a $1,500 early-adopter launch coming up next year, the pressure's on. [WSJ]
The Wall Street Journal's Spencer Ante was lucky enough to try a pair of the glasses out for 10 minutes, and his verdict is mixed.
He explains that the glasses weigh just a few ounces, with an embedded camera and that all-important heads-up display we've long been hoping for, which projects data into the user's field of vision on a small screen above the right eye. He explains what they're like to use:
In all, the glasses are like a wearable smartphone, allowing the user to take pictures, send messages and perform other functions via voice-activated commands. For instance, say "OK, Glass" into one of the glasses' two microphones and a menu pops off to the side of your vision showing icons that will let you take a picture, record a video, use Google Maps or make a phone call.
After 10 minutes of playing with the glasses-which the company prefers to call Google Glass, since they don't have lenses-I could see their long-term potential. The device fit well. It was easy to snap a picture or video without taking my smartphone out of my pocket. It was cool to see the information there in front of my right eye, though a little disorienting. I kept closing my left eye, which was uncomfortable.
All told, it's clearly too early to tell how good the glasses will be, because the software that will provide most of their functionality isn't finished yet. Sergey Brin explained to Ante that the HUD mapping system wasn't ready, nor was the phone functionality. With a $1,500 early-adopter launch coming up next year, the pressure's on. [WSJ]
September a Big Tech month! Samsung, Nokia, Microsoft, Google's Motorola, Amazon, Apple.
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Samsung, Nokia, Microsoft, Google's Motorola and Amazon have announced plans to launch new products and not surprisingly, just few days before Apple's rumored media event on September 12.So here's what Apple's competitors are likely to announce to try and steal some spotlight from Apple's event.
Samsung:
Samsung has scheduled an event on August 29, where it is widely expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which may come with a slightly larger display (5.5-inch from 5.3-inch).
Nokia and Microsoft:
Nokia and Microsoft have announced a media event on September 5 in New York. It is speculated that Nokia will unveil next generation Lumia smartphones running Windows Phone 8.
Google's Motorola:
Google-owned Motorola has announced a media event on September 5 in New York. Motorola is widely expected to launch to launch Driod Razr HD with is rumored to come with a bigger battery, 8-megapixel camera, and NFC functionality.
Amazon:
Yesterday, Amazon has announced that it will hold a press conference on September 6. It looks like Amazon is gearing up to launch the next generation Kindle Fire and possibly even the rumored Kindle smartphone.
Apple:
It's not official, but Apple is widely expected to unveil the hotly next generation iPhone on September 12, followed by the release on September 21. There's also a slim chance that Apple will launch iPad mini, the next generation iPod touch and iPod Nano at the event. But as John Gruber of Daring Fireball has pointed out yesterday, Apple might have separate music event in October to launch the other products.
Do you think Amazon, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola will be able to steal the hype from the 'iPhone 5' launch?
Samsung, Nokia, Microsoft, Google's Motorola and Amazon have announced plans to launch new products and not surprisingly, just few days before Apple's rumored media event on September 12.So here's what Apple's competitors are likely to announce to try and steal some spotlight from Apple's event.
Samsung:
Samsung has scheduled an event on August 29, where it is widely expected to launch the Samsung Galaxy Note II, which may come with a slightly larger display (5.5-inch from 5.3-inch).
Nokia and Microsoft:
Nokia and Microsoft have announced a media event on September 5 in New York. It is speculated that Nokia will unveil next generation Lumia smartphones running Windows Phone 8.
Google's Motorola:
Google-owned Motorola has announced a media event on September 5 in New York. Motorola is widely expected to launch to launch Driod Razr HD with is rumored to come with a bigger battery, 8-megapixel camera, and NFC functionality.
Amazon:
Yesterday, Amazon has announced that it will hold a press conference on September 6. It looks like Amazon is gearing up to launch the next generation Kindle Fire and possibly even the rumored Kindle smartphone.
Apple:
It's not official, but Apple is widely expected to unveil the hotly next generation iPhone on September 12, followed by the release on September 21. There's also a slim chance that Apple will launch iPad mini, the next generation iPod touch and iPod Nano at the event. But as John Gruber of Daring Fireball has pointed out yesterday, Apple might have separate music event in October to launch the other products.
Do you think Amazon, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola will be able to steal the hype from the 'iPhone 5' launch?
Chrome Browser Tightens Security With Flash Player
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Google’s latest version of the Chrome web browser offers an even more secure, tightly sandboxed version of the browser’s Flash Player plugin.
If you haven’t already updated you can download Chrome 21 from Google. Existing users may need to restart their browser for any updates to apply.
At the moment the Flash Player improvements are only available to Windows users, but the change does apply to the entire Windows spectrum, covering everything from Windows XP (where Chrome is the only option if you want to keep Flash sandboxed) to the coming Windows 8.
As Chrome Software Engineer Justin Schuh writes on the Chromium blog, “Windows Flash is now inside a sandbox that’s as strong as Chrome’s native sandbox, and dramatically more robust than anything else available.”
The Flash update sees Chrome dropping the older Netscape Plugin API — which browsers have long relied on for plugin security — in favor of Google’s own Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI). Since PPAPI has a tighter sandbox it makes it harder to exploit Flash, but Schuh says the new architecture will make Flash more stable as well. “By eliminating the complexity and legacy code associated with NPAPI, we’ve reduced Flash crashes by about 20%.”
There are also performance gains since the PPAPI offloads some of the display work to your PC’s GPU, which makes for faster rendering and smooth scrolling. The new Pepper API also means Flash will work in Windows 8′s don’t-call-it-Metro mode.
Google says that it’s working on bring the same Pepper-based sandboxing to Chrome for Mac OS X and hopes to “ship it soon” (Linux users have enjoyed PPAPI-based Flash Player since Chrome 20).
Google’s latest version of the Chrome web browser offers an even more secure, tightly sandboxed version of the browser’s Flash Player plugin.
If you haven’t already updated you can download Chrome 21 from Google. Existing users may need to restart their browser for any updates to apply.
At the moment the Flash Player improvements are only available to Windows users, but the change does apply to the entire Windows spectrum, covering everything from Windows XP (where Chrome is the only option if you want to keep Flash sandboxed) to the coming Windows 8.
As Chrome Software Engineer Justin Schuh writes on the Chromium blog, “Windows Flash is now inside a sandbox that’s as strong as Chrome’s native sandbox, and dramatically more robust than anything else available.”
The Flash update sees Chrome dropping the older Netscape Plugin API — which browsers have long relied on for plugin security — in favor of Google’s own Pepper Plugin API (PPAPI). Since PPAPI has a tighter sandbox it makes it harder to exploit Flash, but Schuh says the new architecture will make Flash more stable as well. “By eliminating the complexity and legacy code associated with NPAPI, we’ve reduced Flash crashes by about 20%.”
There are also performance gains since the PPAPI offloads some of the display work to your PC’s GPU, which makes for faster rendering and smooth scrolling. The new Pepper API also means Flash will work in Windows 8′s don’t-call-it-Metro mode.
Google says that it’s working on bring the same Pepper-based sandboxing to Chrome for Mac OS X and hopes to “ship it soon” (Linux users have enjoyed PPAPI-based Flash Player since Chrome 20).
Want Google Now, Now on your rooted devices?
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If you can't wait to subject Google Now to an epic interrogation of your own but don't have access to Android's Jelly Bean-flavored OS, then you may want to check out what's cooking over at the XDA Developers forums. If you've got a rooted ARMv7 device with Ice Cream Sandwich and ClockWorkMod Recovery, it's actually possible to start enjoying Google's take on the virtual personal assistant on your smartphone right now. As usual, you'll need to download the requisite file and partake in some good, old flashing action. Folks who appreciate having options can also take their pick between a fuller Google Now experience or a more stripped down version by hitting the source link below.
If you can't wait to subject Google Now to an epic interrogation of your own but don't have access to Android's Jelly Bean-flavored OS, then you may want to check out what's cooking over at the XDA Developers forums. If you've got a rooted ARMv7 device with Ice Cream Sandwich and ClockWorkMod Recovery, it's actually possible to start enjoying Google's take on the virtual personal assistant on your smartphone right now. As usual, you'll need to download the requisite file and partake in some good, old flashing action. Folks who appreciate having options can also take their pick between a fuller Google Now experience or a more stripped down version by hitting the source link below.
Here Comes More Android Malware so be Aware.
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Googles Android OS is the mobile operating system most plagued by malware. It might not come as a surprise then that cyber criminals are taking advantage of the 2012 Summer Olympics as an opportunity and a cover-up for more malware.
Anti-malware and anti-virus solutions provider Webroot has issued a warning that because there are so many events happening at one time during the Olympics, it might be all the more tempting when viewers find an app available that focuses on one or just a few.
This goes hand-in-hand with some other cyber threats attached to the Olympic Games that can really affect even just the casual viewer. RSA recently published some tips on dealing with Olympic-themed phishing emails as well as social media alerts that are disguised in order to steal personal information.
Webroot researchers cited an app app called "London Olympics Widget," which is described as an app that displays aggregated Olympic news coverage.
In fact, it's really just harvesting the user's contact list and device ID while reading up on SMS messages too.
Webroot goes into the nitty gritty details about permissions hidden in the underlying code as well as the digital certificate, but the bigger lesson here is to be extremely careful when it comes to downloading apps.
Despite some disputes about this, Android is still an open source platform at heart, which is what makes the mobile OS quite vulnerable in the first place.
Furthermore, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore don't screen every app available in these digital app stores for malicious code until they are reported. You don't really want to become the test case.
Webroot advises that consumers should take a close look at the author of the app and then search the name to see if it is in fact a reputable company and/or developer, as seen in the photo above.
During a session at Google I/O in June, Android security engineers also stressed several tips for the developer side of things that could instore more confidence for consumers as well, including offering a transparent privacy policy.
Googles Android OS is the mobile operating system most plagued by malware. It might not come as a surprise then that cyber criminals are taking advantage of the 2012 Summer Olympics as an opportunity and a cover-up for more malware.
Anti-malware and anti-virus solutions provider Webroot has issued a warning that because there are so many events happening at one time during the Olympics, it might be all the more tempting when viewers find an app available that focuses on one or just a few.
This goes hand-in-hand with some other cyber threats attached to the Olympic Games that can really affect even just the casual viewer. RSA recently published some tips on dealing with Olympic-themed phishing emails as well as social media alerts that are disguised in order to steal personal information.
Webroot researchers cited an app app called "London Olympics Widget," which is described as an app that displays aggregated Olympic news coverage.
In fact, it's really just harvesting the user's contact list and device ID while reading up on SMS messages too.
Webroot goes into the nitty gritty details about permissions hidden in the underlying code as well as the digital certificate, but the bigger lesson here is to be extremely careful when it comes to downloading apps.
Despite some disputes about this, Android is still an open source platform at heart, which is what makes the mobile OS quite vulnerable in the first place.
Furthermore, Google Play and the Amazon Appstore don't screen every app available in these digital app stores for malicious code until they are reported. You don't really want to become the test case.
Webroot advises that consumers should take a close look at the author of the app and then search the name to see if it is in fact a reputable company and/or developer, as seen in the photo above.
During a session at Google I/O in June, Android security engineers also stressed several tips for the developer side of things that could instore more confidence for consumers as well, including offering a transparent privacy policy.
