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?
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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.
iPad 3 to Pave Way for 1080p iTunes Content and a New Apple TV (which is currently unavaialabe)
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Apple is expected to reveal the new iPad at a media event in the first week of March. The new iPad is widely believed to carry a ultra-high resolution 2048x1536 display that exceeds the resolution of 1080p content. Apple, however, presently only offers a maximum of 720p HD content on their iTunes Store. 720p also happens to be the maximum resolution that the current generation Apple TV supports.
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."
Custom signatures, notifications, and highlights for iPhone Mail with Mail Enhancer for jailbreak
www.tech-sanity.com
Mail Enhancer adds a great deal of extra functionality to your jailbroken iPhone, including the ability to set custom signatures for different accounts, tailored notifications, advanced mail sorting options, and account highlighting. If the stock version of iOS simply doesn’t meet your needs, and you’re looking for more and better functionality, give Mail Enhancer a try.
Apple sues Motorola over Qualcomm license, makes us dream of a world without lawyers
Sat, Feb 11 2012 01:36
| Legal
www.tech-sanity.com
There are literally no words (at least no family-friendly ones) to describe the insanity that is the ongoing legal war between practically every player in the mobile scene. You can't lay the blame entirely atCupertino's stoop either -- Motorola, HTC and Samsung all deserve plenty of our ire as well. The tablet and smartphone industry appears to be trying to sue itself out of existence, and Apple's filing today against Motorola Mobility in the US District Court of Southern California is just latest in a long line of legal ploys likely to inspire you to slam your head against a wall. The purveyors of all things "i" has accused Moto of breaching a licensing contract with Qualcomm when Moto hit Apple with four patent claims in Germany. That license covers wireless technology Qualcomm uses in its MDM6610 chip, and also purportedly covers Qualcomm's customers who purchase and use said chips. Naturally, that bit of silicon is a component in the iPhone 4S, so Apple argues that it's safe under the terms of the contract. Furthermore, Cupertino claims Motorola is barred from suing under the doctrine of exhaustion -- which is a legal defense that once a patented item is sold (i.e. when Moto licensed its technology to Qualcomm), the patentee's control over that item is exhausted and it can't sue anyone else for infringement.
So, this new suit filed in San Diego seeks to prevent Motorola from enforcing its claims in Deutschland. It also aims to keep Motorola from suing Apple for its use of Qualcomm components incorporating licensed Moto technology anywhere else. Confused? We won't lie, we are a little bit too, but all is revealed in the complaint found at the source link below.
There are literally no words (at least no family-friendly ones) to describe the insanity that is the ongoing legal war between practically every player in the mobile scene. You can't lay the blame entirely atCupertino's stoop either -- Motorola, HTC and Samsung all deserve plenty of our ire as well. The tablet and smartphone industry appears to be trying to sue itself out of existence, and Apple's filing today against Motorola Mobility in the US District Court of Southern California is just latest in a long line of legal ploys likely to inspire you to slam your head against a wall. The purveyors of all things "i" has accused Moto of breaching a licensing contract with Qualcomm when Moto hit Apple with four patent claims in Germany. That license covers wireless technology Qualcomm uses in its MDM6610 chip, and also purportedly covers Qualcomm's customers who purchase and use said chips. Naturally, that bit of silicon is a component in the iPhone 4S, so Apple argues that it's safe under the terms of the contract. Furthermore, Cupertino claims Motorola is barred from suing under the doctrine of exhaustion -- which is a legal defense that once a patented item is sold (i.e. when Moto licensed its technology to Qualcomm), the patentee's control over that item is exhausted and it can't sue anyone else for infringement.
So, this new suit filed in San Diego seeks to prevent Motorola from enforcing its claims in Deutschland. It also aims to keep Motorola from suing Apple for its use of Qualcomm components incorporating licensed Moto technology anywhere else. Confused? We won't lie, we are a little bit too, but all is revealed in the complaint found at the source link below.
Apple Reportedly Shortlisting Apps For iPad 3 Demo, Ads
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With less than a month to go for iPad 3 media event, The Next Web reports that Apple is currently in 'crunch mode' shortlisting apps for the iPad 3 launch event and commercials.
The Next Web reports:
Our sources tell us that this selection process is continuing at an increased rate as Apple looks to finalize the lineup for the iPad 3. There is also emphasis on graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets, which appears to be in line with the new iPad featuring a ‘Retina’ display.
In addition, some apps that Apple is impressed with are being forwarded on to its long-time advertising partner TWBA/Chiat/Day for possible inclusion in the initial iPad 3 commercial spots. This process is entering its final phase as well, with the company on a tight deadline to deliver assets for playback during the presentation and later, television broadcast.
With less than a month to go for iPad 3 media event, The Next Web reports that Apple is currently in 'crunch mode' shortlisting apps for the iPad 3 launch event and commercials.
The Next Web reports:
Our sources tell us that this selection process is continuing at an increased rate as Apple looks to finalize the lineup for the iPad 3. There is also emphasis on graphics-oriented applications with high-definition assets, which appears to be in line with the new iPad featuring a ‘Retina’ display.
In addition, some apps that Apple is impressed with are being forwarded on to its long-time advertising partner TWBA/Chiat/Day for possible inclusion in the initial iPad 3 commercial spots. This process is entering its final phase as well, with the company on a tight deadline to deliver assets for playback during the presentation and later, television broadcast.
Paul Thurott: Windows 8 Secrets: Windows 8 Is Not Dropping The Start Button
Sat, Feb 11 2012 01:31
| Windows
www.tech-sanity.com
There's been a lot of silliness and angst about Windows 8 supposedly dropping the Start button, the first time this central user interface has been absent from Windows since its debut in 1995. There's just one problem: The Start button isn't going anywhere. In fact, it's being made more prominent than ever in Windows 8.
To understand what I mean by this, consider the recent news that the Start button--more correctly called the Start Orb, but whatever--has been removed from Consumer Preview-era builds of