Warning: New Android malware tricks users with real Opera Mini
www.tech-sanity.com
A new piece of malware is trying to take advantage of Opera's popularity as a mobile browser alternative on Android smartphones.
read on ……
A new piece of malware is trying to take advantage of Opera's popularity as a mobile browser alternative on Android smartphones.
read on ……
Compete Report: Google Nexus 7
www.tech-sanity.com
This is a reprint of Paul Thurotts ( winsupersite.com )interesting article that seems pretty balanced to me in regards to where the Nexus 7 tablet really fits in the scheme of things.
I have to agree with a lot of his points especially in regards to evolution rather than revolution and its more about the eco system your getting into.
Read on and let me know what you think……
This is a reprint of Paul Thurotts ( winsupersite.com )interesting article that seems pretty balanced to me in regards to where the Nexus 7 tablet really fits in the scheme of things.
I have to agree with a lot of his points especially in regards to evolution rather than revolution and its more about the eco system your getting into.
Read on and let me know what you think……
Google banned 134 million 'scam ads' in 2011
Sat, May 26 2012 03:52
| Google
www.tech-sanity.com
Google makes the majority of its revenue from advertising, but the company is engaged in a seemingly non-stop war to ensure that so-called "scam ads" don't slip through the cracks. Just how big is the problem? Last year Google says it suspended 824,000 accounts for violating its advertising policies, and disapproved 134 million potential ads. It's a huge jump from 2010 when 248,000 accounts were suspended and 56.7 million ads weren't approved. Despite the huge growth in offending accounts and ads, Google says that there "are relatively few malicious players" that it has to deal with. But even with its apparent small size, this group appears to be nothing if not persistent. "As we get better and faster at catching these advertisers," said David W. Baker, Google's director of engineering, advertising, "they redouble their efforts and create more accounts at an even faster rate." In spite of this, Google's fight against bad ads seems to be working — back in March the company announced that the amount of offending ads displayed had been cut by 50 percent.
Google makes the majority of its revenue from advertising, but the company is engaged in a seemingly non-stop war to ensure that so-called "scam ads" don't slip through the cracks. Just how big is the problem? Last year Google says it suspended 824,000 accounts for violating its advertising policies, and disapproved 134 million potential ads. It's a huge jump from 2010 when 248,000 accounts were suspended and 56.7 million ads weren't approved. Despite the huge growth in offending accounts and ads, Google says that there "are relatively few malicious players" that it has to deal with. But even with its apparent small size, this group appears to be nothing if not persistent. "As we get better and faster at catching these advertisers," said David W. Baker, Google's director of engineering, advertising, "they redouble their efforts and create more accounts at an even faster rate." In spite of this, Google's fight against bad ads seems to be working — back in March the company announced that the amount of offending ads displayed had been cut by 50 percent.
FTC set to fine Google for Hacking Safari on Iphone/Ipad 
www.tech-sanity.com
The Federal Trade Commission appears ready to fine Google millions of dollars for hacking around privacy settings on iPhones and iPads. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint in February with the FTC after Stanford Researcher Jonathan Mayer revealed what the Internet giant was doing.
Sara Forden of "Bloomberg News" today reported the Commission is negotiating with Google about how big the fine will be. She cited an unidentified source as saying the fine could amount to more than US$10 million.
"Google hacked past a key privacy setting on iPhones and iPads and other devices using Apple's Safari browser, placed tracking cookies on them and then lied, saying the settings were still effective," says John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. "I am delighted the FTC appears ready to take strong action against an obvious violation of Google's promises to honor users' privacy in its 'Buzz' Consent Decree with the Commission."
Under the terms of the consent decree, the FTC can fine Google up to $16,000 per violation per day. Read Consumer Watchdog's complaint to the FTC at http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrleibowitz021712.pdf .
A study released Feb. 17 by Jonathan Mayer of Stanford University's Security Lab, and the Center for Internet and Society, found that Google has been circumventing a privacy setting in Apple's Safari web browser. Like most web browsers, Safari provides the option not to receive third-party "cookies."
Cookies are small bits of code placed on the browser and can be used by ad networks to track you as you surf the web. Blocking third-party cookies is supposed to prevent such tracking. Safari is the primary browser on the iPhone and iPad. It is also the default browser on Apple's computers. Read Jonathan Mayer's study at http://webpolicy.org/2012/02/17/safari-trackers/ .
The Federal Trade Commission appears ready to fine Google millions of dollars for hacking around privacy settings on iPhones and iPads. Consumer Watchdog filed a complaint in February with the FTC after Stanford Researcher Jonathan Mayer revealed what the Internet giant was doing.
Sara Forden of "Bloomberg News" today reported the Commission is negotiating with Google about how big the fine will be. She cited an unidentified source as saying the fine could amount to more than US$10 million.
"Google hacked past a key privacy setting on iPhones and iPads and other devices using Apple's Safari browser, placed tracking cookies on them and then lied, saying the settings were still effective," says John M. Simpson, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project director. "I am delighted the FTC appears ready to take strong action against an obvious violation of Google's promises to honor users' privacy in its 'Buzz' Consent Decree with the Commission."
Under the terms of the consent decree, the FTC can fine Google up to $16,000 per violation per day. Read Consumer Watchdog's complaint to the FTC at http://www.consumerwatchdog.org/resources/ltrleibowitz021712.pdf .
A study released Feb. 17 by Jonathan Mayer of Stanford University's Security Lab, and the Center for Internet and Society, found that Google has been circumventing a privacy setting in Apple's Safari web browser. Like most web browsers, Safari provides the option not to receive third-party "cookies."
Cookies are small bits of code placed on the browser and can be used by ad networks to track you as you surf the web. Blocking third-party cookies is supposed to prevent such tracking. Safari is the primary browser on the iPhone and iPad. It is also the default browser on Apple's computers. Read Jonathan Mayer's study at http://webpolicy.org/2012/02/17/safari-trackers/ .
Time Warner to bring live video to Android 4 ICS users finally.
www.tech-sanity.com
A product manager for Time Warner cable has announced that the company expects to finally bring a live video app to Android before Memorial Day, but the app will be limited to Android 4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS) due to it being "the only version of the Android OS that allows us the security and stability necessary to distribute video over our private network." The cable giant created a live video app for iOS early last year.
Saying that developing a live video product for Android is like "tweezing one's eyebrows while using a disco ball as a mirror," author Jeff Simmermon admitted that the challenge of coding the product for a wide range of devices did not compare favorably to iOS saying it was "much easier" to develop a live video app on Apple's platform. He pointed out the advantage that iOS is made by the same company that manufactures the hardware, making it easy to make the experience consistent across devices.
The post expresses some frustration with the fragmentation aspects of Android, cautioning users that "it's up to the device manufacturer or sometimes the data carrier when or if ICS will be deployed" to their devices. He gave an example that a Motorola device user on Verizon might get an update at one point, while a Samsung owner on AT&T may get the ICS upgrade in a very different timeframe. "We're going to get there," Simmermon said, "but it's going to happen one facet at a time."
Android 4.0 is thus far only on just under three percent of all Android devices, and while some devices are still awaiting updates, the majority -- particularly those running on the 2.x version of Android -- will likely never be updated, as carriers and manufacturers have a strong incentive to keep newer updates for newer devices, both to ensure the best experience as well as providing an inducement for users to keep upgrading hardware.
Simmermon's reference to "security and stability" likely refers to the digital rights management that makes live streaming possible on mobile devices, suggesting that earlier versions of Android will not be considered for future expansion of any video apps. Users whose devices came with or have been upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich will, however, be able to watch live video over a Wi-Fi and perhaps an LTE connection (the company didn't specify) with "no problem at all" when the app is released, sometime in the coming month or two.
Time Warner has an existing, free TWC TV app for Android that doesn't handle live video but does offer a program guide, DVR management, set-top box tuning and program searching.
A product manager for Time Warner cable has announced that the company expects to finally bring a live video app to Android before Memorial Day, but the app will be limited to Android 4.x (Ice Cream Sandwich, or ICS) due to it being "the only version of the Android OS that allows us the security and stability necessary to distribute video over our private network." The cable giant created a live video app for iOS early last year.
Saying that developing a live video product for Android is like "tweezing one's eyebrows while using a disco ball as a mirror," author Jeff Simmermon admitted that the challenge of coding the product for a wide range of devices did not compare favorably to iOS saying it was "much easier" to develop a live video app on Apple's platform. He pointed out the advantage that iOS is made by the same company that manufactures the hardware, making it easy to make the experience consistent across devices.
The post expresses some frustration with the fragmentation aspects of Android, cautioning users that "it's up to the device manufacturer or sometimes the data carrier when or if ICS will be deployed" to their devices. He gave an example that a Motorola device user on Verizon might get an update at one point, while a Samsung owner on AT&T may get the ICS upgrade in a very different timeframe. "We're going to get there," Simmermon said, "but it's going to happen one facet at a time."
Android 4.0 is thus far only on just under three percent of all Android devices, and while some devices are still awaiting updates, the majority -- particularly those running on the 2.x version of Android -- will likely never be updated, as carriers and manufacturers have a strong incentive to keep newer updates for newer devices, both to ensure the best experience as well as providing an inducement for users to keep upgrading hardware.
Simmermon's reference to "security and stability" likely refers to the digital rights management that makes live streaming possible on mobile devices, suggesting that earlier versions of Android will not be considered for future expansion of any video apps. Users whose devices came with or have been upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich will, however, be able to watch live video over a Wi-Fi and perhaps an LTE connection (the company didn't specify) with "no problem at all" when the app is released, sometime in the coming month or two.
Time Warner has an existing, free TWC TV app for Android that doesn't handle live video but does offer a program guide, DVR management, set-top box tuning and program searching.
EU Regulators Open Two Antitrust Cases Against Motorola.
www.tech-sanity.com
Our previous article on Google found guilty and now Motorola (who of course is being bought by Google) being probed. Not a good week by the looks of things. On Tuesday, the European Commission opened two antitrust cases against Motorola Mobility for possible patent abuses, following complaints by Apple and Microsoft.
“… The commission will investigate … whether by seeking and enforcing injunctions against Apple’s and Microsoft’s flagship products such as iPhone, iPad, Windows and Xbox on the basis of patents it had declared essential to produce standard-compliant products, Motorola has failed to honor its irrevocable commitments made to standard setting organizations,” the Commission said in a statement.
Also subject to the Commission’s probe: Allegations by both Apple and Microsoft that Motorola has refused to license standards-essential patents on the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms by both the Commission and standard-setting organizations.
Apple complains that Motorola has demanded from it “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold for the standards-essential patents used in the device. And Microsoft says Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies argue that those rates are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry. More to the point, they don’t seem fair or reasonable. But they do seem to run contrary to the principles of FRAND licensing commitments by which Motorola is expected to abide.
So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their worldwide annual income if it finds them guilty of antitrust violations. It can also force them to change their business practices. In other words, the potential consequences here are quite serious, not just for Motorola, but also for Google, which is acquiring it.
“If and when Google closes the deal, it will effectively buy itself into two more EU antitrust investigations,” FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller observes. “It’s time for some people in Mountain View to realize that a multi-front war against competition authorities, on three continents in parallel, is a war that they won’t be able to win.”
Google, for its part, is steeling itself for the double probe.
“We haven’t finalized our acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but will work with the European Commission to answer any questions they might have,” a company spokeswoman told us “We have longstanding concerns about patent abuses, including lawsuits and royalty demands targeting the Android ecosystem.”
Good luck.
Our previous article on Google found guilty and now Motorola (who of course is being bought by Google) being probed. Not a good week by the looks of things. On Tuesday, the European Commission opened two antitrust cases against Motorola Mobility for possible patent abuses, following complaints by Apple and Microsoft.
“… The commission will investigate … whether by seeking and enforcing injunctions against Apple’s and Microsoft’s flagship products such as iPhone, iPad, Windows and Xbox on the basis of patents it had declared essential to produce standard-compliant products, Motorola has failed to honor its irrevocable commitments made to standard setting organizations,” the Commission said in a statement.
Also subject to the Commission’s probe: Allegations by both Apple and Microsoft that Motorola has refused to license standards-essential patents on the fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms by both the Commission and standard-setting organizations.
Apple complains that Motorola has demanded from it “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold for the standards-essential patents used in the device. And Microsoft says Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies argue that those rates are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry. More to the point, they don’t seem fair or reasonable. But they do seem to run contrary to the principles of FRAND licensing commitments by which Motorola is expected to abide.
So it will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The Commission can fine companies up to 10 percent of their worldwide annual income if it finds them guilty of antitrust violations. It can also force them to change their business practices. In other words, the potential consequences here are quite serious, not just for Motorola, but also for Google, which is acquiring it.
“If and when Google closes the deal, it will effectively buy itself into two more EU antitrust investigations,” FOSS Patents’ Florian Mueller observes. “It’s time for some people in Mountain View to realize that a multi-front war against competition authorities, on three continents in parallel, is a war that they won’t be able to win.”
Google, for its part, is steeling itself for the double probe.
“We haven’t finalized our acquisition of Motorola Mobility, but will work with the European Commission to answer any questions they might have,” a company spokeswoman told us “We have longstanding concerns about patent abuses, including lawsuits and royalty demands targeting the Android ecosystem.”
Good luck.
Google found guilty!
www.tech-sanity.com
An Australian court has ruled that Google misled its users in the country by showing "misleading and deceptive" advertisements with its search results. The decision overturns an earlier ruling on the issue following an appeal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Google was found guilty of displaying advertisements for competitors of the company searched for — for example, a search for Harvey World Travel returned ads for STA Travel with the query included in the headline. The court ruled that this was likely to mislead customers into believing that there was an association between the two companies, and ordered Google to set up a compliance program so that it doesn't make the same infringement in future.
The ACCC's legal action was intended to make Google responsible for its content, and while the cited examples of misleading advertisements were all from a few years back, the ruling sets a potentially important precedent for the future in how Google returns its results. The company, for its part, tells Bloomberg that it has changed the way it displays search results in recent years and is examining its legal options.
An Australian court has ruled that Google misled its users in the country by showing "misleading and deceptive" advertisements with its search results. The decision overturns an earlier ruling on the issue following an appeal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Google was found guilty of displaying advertisements for competitors of the company searched for — for example, a search for Harvey World Travel returned ads for STA Travel with the query included in the headline. The court ruled that this was likely to mislead customers into believing that there was an association between the two companies, and ordered Google to set up a compliance program so that it doesn't make the same infringement in future.
The ACCC's legal action was intended to make Google responsible for its content, and while the cited examples of misleading advertisements were all from a few years back, the ruling sets a potentially important precedent for the future in how Google returns its results. The company, for its part, tells Bloomberg that it has changed the way it displays search results in recent years and is examining its legal options.
European Commission looking closely at Motorola
www.tech-sanity.com
Spurred to action by complaints by both Microsoft and Apple, the European Commission is mulling whether to open an investigation into Motorola Mobility’s handling of standards-essential patents.
“I am considering whether we need to investigate these complaints formally to help bring more clarity into this area of competition control,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said during a recent speech in Washington, D.C.
At issue here are the complaints made by Microsoft and Apple that the royalty rates Motorola is demanding from them for its standards-essential patents run contrary to the “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing terms (FRAND) by which it is expected to abide. From Apple, Motorola has asked for “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold. And from Microsoft, Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies insist that those rates are vastly inflated, and claim the reason for that is to improperly hamstring them.
Almunia seems to think there may be some merit to those allegations; enough to sound off about them in public, anyway.
“The holders of standard-essential patents have considerable market power,” he said. “This market power can be used to harm competition; in some cases, the holders of standard-essential patents can effectively hold up the entire industry with the threat of banning the products of competitors from the market. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to use antitrust enforcement to prevent such hold-up by patent holders.”
A somber warning to Motorola and its soon-to-be owner Google, which says it’s just fine with its acquisition’s patent tactics.
Spurred to action by complaints by both Microsoft and Apple, the European Commission is mulling whether to open an investigation into Motorola Mobility’s handling of standards-essential patents.
“I am considering whether we need to investigate these complaints formally to help bring more clarity into this area of competition control,” EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said during a recent speech in Washington, D.C.
At issue here are the complaints made by Microsoft and Apple that the royalty rates Motorola is demanding from them for its standards-essential patents run contrary to the “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory” licensing terms (FRAND) by which it is expected to abide. From Apple, Motorola has asked for “a maximum per-unit royalty of 2.25 percent” on each iPhone sold. And from Microsoft, Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of patents on the H.264 video standard. Both companies insist that those rates are vastly inflated, and claim the reason for that is to improperly hamstring them.
Almunia seems to think there may be some merit to those allegations; enough to sound off about them in public, anyway.
“The holders of standard-essential patents have considerable market power,” he said. “This market power can be used to harm competition; in some cases, the holders of standard-essential patents can effectively hold up the entire industry with the threat of banning the products of competitors from the market. This is unacceptable, and I am determined to use antitrust enforcement to prevent such hold-up by patent holders.”
A somber warning to Motorola and its soon-to-be owner Google, which says it’s just fine with its acquisition’s patent tactics.
HTC One X review
www.tech-sanity.com
Don't call it a comeback. HTC certainly was in the running for King of Mobile World Congress 2012 (an award that would be way cooler if it existed) with the new HTC One line, and the HTC One X specifically. When you stop and think about it, however, it's also a logical progression.
HTC started 2011 with the eventually disappointing Verizon ThunderBolt, which was thick, heavy and a battery hog — due in no small part to its LTE radio. The prevailing winds started to shift later in the year, however, with the likes of the Sensation and Amaze 4G, and you started to get a sense (pardon the pun) that the Taiwanese manufacturer was starting to regain its footing. (That shift was further indicated by the likes of the Windows Phone HTC Titan line.)
And that brings us to 2012 and the HTC One X, the pinnacle of the trio of Android smartphones that make up the HTC One line. (The others are the HTC One S and HTC One V.) There actually are two versions of the One X — the GSM version with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and another with a dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor and an LTE radio for 4G data.
The HTC One X review that follows is of the international quad-core version. We'll follow up with AT&T dual-core, LTE version of the One X when it becomes available.
A great camera, equally great display, and all the power of NVIDIA Tegra 3 that we've come to expect. Sense 4 meshes nicely with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Free 25GB of online storage thrown in via Dropbox. Impressive design and build quality. Battery life is pretty good.
That said, the non-removable battery and lack of microSD card may be a sticking point for some. The 4.7-inch phone may be too large for small hands. The protruding camera lens can be easily scratched and isn't easily replaceable.
The leader of the next-generation HTC One series of smartphones has been a breeze to use. Android 4.0 has been improved upon with HTC Sense 4 while still retaining the overall look, feel and function of Ice Cream Sandwich, which in and of itself has an excellent user experience. The camera is a high point, Beats Audio makes music sound better, and you get a bunch of online storage thrown in for free. HTC easily has a winner in the One X.
Don't call it a comeback. HTC certainly was in the running for King of Mobile World Congress 2012 (an award that would be way cooler if it existed) with the new HTC One line, and the HTC One X specifically. When you stop and think about it, however, it's also a logical progression.
HTC started 2011 with the eventually disappointing Verizon ThunderBolt, which was thick, heavy and a battery hog — due in no small part to its LTE radio. The prevailing winds started to shift later in the year, however, with the likes of the Sensation and Amaze 4G, and you started to get a sense (pardon the pun) that the Taiwanese manufacturer was starting to regain its footing. (That shift was further indicated by the likes of the Windows Phone HTC Titan line.)
And that brings us to 2012 and the HTC One X, the pinnacle of the trio of Android smartphones that make up the HTC One line. (The others are the HTC One S and HTC One V.) There actually are two versions of the One X — the GSM version with a quad-core Tegra 3 processor, and another with a dual-core Qualcomm Krait processor and an LTE radio for 4G data.
The HTC One X review that follows is of the international quad-core version. We'll follow up with AT&T dual-core, LTE version of the One X when it becomes available.
A great camera, equally great display, and all the power of NVIDIA Tegra 3 that we've come to expect. Sense 4 meshes nicely with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. Free 25GB of online storage thrown in via Dropbox. Impressive design and build quality. Battery life is pretty good.
That said, the non-removable battery and lack of microSD card may be a sticking point for some. The 4.7-inch phone may be too large for small hands. The protruding camera lens can be easily scratched and isn't easily replaceable.
The leader of the next-generation HTC One series of smartphones has been a breeze to use. Android 4.0 has been improved upon with HTC Sense 4 while still retaining the overall look, feel and function of Ice Cream Sandwich, which in and of itself has an excellent user experience. The camera is a high point, Beats Audio makes music sound better, and you get a bunch of online storage thrown in for free. HTC easily has a winner in the One X.
Online travel agency Expedia (and a dozen others) on Friday accused Google of breaching EU rules
www.tech-sanity.com
Google seems to be in more trouble as the EU watchdog is now investigating the world's most popular search engine after rivals, including Microsoft, accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the market for Web search engines.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said earlier this week that he would decide after Easter whether to formally charge Google or drop the investigation.
Expedia said it had details of specific business and search practices by Google that violated EU competition and consumer protection laws.
"The complaint offers evidence of how Google's conduct harms not only competition, but consumers," Brent Thompson, senior vice president of government affairs, said in a statement.
"Expedia believes that strong action is needed by the European Commission to restore a fair and competitive marketplace in online search that respects consumers' rights," he said.
Google said it has not been informed of the complaint yet.
"We haven't seen the complaint yet, but we've been working to explain how our business works, cooperating with the European Commission since this investigation began," Google spokesman Al Verney said in a statement.
"Because there's always room for improvement, we're happy to discuss any concerns the Commission might have," he said.
There are now 12 complaints with the EU watchdog, the majority of them small competitors across Europe, which claimed that Google demoted their sites and promoted its own services. Google has denied that it stifles competition.
U.S. enforcers are also investigating Google which controls more than two-thirds of the global search market.
EU privacy regulators are also scrutinizing Google's new privacy policy which came into effect on March 1.
Google seems to be in more trouble as the EU watchdog is now investigating the world's most popular search engine after rivals, including Microsoft, accused Google of abusing its dominant position in the market for Web search engines.
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said earlier this week that he would decide after Easter whether to formally charge Google or drop the investigation.
Expedia said it had details of specific business and search practices by Google that violated EU competition and consumer protection laws.
"The complaint offers evidence of how Google's conduct harms not only competition, but consumers," Brent Thompson, senior vice president of government affairs, said in a statement.
"Expedia believes that strong action is needed by the European Commission to restore a fair and competitive marketplace in online search that respects consumers' rights," he said.
Google said it has not been informed of the complaint yet.
"We haven't seen the complaint yet, but we've been working to explain how our business works, cooperating with the European Commission since this investigation began," Google spokesman Al Verney said in a statement.
"Because there's always room for improvement, we're happy to discuss any concerns the Commission might have," he said.
There are now 12 complaints with the EU watchdog, the majority of them small competitors across Europe, which claimed that Google demoted their sites and promoted its own services. Google has denied that it stifles competition.
U.S. enforcers are also investigating Google which controls more than two-thirds of the global search market.
EU privacy regulators are also scrutinizing Google's new privacy policy which came into effect on March 1.
Google's Opening An Online Tablet Store
www.tech-sanity.com
When Google first announced plans to buy Motorola last year, most pundits agreed that Google had no intention of actually owning Motorola, that it was just buying Motorola for the patents.
We, on the other hand, argued that Larry Page might be buying Motorola because he actually wanted to get into the gadget business--on account of the fact that Apple was producing much better smartphones and tablets than Google.
In the year or so since the deal was announced, it has become more and more clear that Larry does, in fact, want to make gadgets.
In the latest evidence of this, Google is now planning to open an online tablet store in which it will push Android-based tablets, Amir Efrati of the Wall Street Journal reports.
In this store, Google will initially sell tablets that are manufactured by its tablet hardware partners like Asus and Samsung. But the tablets may be co-branded as Google tablets.
And then, when the Motorola deal finally closes, Google's tablet store will sell Google tablets.
Why is Google opening an Android tablet store?
Because sales of Android tablets have been horrible.
In the smartphone market, Google was able to partner with carriers to push Android-based smartphones. These distribution channels were effective, and Android quickly amassed the leading global market share (although in the U.S., Apple has been clawing back share and closing the gap).
On a positive note, Google making its own gadgets could begin to cure the Android fragmentation problem.
The tablet distribution market, however, is completely different: Google and its hardware partners have to rely on retailers to sell the tablets. And if those retailers also sell Apple products, they have had to agree to give Apple products much more visibility and promotion. So Android tablets have largely been ignored by consumers.
The one Android tablet that has been successful is Amazon's Kindle Fire, but that tablet is "Android" in name only--Amazon has significantly modified and customized the platform to serve its own goals. And Amazon has sold a lot of Fires, in part because it owns the most powerful online distribution channel in the world.
Apple, meanwhile, now owns a global network of retail stores in addition to its online store and third-party retailing partners. So there's huge distribution for the iPad.
Add all that together, and Android tablets (Kindle Fire excepted) have basically been dead on arrival.
So Google wants to fix that.
And the way it's going to try to fix that is to open an online tablet store.
Google has been in the ecommerce business before, briefly, when it sold its Nexus One smartphone in a soon-to-be-aborted attempt to disrupt the wireless carrier control over the smartphone market. It sold about 100,000 Nexus Ones and then pulled the plug.
Daniel Goodman / Business Insider
Hate to say it, Google, but if you're really serious, you're going to have to build some of these.
A Google tablet store would presumably be a longer-term effort.
Would it make much of a difference in the tablet market?
It would probably help. Especially if Google matches or beats the Kindle Fire pricing of $199.
To really make an impact in the tablet market, though, Google will likely have to either drastically undercut the iPad on price (which it would if its sells them for $199) or build tablets that are close to being as good as the iPad.
And, even then, it would be at a huge disadvantage relative to Apple, because of the power of the Apple stores as a distribution channel.
So if Google is really serious about competing against Apple, Google may well have to start building retail stores.
And it will have to build retail stores while also running its core business, search, and all of its other web-based business. And it will have to do that while also trying to kill Facebook in social and Microsoft in the enterprise. And while trying to build self-driving cars, building wind farms, and doing all the other things that Google does.
When Google first announced plans to buy Motorola last year, most pundits agreed that Google had no intention of actually owning Motorola, that it was just buying Motorola for the patents.
We, on the other hand, argued that Larry Page might be buying Motorola because he actually wanted to get into the gadget business--on account of the fact that Apple was producing much better smartphones and tablets than Google.
In the year or so since the deal was announced, it has become more and more clear that Larry does, in fact, want to make gadgets.
In the latest evidence of this, Google is now planning to open an online tablet store in which it will push Android-based tablets, Amir Efrati of the Wall Street Journal reports.
In this store, Google will initially sell tablets that are manufactured by its tablet hardware partners like Asus and Samsung. But the tablets may be co-branded as Google tablets.
And then, when the Motorola deal finally closes, Google's tablet store will sell Google tablets.
Why is Google opening an Android tablet store?
Because sales of Android tablets have been horrible.
In the smartphone market, Google was able to partner with carriers to push Android-based smartphones. These distribution channels were effective, and Android quickly amassed the leading global market share (although in the U.S., Apple has been clawing back share and closing the gap).
On a positive note, Google making its own gadgets could begin to cure the Android fragmentation problem.
The tablet distribution market, however, is completely different: Google and its hardware partners have to rely on retailers to sell the tablets. And if those retailers also sell Apple products, they have had to agree to give Apple products much more visibility and promotion. So Android tablets have largely been ignored by consumers.
The one Android tablet that has been successful is Amazon's Kindle Fire, but that tablet is "Android" in name only--Amazon has significantly modified and customized the platform to serve its own goals. And Amazon has sold a lot of Fires, in part because it owns the most powerful online distribution channel in the world.
Apple, meanwhile, now owns a global network of retail stores in addition to its online store and third-party retailing partners. So there's huge distribution for the iPad.
Add all that together, and Android tablets (Kindle Fire excepted) have basically been dead on arrival.
So Google wants to fix that.
And the way it's going to try to fix that is to open an online tablet store.
Google has been in the ecommerce business before, briefly, when it sold its Nexus One smartphone in a soon-to-be-aborted attempt to disrupt the wireless carrier control over the smartphone market. It sold about 100,000 Nexus Ones and then pulled the plug.
Daniel Goodman / Business Insider
Hate to say it, Google, but if you're really serious, you're going to have to build some of these.
A Google tablet store would presumably be a longer-term effort.
Would it make much of a difference in the tablet market?
It would probably help. Especially if Google matches or beats the Kindle Fire pricing of $199.
To really make an impact in the tablet market, though, Google will likely have to either drastically undercut the iPad on price (which it would if its sells them for $199) or build tablets that are close to being as good as the iPad.
And, even then, it would be at a huge disadvantage relative to Apple, because of the power of the Apple stores as a distribution channel.
So if Google is really serious about competing against Apple, Google may well have to start building retail stores.
And it will have to build retail stores while also running its core business, search, and all of its other web-based business. And it will have to do that while also trying to kill Facebook in social and Microsoft in the enterprise. And while trying to build self-driving cars, building wind farms, and doing all the other things that Google does.
New Google Voice update brings folders and dialer integration for ICS
www.tech-sanity.com
If you're a Google Voice user there's quite the update waiting for you in the Google Play store this afternoon. The newest version (0.4.2.54) features tight integration with the Ice Cream Sandwich dialer, a new voicemail option, and the inclusion of labels (think folders) for your inbox. Here's the not-so-fun part -- unless you have a phone with Ice Cream Sandwich, you won't get to see most of it.
All phones will get the inbox labels, which is one thing many folks, myself included, have been waiting for. If you use your Google Voice inbox as a catch-all storage and never delete anything you can now attempt to keep things organized and access it all from your phone. This is the best change for me, but the others are nice as well.
Voicemails are now able to be played through the native Ice Cream Sandwich dialer, just like carrier voicemail. You can adjust the speed to play them faster or slower (handy when skipping to the good part). You enable this in the Google Voice settings, and it's a great way to manage two numbers if that's how you roll. That is how I roll, and it's really handy. Too bad it's ICS only. Hit the break for a couple screenshots of all this, and the download link if you need it.
If you're a Google Voice user there's quite the update waiting for you in the Google Play store this afternoon. The newest version (0.4.2.54) features tight integration with the Ice Cream Sandwich dialer, a new voicemail option, and the inclusion of labels (think folders) for your inbox. Here's the not-so-fun part -- unless you have a phone with Ice Cream Sandwich, you won't get to see most of it.
All phones will get the inbox labels, which is one thing many folks, myself included, have been waiting for. If you use your Google Voice inbox as a catch-all storage and never delete anything you can now attempt to keep things organized and access it all from your phone. This is the best change for me, but the others are nice as well.
Voicemails are now able to be played through the native Ice Cream Sandwich dialer, just like carrier voicemail. You can adjust the speed to play them faster or slower (handy when skipping to the good part). You enable this in the Google Voice settings, and it's a great way to manage two numbers if that's how you roll. That is how I roll, and it's really handy. Too bad it's ICS only. Hit the break for a couple screenshots of all this, and the download link if you need it.
Huawei Ascend D the new King of Android?
www.tech-sanity.com
When Huawei announced the Ascend D quad U510 at MWC 2012, it proudly proclaimed that its in-house quad-core SoC made it the world's fastest smartphone. While at the time it seemed an audacious remark for the company to make, benchmarks scores are starting to surface that appear to validate its claims. AnTuTu Benchmark is a popular Android app that benchmarks a range of system functions, and Huawei's latest smartphone is sitting at the very top of its leaderboard. It outscores other companies' upcoming flagship devices, including the LG Optimus 4X HD and HTC One X, and is only topped by a pair of Asus Transformer Prime tablets that have had their CPUs heavily overclocked.
The D quad has also bested all competitors in NenaMark v2, overcoming new devices like HTC's One S as well as established powerhouses like the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II. NemaMark is a benchmarking app that specifically tests the graphical capabilities of a device. It runs the tests at the device's native resolution, so for a 720p device like the D quad to outperform lower resolution devices such as the Galaxy S II and HTC One S is quite a feat.
However, benchmarks often don't relate to real-world performance, so you should take these scores with a pinch of salt, as well as noting that HTC and LG's flagships may not have been running finished software, which could affect future scores. Benchmarking apps like Quadrant have also in the past been fooled by developers into producing inflated scores, although we've never heard of either NenaMark or AnTuTu being tricked before. We'll have to wait for the phone's release to find out if all of this apparent raw power is put to good use, and more importantly, if Huawei has made a compelling product to match.
When Huawei announced the Ascend D quad U510 at MWC 2012, it proudly proclaimed that its in-house quad-core SoC made it the world's fastest smartphone. While at the time it seemed an audacious remark for the company to make, benchmarks scores are starting to surface that appear to validate its claims. AnTuTu Benchmark is a popular Android app that benchmarks a range of system functions, and Huawei's latest smartphone is sitting at the very top of its leaderboard. It outscores other companies' upcoming flagship devices, including the LG Optimus 4X HD and HTC One X, and is only topped by a pair of Asus Transformer Prime tablets that have had their CPUs heavily overclocked.
The D quad has also bested all competitors in NenaMark v2, overcoming new devices like HTC's One S as well as established powerhouses like the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy S II. NemaMark is a benchmarking app that specifically tests the graphical capabilities of a device. It runs the tests at the device's native resolution, so for a 720p device like the D quad to outperform lower resolution devices such as the Galaxy S II and HTC One S is quite a feat.
However, benchmarks often don't relate to real-world performance, so you should take these scores with a pinch of salt, as well as noting that HTC and LG's flagships may not have been running finished software, which could affect future scores. Benchmarking apps like Quadrant have also in the past been fooled by developers into producing inflated scores, although we've never heard of either NenaMark or AnTuTu being tricked before. We'll have to wait for the phone's release to find out if all of this apparent raw power is put to good use, and more importantly, if Huawei has made a compelling product to match.
Google Chrome Browser compromised almost immediately at Pwn2Own.
www.tech-sanity.com
CanSecWest's organizers confirmed that Chrome had been hacked during the Pwn2Own contest almost immediately. Team Vupen exploited a security hole in the browser within five minutes of the contest's start. The group will be getting at least a $60,000 prize. Funded partly by Google itself, as well as 32 points in the still-ongoing contest; it had already found two more vulnerabilities in software at the conference in intervening hours.
Exact details of the hole weren't detailed, but it was a zero-day exploit that successfully escaped Google's sandboxing and ran code.
The hack was prepared in advance and was likely helped by Google's own willingness to add significantly to the prize pool to test Chrome. It nonetheless undermines Google's insistence that Chrome is safe and shows it to not necessarily be safer in the real world than previous Pwn2Own targets like Safari. Google was one of the first to implement sandboxing, where any breach in a given browser tab or plugin is supposed to be blocked from compromising other parts, but it's now proven that the practice isn't a guarantee against exploits.
Most other browsers now have at least some form of sandboxing, whether for plugins or browser tabs.
CanSecWest's organizers confirmed that Chrome had been hacked during the Pwn2Own contest almost immediately. Team Vupen exploited a security hole in the browser within five minutes of the contest's start. The group will be getting at least a $60,000 prize. Funded partly by Google itself, as well as 32 points in the still-ongoing contest; it had already found two more vulnerabilities in software at the conference in intervening hours.
Exact details of the hole weren't detailed, but it was a zero-day exploit that successfully escaped Google's sandboxing and ran code.
The hack was prepared in advance and was likely helped by Google's own willingness to add significantly to the prize pool to test Chrome. It nonetheless undermines Google's insistence that Chrome is safe and shows it to not necessarily be safer in the real world than previous Pwn2Own targets like Safari. Google was one of the first to implement sandboxing, where any breach in a given browser tab or plugin is supposed to be blocked from compromising other parts, but it's now proven that the practice isn't a guarantee against exploits.
Most other browsers now have at least some form of sandboxing, whether for plugins or browser tabs.
Eric Schmidt's Mobile World Congress keynote now available online from Youtube
www.tech-sanity.com
check out Eric Schmidt's Mobile World Congress keynote now available online from Youtube
check out Eric Schmidt's Mobile World Congress keynote now available online from Youtube
Quad-core smartphones, battery issues and ecpensive
Wed, Feb 29 2012 11:53
| Smartphones, Android, Google
www.tech-sanity.com
Smartphones with quad-core processors that are able to deliver PC-like performance have finally been announced, but high prices and battery issues could potentially stymie adoption, analysts said on Monday.
Quad-core smartphones will be faster than dual-core mainstream phones, which are now flooding the market. However, the smartphones could be priced at a premium because of higher chip costs, and multitasking and running power applications could strain battery life, analysts said.
HTC’s One X smartphone
Quad-core smartphones with Android 4.0 were announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and are expected to reach market later this year. HTC’s One X, LG’s Optimus 4X HD and ZTE’s Era are based on the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip, and Huawei’s Ascend D is based on its own homegrown chip.
But beyond performance, the smartphones need to be competitive on power and price, analysts said. As dual-core smartphones take over from single-core phones, quad-core smartphones will likely be targeted at high-end users.
Quad-core chips are generally costlier than dual-core chips, and that will be reflected in the higher prices of smartphones, said Jim McGregor, chief technology strategist at In-Stat. Buyers may consider quad-core smartphones if they need performance, or are looking to use it as a hybrid PC device.
Smartphone shipments are growing through subsidies offered by carriers with contracts, and dual-core smartphones are taking over that market, McGregor said. In developing countries where phones aren’t subsidized, quad-core smartphones could be priced at a premium, which could stymie adoption in those areas.
Quad-core chips could also strain battery life, McGregor said. Smartphones are already burning battery with 4G radios and high-definition screens, and running resource-intensive applications through quad-core processors and other accelerators could usurp power, McGregor said.
Multiple cores in smartphones will ultimately be important, but it has to be appropriate to the phone design, said Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates. Applications need to use the four cores to squeeze out the best performance, battery life and user experience.
“If you are a high end gamer on your phone, and the application you run and the OS powering it actually know how to use the multiple cores properly, you’ll certainly get a benefit,” Gold said.
Smartphones with quad-core processors that are able to deliver PC-like performance have finally been announced, but high prices and battery issues could potentially stymie adoption, analysts said on Monday.
Quad-core smartphones will be faster than dual-core mainstream phones, which are now flooding the market. However, the smartphones could be priced at a premium because of higher chip costs, and multitasking and running power applications could strain battery life, analysts said.
HTC’s One X smartphone
Quad-core smartphones with Android 4.0 were announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and are expected to reach market later this year. HTC’s One X, LG’s Optimus 4X HD and ZTE’s Era are based on the Nvidia Tegra 3 quad-core chip, and Huawei’s Ascend D is based on its own homegrown chip.
But beyond performance, the smartphones need to be competitive on power and price, analysts said. As dual-core smartphones take over from single-core phones, quad-core smartphones will likely be targeted at high-end users.
Quad-core chips are generally costlier than dual-core chips, and that will be reflected in the higher prices of smartphones, said Jim McGregor, chief technology strategist at In-Stat. Buyers may consider quad-core smartphones if they need performance, or are looking to use it as a hybrid PC device.
Smartphone shipments are growing through subsidies offered by carriers with contracts, and dual-core smartphones are taking over that market, McGregor said. In developing countries where phones aren’t subsidized, quad-core smartphones could be priced at a premium, which could stymie adoption in those areas.
Quad-core chips could also strain battery life, McGregor said. Smartphones are already burning battery with 4G radios and high-definition screens, and running resource-intensive applications through quad-core processors and other accelerators could usurp power, McGregor said.
Multiple cores in smartphones will ultimately be important, but it has to be appropriate to the phone design, said Jack Gold, principal analyst at J. Gold Associates. Applications need to use the four cores to squeeze out the best performance, battery life and user experience.
“If you are a high end gamer on your phone, and the application you run and the OS powering it actually know how to use the multiple cores properly, you’ll certainly get a benefit,” Gold said.
FTC Chairman: New Google Privacy Plan Forces Consumers to Make a “Brutal Choice”
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It’s just a few days now until Google’s new privacy policy goes into effect. And lawmakers and regulators continue to raise eyebrows over the agreement, which will grant the company greater license to share user account information between a number of services. The latest to do so: Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz.
Asked about Google’s new policy, which goes into effect on March 1, during an episode of C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers,” Leibowitz offered this assessment:
“It’s a fairly binary and somewhat brutal choice that they are giving consumers. I think I can’t say much more. But we’re aware.”
A brutal choice.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement of these new privacy settings that Google contends are in everyone’s best interests.
And while Leibowitz concedes that Google is offering consumers a clear disclosure on its plans, his characterization of it suggests some discomfort with its implementation.
That’s something that concerns others, as well. Last week, an alliance of 36 state attorneys general sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, demanding assurances that the policy doesn’t jeopardize consumer privacy. Prior to that, some House lawmakers criticized the company for failing to answer some important questions about how easy or difficult it is for users to protect their privacy and control how their personal information is shared across Google’s services.
“Our updated Privacy Policy will make our privacy practices easier to understand, and it reflects our desire to create a seamless experience for our signed-in users,” Google said in a statement to AllThingsD. “We’ve undertaken the most extensive notification effort in Google’s history, and we’re continuing to offer choice and control over how people use our services.The privacy policy change mainly affects users with a Google Account, and you can continue to use many of our services — including Search, Maps and YouTube — when you are logged out.”
It’s just a few days now until Google’s new privacy policy goes into effect. And lawmakers and regulators continue to raise eyebrows over the agreement, which will grant the company greater license to share user account information between a number of services. The latest to do so: Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz.
Asked about Google’s new policy, which goes into effect on March 1, during an episode of C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers,” Leibowitz offered this assessment:
“It’s a fairly binary and somewhat brutal choice that they are giving consumers. I think I can’t say much more. But we’re aware.”
A brutal choice.
Not exactly a ringing endorsement of these new privacy settings that Google contends are in everyone’s best interests.
And while Leibowitz concedes that Google is offering consumers a clear disclosure on its plans, his characterization of it suggests some discomfort with its implementation.
That’s something that concerns others, as well. Last week, an alliance of 36 state attorneys general sent a letter to Google CEO Larry Page, demanding assurances that the policy doesn’t jeopardize consumer privacy. Prior to that, some House lawmakers criticized the company for failing to answer some important questions about how easy or difficult it is for users to protect their privacy and control how their personal information is shared across Google’s services.
“Our updated Privacy Policy will make our privacy practices easier to understand, and it reflects our desire to create a seamless experience for our signed-in users,” Google said in a statement to AllThingsD. “We’ve undertaken the most extensive notification effort in Google’s history, and we’re continuing to offer choice and control over how people use our services.The privacy policy change mainly affects users with a Google Account, and you can continue to use many of our services — including Search, Maps and YouTube — when you are logged out.”
What! DRM, are we in the 80's - Google, Microsoft and Netflix want DRM-like encryption in HTML5
www.tech-sanity.com
HTML5 is supposed to set the web free. Free to deliver and shape online media in any web browser. However, several of the standard's greatest champions want to be able to restrict the use of audio and video tags through encrypted media extensions. A draft proposal has been submitted by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix to the W3C -- the curators of HTML5 -- to add encrypted media extensions to the web standard's spec. The proposed system works using a key-based content decryption system controlled by applications, thusly providing the copy protection that so many content owners desire. Naturally, the proposal specifically states that "no DRM is added to the HTML5 specification" if it's adopted, but letting apps lock up audio and video content sure sounds like digital rights management to us. However, there's already some discord amongst the W3C's members as to whether the proposal will work as promised, so its addition to HTML5 is far from assured. You can read the full proposal at the source below, and check out the more coverage links for some added perspective.
HTML5 is supposed to set the web free. Free to deliver and shape online media in any web browser. However, several of the standard's greatest champions want to be able to restrict the use of audio and video tags through encrypted media extensions. A draft proposal has been submitted by Google, Microsoft, and Netflix to the W3C -- the curators of HTML5 -- to add encrypted media extensions to the web standard's spec. The proposed system works using a key-based content decryption system controlled by applications, thusly providing the copy protection that so many content owners desire. Naturally, the proposal specifically states that "no DRM is added to the HTML5 specification" if it's adopted, but letting apps lock up audio and video content sure sounds like digital rights management to us. However, there's already some discord amongst the W3C's members as to whether the proposal will work as promised, so its addition to HTML5 is far from assured. You can read the full proposal at the source below, and check out the more coverage links for some added perspective.
Google to Oust Motorola Mobility Chief, Replace With One of Its Own: Report
www.tech-sanity.com
Just a few weeks after winning the U.S. government’s approval for its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a new report says Google will replace sitting Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha with one of its own top executives as soon as the deal goes through.
Google aims to tap Dennis Woodside as Jha’s replacement, according to anonymous sources who spoke with Bloomberg News. Woodside has spent most of the past decade working in Google’s ad sales departments focused on Europe and the Americas. Woodside left his position in ad sales when Google announced the Motorola deal last August, Bloomberg reports.
Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick declined to comment on the report, as Motorola’s acquisition has not been closed.
Motorola had a few more words to say, although it didn’t confirm nor deny the report. “Sanjay is fully engaged, focused on running the business and getting the deal closed,” said Motorola spokeswoman Becki Leonard in an e-mail.
The report comes after what seems like a slam dunk acquisition for Google, after both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Union just recently granted approval of the Motorola deal, citing no reason for antitrust concerns. Currently, Google is awaiting approval in a handful of other countries, including China and Israel, before the deal can fully go through.
But the potential replacement of Motorola’s Jha with a Googler could raise competitive concerns from Google’s other smartphone partners. As the Android OS is an open platform, hardware manufacturers are free to load Google’s software on their phones (provided the hardware companies abide by a certain set of stylistic guidelines). To date, no one company has been seen as Google’s preferred partner in Android phone manufacturing.
The Motorola deal could change everything. Google could give preferential treatment to its own device division, treating its other partners as secondary or even leaving them out in the cold. Google had initially pledged that it wouldn’t treat Motorola any differently from any other hardware partner. But it can’t replace any of its other partners’ CEOs.
This has to be unwelcome news to companies like HTC, Samsung and LG, all of which have placed big bets on Android as the operating system to take on Apple’s iOS. It seems discordant with Google’s initial reasoning for the acquisition: to secure Motorola’s treasure trove of patents.
Buying Motorola was a protection play that could shield Google in ongoing litigation beween itself, Microsoft, Apple and a host of other companies. “Having the portfolio will keep Android an open and vibrant platform, one that lots of companies can take advantage of,” said Google chief legal officer David Drummond in a conference call when the acquisition was first announced.
Installing a Google-bred leader in a newly acquired company, then, could signal a sea change of how the company will run post-acquisition — a more integrated business, not the separate one first trumpeted by CEO Larry Page last August.
Just a few weeks after winning the U.S. government’s approval for its acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a new report says Google will replace sitting Motorola CEO Sanjay Jha with one of its own top executives as soon as the deal goes through.
Google aims to tap Dennis Woodside as Jha’s replacement, according to anonymous sources who spoke with Bloomberg News. Woodside has spent most of the past decade working in Google’s ad sales departments focused on Europe and the Americas. Woodside left his position in ad sales when Google announced the Motorola deal last August, Bloomberg reports.
Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick declined to comment on the report, as Motorola’s acquisition has not been closed.
Motorola had a few more words to say, although it didn’t confirm nor deny the report. “Sanjay is fully engaged, focused on running the business and getting the deal closed,” said Motorola spokeswoman Becki Leonard in an e-mail.
The report comes after what seems like a slam dunk acquisition for Google, after both the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Union just recently granted approval of the Motorola deal, citing no reason for antitrust concerns. Currently, Google is awaiting approval in a handful of other countries, including China and Israel, before the deal can fully go through.
But the potential replacement of Motorola’s Jha with a Googler could raise competitive concerns from Google’s other smartphone partners. As the Android OS is an open platform, hardware manufacturers are free to load Google’s software on their phones (provided the hardware companies abide by a certain set of stylistic guidelines). To date, no one company has been seen as Google’s preferred partner in Android phone manufacturing.
The Motorola deal could change everything. Google could give preferential treatment to its own device division, treating its other partners as secondary or even leaving them out in the cold. Google had initially pledged that it wouldn’t treat Motorola any differently from any other hardware partner. But it can’t replace any of its other partners’ CEOs.
This has to be unwelcome news to companies like HTC, Samsung and LG, all of which have placed big bets on Android as the operating system to take on Apple’s iOS. It seems discordant with Google’s initial reasoning for the acquisition: to secure Motorola’s treasure trove of patents.
Buying Motorola was a protection play that could shield Google in ongoing litigation beween itself, Microsoft, Apple and a host of other companies. “Having the portfolio will keep Android an open and vibrant platform, one that lots of companies can take advantage of,” said Google chief legal officer David Drummond in a conference call when the acquisition was first announced.
Installing a Google-bred leader in a newly acquired company, then, could signal a sea change of how the company will run post-acquisition — a more integrated business, not the separate one first trumpeted by CEO Larry Page last August.
Microsoft Accuses Google, Motorola Mobility of FRAND Patent Abuse
www.tech-sanity.com
Allegations of standards-essential patent abuse are piling up against Motorola Mobility.
This morning, Microsoft said it has filed a complaint with the European Commission against the company alleging it is not offering some of its standards-essential patents on FRAND (fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory) terms.
“In legal proceedings on both sides of the Atlantic, Motorola is demanding that Microsoft take its products off the market, or else remove their standards-based ability to play video and connect wirelessly,” Microsoft vice president and deputy general counsel Dave Heiner wrote in a blog post today. “The only basis for these actions is that these products implement industry standards, on which Motorola claims patents.”
Heiner notes that Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. In contrast, Microsoft pays a group of 29 companies just two cents per laptop for license to use their pool of 2,300 H.264 patents. His implication: Motorola’s FRAND terms are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry.
Which is something we’ve heard before. Apple recently lodged a complaint with the European Commission against Motorola Mobility claiming the company was demanding royalites of 2.25 percent of Apple’s sales of wireless devices for use of certain standards-essential patents — terms Motorola Mobility’s new owner Google has endorsed. It alsopetitioned the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to create for the telecom industry a consistent licensing scheme that would set “appropriate” royalty rates for the patents necessary to make wireless devices.
“Motorola has broken its promise,” Heiner concluded. “Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the Web, and Google as its new owner doesn’t seem to be willing to change course. … For a company so publicly committed to protecting the Internet, one might expect them to join the growing consensus against using standard essential patents to block products. … Google’s unwillingness so far to make this commitment is very concerning.”
Reached for comment, Google criticized Microsoft for the move. “We haven’t seen Microsoft’s complaint, but it’s consistent with the way they use the regulatory process to attack competitors,” a company representative said. “It’s particularly ironic, given their track record in this area and collaboration with patent trolls.”
Motorola issued an even more terse response: “We are yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but Motorola is committed to vigorously defending its intellectual property.”
Allegations of standards-essential patent abuse are piling up against Motorola Mobility.
This morning, Microsoft said it has filed a complaint with the European Commission against the company alleging it is not offering some of its standards-essential patents on FRAND (fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory) terms.
“In legal proceedings on both sides of the Atlantic, Motorola is demanding that Microsoft take its products off the market, or else remove their standards-based ability to play video and connect wirelessly,” Microsoft vice president and deputy general counsel Dave Heiner wrote in a blog post today. “The only basis for these actions is that these products implement industry standards, on which Motorola claims patents.”
Heiner notes that Motorola is demanding royalties of $22.50 on every midrange laptop that makes use of its portfolio of 50 patents on the H.264 video standard. In contrast, Microsoft pays a group of 29 companies just two cents per laptop for license to use their pool of 2,300 H.264 patents. His implication: Motorola’s FRAND terms are vastly inflated compared to the rest of the industry.
Which is something we’ve heard before. Apple recently lodged a complaint with the European Commission against Motorola Mobility claiming the company was demanding royalites of 2.25 percent of Apple’s sales of wireless devices for use of certain standards-essential patents — terms Motorola Mobility’s new owner Google has endorsed. It alsopetitioned the European Telecommunications Standards Institute to create for the telecom industry a consistent licensing scheme that would set “appropriate” royalty rates for the patents necessary to make wireless devices.
“Motorola has broken its promise,” Heiner concluded. “Motorola is on a path to use standard essential patents to kill video on the Web, and Google as its new owner doesn’t seem to be willing to change course. … For a company so publicly committed to protecting the Internet, one might expect them to join the growing consensus against using standard essential patents to block products. … Google’s unwillingness so far to make this commitment is very concerning.”
Reached for comment, Google criticized Microsoft for the move. “We haven’t seen Microsoft’s complaint, but it’s consistent with the way they use the regulatory process to attack competitors,” a company representative said. “It’s particularly ironic, given their track record in this area and collaboration with patent trolls.”
Motorola issued an even more terse response: “We are yet to receive a copy of the complaint, but Motorola is committed to vigorously defending its intellectual property.”
Google Sued by Apple Safari-User Over Web-Browser Privacy
www.tech-sanity.com
Google Inc. officials are being sued for violating users’ privacy rights on Apple Inc.’s Safari Web browser by bypassing computer settings designed to block monitoring of consumers’ online activity.
Google, the world’s biggest Internet-search company, has been dodging privacy settings in Safari, and IE. Lawyers for an Illinois man who uses the Safari browser said in a lawsuit filed today in federal court in Delaware.
“Google’s willful and knowing actions violated” federal wiretapping laws and other computer-related statutes, attorneys for Matthew Soble said in the complaint.
Google has drawn regulatory scrutiny and pressure from consumer advocates for the way it handles personal information. Last year, it agreed to settle claims with the Federal Trade Commission that Google used deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy policies when it introduced its Buzz social- networking service in 2010.
Chris Gaither, a spokesman for Mountain View, California- based Google, said in an e-mail that the company declined to comment on the suit’s allegations.
Researchers at Stanford University said today Google programmers developed codes that allowed them to avoid privacy settings created by their rivals at Cupertino, California-based Apple.
Privacy Circumvented?
The settings were designed to block cookies, or small pieces of code, that can be used to follow users’ activities on the Web. The Wall Street Journal reported Google’s actions in bypassing the privacy settings earlier this week.
Soble is seeking class-action status for his suit, which was filed on behalf of individuals “whose default privacy settings on the web browser software produced by Apple, known as Safari, were knowingly circumvented by Google,” according to the suit.
Google’s actions also prompted Consumer Watchdog to send a letter to the FTC today demanding action against the Internet- search provider.
“Safari users with the browser set to block third-party cookies thought they were not being tracked,” John Simpson, privacy project director of Consumer Watchdog, said in the letter. “Nonetheless, because of an element invisible to the user, but designed to mimic a form, DoubleClick was able to set tracking cookies in an obvious violation of the set preference.”
Lawmaker Attention
The allegations that Google bypassed Apple’s privacy settings to gather information on user’s Web browsing habits also have drawn attention from lawmakers.
“I fully intend to look into this matter and determine the extent to which the practice was used by Google and other third parties to circumvent consumer choice,” West Virginia Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement.
“We are taking immediate steps to address concerns, and we are happy to answer any questions regulators and others may have,” Google’s Gaither said in an e-mailed response.
The case is Matthew Soble v. Google Inc., U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Wilmington).
Google Inc. officials are being sued for violating users’ privacy rights on Apple Inc.’s Safari Web browser by bypassing computer settings designed to block monitoring of consumers’ online activity.
Google, the world’s biggest Internet-search company, has been dodging privacy settings in Safari, and IE. Lawyers for an Illinois man who uses the Safari browser said in a lawsuit filed today in federal court in Delaware.
“Google’s willful and knowing actions violated” federal wiretapping laws and other computer-related statutes, attorneys for Matthew Soble said in the complaint.
Google has drawn regulatory scrutiny and pressure from consumer advocates for the way it handles personal information. Last year, it agreed to settle claims with the Federal Trade Commission that Google used deceptive tactics and violated its own privacy policies when it introduced its Buzz social- networking service in 2010.
Chris Gaither, a spokesman for Mountain View, California- based Google, said in an e-mail that the company declined to comment on the suit’s allegations.
Researchers at Stanford University said today Google programmers developed codes that allowed them to avoid privacy settings created by their rivals at Cupertino, California-based Apple.
Privacy Circumvented?
The settings were designed to block cookies, or small pieces of code, that can be used to follow users’ activities on the Web. The Wall Street Journal reported Google’s actions in bypassing the privacy settings earlier this week.
Soble is seeking class-action status for his suit, which was filed on behalf of individuals “whose default privacy settings on the web browser software produced by Apple, known as Safari, were knowingly circumvented by Google,” according to the suit.
Google’s actions also prompted Consumer Watchdog to send a letter to the FTC today demanding action against the Internet- search provider.
“Safari users with the browser set to block third-party cookies thought they were not being tracked,” John Simpson, privacy project director of Consumer Watchdog, said in the letter. “Nonetheless, because of an element invisible to the user, but designed to mimic a form, DoubleClick was able to set tracking cookies in an obvious violation of the set preference.”
Lawmaker Attention
The allegations that Google bypassed Apple’s privacy settings to gather information on user’s Web browsing habits also have drawn attention from lawmakers.
“I fully intend to look into this matter and determine the extent to which the practice was used by Google and other third parties to circumvent consumer choice,” West Virginia Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, a Democrat and chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, said in a statement.
“We are taking immediate steps to address concerns, and we are happy to answer any questions regulators and others may have,” Google’s Gaither said in an e-mailed response.
The case is Matthew Soble v. Google Inc., U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware (Wilmington).
Microsoft alleges Google dodged IE privacy settings too.
www.tech-sanity.com
Microsoft's Corporate VP for Internet Explorer, Dean Hachamovitch, made allegations Monday that Google was bypassing Internet Explorer's privacy settings, not just Safari's measures. After checks, he claimed that Google's cookie text files, meant to allow +1 actions for those who were signed into Google, were skirting the P3P Privacy Protection standard as it was implemented in Internet Explorer 9. The technique supposedly made IE9 take third-party cookies that it would block by default while keeping the action a secret.
To honor P3P, Google was supposed to send a set of policy tokens indicating how the cookie's information would be shared. Google was supposedly exploiting a P3P clause that skipped users' preferences if the policies weren't defined. Any browser that used P3P interpreted the message that the token was "not a P3P policy" as a sign to allow the cookie, letting Google have its intended +1 effect but also possibly allowing third-party ads despite the usual blocking settings.
The executive implied this wasn't just a casual trick, since Google would have had to use "technically skilled" staff with "special tools" to see the P3P descriptions.
Microsoft had developed a cookie blocking list update for IE9 (link only working inside the post) as "protection" from the cookies and suggested that those concerned could implement a complete block of all Google cookies, although this would break all account-based Google activity. Hachamovitch wasn't clear on whether it would change its own software to prevent what Google allegedly did outright, but he implied that Microsoft was considering taking a recommendation from P3P founders that the spec be changed such that undefined tokens be rejected outright, not let through.
Google hadn't responded to the new accusations as of Monday afternoon.
The claims if borne out would point to Google using multiple browser-specific tricks to push the +1 allowance regardless of a visitor's browser choice or their security settings. Google has already said that the cookies weren't intended for any other purpose, although at least the Safari implementation allowed multiple third-party advertisers.
Some skepticism has emerged over Hachamovitch's post given Microsoft's tendency to exaggerate Google's privacy position for the sake of its own search market share. While more technically sound, the reaction is still based around getting users to drop all their Google services rather than arguing for a measured reaction.
Microsoft's Corporate VP for Internet Explorer, Dean Hachamovitch, made allegations Monday that Google was bypassing Internet Explorer's privacy settings, not just Safari's measures. After checks, he claimed that Google's cookie text files, meant to allow +1 actions for those who were signed into Google, were skirting the P3P Privacy Protection standard as it was implemented in Internet Explorer 9. The technique supposedly made IE9 take third-party cookies that it would block by default while keeping the action a secret.
To honor P3P, Google was supposed to send a set of policy tokens indicating how the cookie's information would be shared. Google was supposedly exploiting a P3P clause that skipped users' preferences if the policies weren't defined. Any browser that used P3P interpreted the message that the token was "not a P3P policy" as a sign to allow the cookie, letting Google have its intended +1 effect but also possibly allowing third-party ads despite the usual blocking settings.
The executive implied this wasn't just a casual trick, since Google would have had to use "technically skilled" staff with "special tools" to see the P3P descriptions.
Microsoft had developed a cookie blocking list update for IE9 (link only working inside the post) as "protection" from the cookies and suggested that those concerned could implement a complete block of all Google cookies, although this would break all account-based Google activity. Hachamovitch wasn't clear on whether it would change its own software to prevent what Google allegedly did outright, but he implied that Microsoft was considering taking a recommendation from P3P founders that the spec be changed such that undefined tokens be rejected outright, not let through.
Google hadn't responded to the new accusations as of Monday afternoon.
The claims if borne out would point to Google using multiple browser-specific tricks to push the +1 allowance regardless of a visitor's browser choice or their security settings. Google has already said that the cookies weren't intended for any other purpose, although at least the Safari implementation allowed multiple third-party advertisers.
Some skepticism has emerged over Hachamovitch's post given Microsoft's tendency to exaggerate Google's privacy position for the sake of its own search market share. While more technically sound, the reaction is still based around getting users to drop all their Google services rather than arguing for a measured reaction.
Google hit with FTC complaint, says circumventing Safari privacy features accidental (Yeah Right!)
www.tech-sanity.com
This cookie was an accident
The Consumer Watchdog advocacy group today asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Google violated a previous privacy agreement with the FTC by tracking cookies in a way that circumvents default privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser.
Google's method of getting around Safari's default blockage of third-party cookies was detailed today in astudy by Stanford grad student Jonathan Mayer and in two articles in the Wall Street Journal. One Journalheadline calls it "Google's iPhone tracking," but the technique actually works across iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and desktop computers. After being contacted by the Journal, Google disabled the code that had allowed it to install tracking cookies on Safari, even though the browser is designed to block such cookies by default.
Google says it was unintentional, but this is also concerning—the advertising cookies spread without Google even realizing it.
This cookie was an accident
The Consumer Watchdog advocacy group today asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Google violated a previous privacy agreement with the FTC by tracking cookies in a way that circumvents default privacy settings in Apple's Safari browser.
Google's method of getting around Safari's default blockage of third-party cookies was detailed today in astudy by Stanford grad student Jonathan Mayer and in two articles in the Wall Street Journal. One Journalheadline calls it "Google's iPhone tracking," but the technique actually works across iPhones, iPads, iPod touches, and desktop computers. After being contacted by the Journal, Google disabled the code that had allowed it to install tracking cookies on Safari, even though the browser is designed to block such cookies by default.
Google says it was unintentional, but this is also concerning—the advertising cookies spread without Google even realizing it.
Google's "Don't Be Evil" iPhone Tracking bypassing your security settings, Naughty Google.
www.tech-sanity.com
Web Giant, Others Bypassed Apple Browser Settings for Guarding Privacy
Google Inc. and other advertising companies have been bypassing the privacy settings of millions of people using Apple Inc.'s Web browser on their iPhones and computers—tracking the Web-browsing habits of people who intended for that kind of monitoring to be blocked.
The companies used special computer code that tricks Apple's Safari Web-browsing software into letting them monitor many users. Safari, the most widely used browser on mobile devices, is designed to block such tracking by default.
Google disabled its code after being contacted by The Wall Street Journal.
Tracking Leaves a Trail
Web Giant, Others Bypassed Apple Browser Settings for Guarding Privacy
Google Inc. and other advertising companies have been bypassing the privacy settings of millions of people using Apple Inc.'s Web browser on their iPhones and computers—tracking the Web-browsing habits of people who intended for that kind of monitoring to be blocked.
The companies used special computer code that tricks Apple's Safari Web-browsing software into letting them monitor many users. Safari, the most widely used browser on mobile devices, is designed to block such tracking by default.
Google disabled its code after being contacted by The Wall Street Journal.
Tracking Leaves a Trail
Android Jelly Bean gets claimed first details
www.tech-sanity.com
Google's future Jelly Bean version of Android, unofficially known as Android 5.0, might be focused even more on larger screens than recent versions. A rumor from Taiwan suppliers late Wednesday claimed to Digitimes that Jelly Bean was "further optimized" for tablets. Some elements of Chrome or Chrome OS would supposedly be in place to allow a live dual-boot: users could flip from Windows to Android without having to shut down one or the other.
The new mobile OS was an opportunity for Google to get back into the netbook and notebook spaces, according to the tips. Chrome OS has so far failed to take off, since for many it has neither the offline power of a full notebook nor as much of the portability or instant-on response of a tablet.
Although at least partly speculative, suppliers also thought Google might unveil Jelly Bean in the spring and make a pitch for dual-booting systems at the same time. Google I/O is known to be taking place in June and has regularly been the launchpad for new versions of Android.
The update is considered potentially as big or bigger than Android 4.0. For many, it may be the litmus test of whether or not Android tablets can mount significant competition to Apple. Android 3.0 had little impact on Apple, and 4.0 is considered too minor a change at tablet sizes to alter the dynamics. The same sources discussing Jelly Bean changes have suggested that "several" Android partners are now timid about using the OS and may no longer see it as a viable contender.
Google's future Jelly Bean version of Android, unofficially known as Android 5.0, might be focused even more on larger screens than recent versions. A rumor from Taiwan suppliers late Wednesday claimed to Digitimes that Jelly Bean was "further optimized" for tablets. Some elements of Chrome or Chrome OS would supposedly be in place to allow a live dual-boot: users could flip from Windows to Android without having to shut down one or the other.
The new mobile OS was an opportunity for Google to get back into the netbook and notebook spaces, according to the tips. Chrome OS has so far failed to take off, since for many it has neither the offline power of a full notebook nor as much of the portability or instant-on response of a tablet.
Although at least partly speculative, suppliers also thought Google might unveil Jelly Bean in the spring and make a pitch for dual-booting systems at the same time. Google I/O is known to be taking place in June and has regularly been the launchpad for new versions of Android.
The update is considered potentially as big or bigger than Android 4.0. For many, it may be the litmus test of whether or not Android tablets can mount significant competition to Apple. Android 3.0 had little impact on Apple, and 4.0 is considered too minor a change at tablet sizes to alter the dynamics. The same sources discussing Jelly Bean changes have suggested that "several" Android partners are now timid about using the OS and may no longer see it as a viable contender.
Facebook for Android gets a fat update, access to games, new photo experience
www.tech-sanity.com
Android's official Facebook app just got a sizable update this evening. Here's a look at what's new:
(How to use this QR code)
Android Market web link
Android's official Facebook app just got a sizable update this evening. Here's a look at what's new:
- Navigate anywhere, fast: Get to your groups, apps, pages, and settings with a single press
- Search and you will discover: Look through friends, subscribers, apps, and pages
- See your friends tags on pictures and zoom: New photo viewing experience
- Faster notifications: Get alerted in real time with new push notifications
- Games & Apps: Play games and access your favorite apps on the go
- Access to mobile timeline (If you already have a timeline)
- Access to friend lists and subscriptions
(How to use this QR code)
Android Market web link
Motorola Droid 4 quick review
Thu, Feb 16 2012 02:06
| Smartphones, Android, Google
Motorola Droid 4 review
After two years and four hardware iterations, the Motorola Droid 4 is the pinnacle of the line that brought Android into the living rooms of America, if not the world. That's it. Plain and simple. If you're looking for an Android phone with a sliding keyboard, there is none better, insofar as the keyboard goes.
The Droid 4 isn't a radical departure from its predecessors. You've got a keyboard, and you've got a screen, though both have undergone further tweaking that keep it in the style of other current Motorola smartphones like the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX.
But that's not to say the Droid 4 is the perfect smartphone. Oh, we're going to sing its praises, to be sure. But it's also got some quirks that leave us scratching our head.
After two years and four hardware iterations, the Motorola Droid 4 is the pinnacle of the line that brought Android into the living rooms of America, if not the world. That's it. Plain and simple. If you're looking for an Android phone with a sliding keyboard, there is none better, insofar as the keyboard goes.
The Droid 4 isn't a radical departure from its predecessors. You've got a keyboard, and you've got a screen, though both have undergone further tweaking that keep it in the style of other current Motorola smartphones like the Droid RAZR and Droid RAZR MAXX.
But that's not to say the Droid 4 is the perfect smartphone. Oh, we're going to sing its praises, to be sure. But it's also got some quirks that leave us scratching our head.
HTC Sensation and XE to get limited early preview of Android ICS 4.0 in Europe
Thu, Feb 16 2012 02:03
| Smartphones, Android, Google
www.tech-sanity.com
We've just received word from HTC that it'll be releasing what it's billing as an "early access preview" of its Android 4.0 upgrades for the Sensation and Sensation XE handsets in Europe. The company says that it hopes users will "play with it and enjoy getting used to the ICS experience with Sense," which implies that there'll be changes to HTC's skin in this build — something we've been expecting for quite some time anyway. You won't just be able to download the build at will — HTC will initially only be offering it to members of its Elevate beta program — and T-Mobile subscribers using the Sensation 4G won't be included. That's a shame, but there's a silver lining: the company says that it'll be doing similar previews for other phones in its portfolio in the future. Meanwhile, look for the Sensation and Sensation XE builds to roll out to selected individuals "in the coming days."
HTC's move is likely in response to a groundswell of interest for Android OEMs to be more upfront about their upgrade plans; we've already seen Sony do something similar for several of its models (albeit on a wider scale). Motorola, meanwhile, is being honest about its laggy ICS upgrade schedule — but so far, no public previews.
We've just received word from HTC that it'll be releasing what it's billing as an "early access preview" of its Android 4.0 upgrades for the Sensation and Sensation XE handsets in Europe. The company says that it hopes users will "play with it and enjoy getting used to the ICS experience with Sense," which implies that there'll be changes to HTC's skin in this build — something we've been expecting for quite some time anyway. You won't just be able to download the build at will — HTC will initially only be offering it to members of its Elevate beta program — and T-Mobile subscribers using the Sensation 4G won't be included. That's a shame, but there's a silver lining: the company says that it'll be doing similar previews for other phones in its portfolio in the future. Meanwhile, look for the Sensation and Sensation XE builds to roll out to selected individuals "in the coming days."
HTC's move is likely in response to a groundswell of interest for Android OEMs to be more upfront about their upgrade plans; we've already seen Sony do something similar for several of its models (albeit on a wider scale). Motorola, meanwhile, is being honest about its laggy ICS upgrade schedule — but so far, no public previews.
Google+ on iOS gets Instant Uploads
www.tech-sanity.com
Google's rolled out several updates to its social network today, both on the iOS platform and on the web. The big change in the iOS app is the inclusion of instant photo uploads, a feature that Android users have had for some time. Upon launching the updated app, Google+ will ask you if you want to turn on automatic uploads, and whether you want to upload over Wi-Fi and 3G or just Wi-Fi only. Once activated, any picture you snap in the native iOS camera app or in third party apps like Instagram is uploaded to a private folder on Google+; from there, you can choose to share photos through new posts, add to albums, or delete them entirely.
Google's rolled out several updates to its social network today, both on the iOS platform and on the web. The big change in the iOS app is the inclusion of instant photo uploads, a feature that Android users have had for some time. Upon launching the updated app, Google+ will ask you if you want to turn on automatic uploads, and whether you want to upload over Wi-Fi and 3G or just Wi-Fi only. Once activated, any picture you snap in the native iOS camera app or in third party apps like Instagram is uploaded to a private folder on Google+; from there, you can choose to share photos through new posts, add to albums, or delete them entirely.
US approves Google's buyout of Motorola, Microsoft, Apple, and RIM's take over of patents by Nortel,
www.tech-sanity.com
The US Department of Justice has just approved Google's buyout of Motorola, shortly after the European Commission cleared the deal earlier today. Additionally, it has cleared the way for Microsoft, Apple, and RIM to take over a suite of patents left behind by Nortel, which left 6,000 patents up for grabs when it declared bankruptcy in 2009.
The US Department of Justice has just approved Google's buyout of Motorola, shortly after the European Commission cleared the deal earlier today. Additionally, it has cleared the way for Microsoft, Apple, and RIM to take over a suite of patents left behind by Nortel, which left 6,000 patents up for grabs when it declared bankruptcy in 2009.
Samsung’s 7-inch Galaxy Tab 2, runs Android 4.0 [Updated w/ pricing]
www.tech-sanity.com
Samsung has officially announce their first tablet running the latest Android OS. The Galaxy Tab 2 runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and is somewhat similar to the original Galaxy Tab. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB RAM and features a 7-inch WSVGA display (1024×600) PLS TFT LCD, Wi-Fi, 3MP rear-facing fixed focus camera, VGA camera on the front, HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS, 8 or 16 or 32GB internal memory, microSD card slot and 4,000mAh battery.
Samsung has officially announce their first tablet running the latest Android OS. The Galaxy Tab 2 runs Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) and is somewhat similar to the original Galaxy Tab. It is powered by a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB RAM and features a 7-inch WSVGA display (1024×600) PLS TFT LCD, Wi-Fi, 3MP rear-facing fixed focus camera, VGA camera on the front, HSPA+ support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0, A-GPS, 8 or 16 or 32GB internal memory, microSD card slot and 4,000mAh battery.
Google TV Facebook page teases new announcement (Update: It's just a new YouTube app)
Mon, Feb 13 2012 06:20
| Google
www.tech-sanity.com
Since Eric Schmidt made the rather bold proclamation that "most" new TVs would have Google TV embedded by summer 2012, we've all been waiting for something "big" from Mountain View. Well, if you can believe the services' Facebook page, "big announcements" are just what we can expect Monday. A post on Google TV's profile leaves a lot to the imagination, but while speculation is already jumping sky-high (Google TV Nexus, anyone?) the possibilities range all the way from new product announcements to minor service / feature expansions or contests -- so set your alert levels accordingly. Of course, if it were really a big deal then you'd think the news would come out on Google+, right?
Since Eric Schmidt made the rather bold proclamation that "most" new TVs would have Google TV embedded by summer 2012, we've all been waiting for something "big" from Mountain View. Well, if you can believe the services' Facebook page, "big announcements" are just what we can expect Monday. A post on Google TV's profile leaves a lot to the imagination, but while speculation is already jumping sky-high (Google TV Nexus, anyone?) the possibilities range all the way from new product announcements to minor service / feature expansions or contests -- so set your alert levels accordingly. Of course, if it were really a big deal then you'd think the news would come out on Google+, right?
Google teases 'big announcements' for Google TV coming Monday
Mon, Feb 13 2012 12:26
| Google
www.tech-sanity.com
We got the rumour earlier in the week about Google's next plans in the home entertainment space. But a posting on the official Google TV Facebook page has promised "big announcements" coming for the platform on Monday.
At this point there really is nothing at all to go on, but one thing seems sure: Google is definitely keeping up their end in continuing to push the platform forwards. Interesting is that whatever's coming tomorrow was teased on Facebook and not on the Google TV Google+ Page. Google's not prone to annoucing something before it's announced, so let's all try to manage expectations here a little bit. Perhaps we'll see some sort of new Google TV hardware -- maybe even that rumored next-generation LG set? -- or maybe just a new service. Stay, erm, tuned.
We got the rumour earlier in the week about Google's next plans in the home entertainment space. But a posting on the official Google TV Facebook page has promised "big announcements" coming for the platform on Monday.
At this point there really is nothing at all to go on, but one thing seems sure: Google is definitely keeping up their end in continuing to push the platform forwards. Interesting is that whatever's coming tomorrow was teased on Facebook and not on the Google TV Google+ Page. Google's not prone to annoucing something before it's announced, so let's all try to manage expectations here a little bit. Perhaps we'll see some sort of new Google TV hardware -- maybe even that rumored next-generation LG set? -- or maybe just a new service. Stay, erm, tuned.
Google disables prepaid cards in wake of Google Wallet exploit
Sun, Feb 12 2012 08:09
| Google
www.tech-sanity.com
Google late Friday night disabled the ability to provision new Google Preaid Cards, fallout from the discovery of a flaw in the Google Wallet app. The gist is that if someone were to find your phone, they could reset the Google Wallet PIN and gain access to your Google Prepaid Card. In a separate incident, rooted phones were found to be vulnerable to a brute-force crack.
And so, Google has temporarily disabled provisioning of prepaid cards as an interim step, and it says it will have "a permanent fix soon."
Google also reminds us that rooted devices are by definition not as secure as un-rooted phones and "we strongly discourage [rooting] if you plan to use Google Wallet because the product is not supported on rooted phones."
Google late Friday night disabled the ability to provision new Google Preaid Cards, fallout from the discovery of a flaw in the Google Wallet app. The gist is that if someone were to find your phone, they could reset the Google Wallet PIN and gain access to your Google Prepaid Card. In a separate incident, rooted phones were found to be vulnerable to a brute-force crack.
And so, Google has temporarily disabled provisioning of prepaid cards as an interim step, and it says it will have "a permanent fix soon."
Google also reminds us that rooted devices are by definition not as secure as un-rooted phones and "we strongly discourage [rooting] if you plan to use Google Wallet because the product is not supported on rooted phones."
Google+ adds enhanced spam
Fri, Feb 10 2012 11:27
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google Wallet Compromised
Thu, Feb 9 2012 09:08
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google Drive Cloud Service Launching soon
Thu, Feb 9 2012 09:05
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google Chrome 17 released.
Thu, Feb 9 2012 08:54
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google letter promises to license Motorola's standards patents fairly after acquisition Google letter promises to license Motorola's standards patents fairly after acquisition.
Thu, Feb 9 2012 12:27
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google Screenwise: Pays You To Give Up Privacy & Surf The Web With Chrome
Thu, Feb 9 2012 12:20
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Aggregated content from Facebook Google and the Web is sold and used against us constantly.
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
EU regulators want Google to halt new privacy policy
Sat, Feb 4 2012 05:12
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
Google forced to pay $650,000 in damages
Fri, Feb 3 2012 04:45
| Google
Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street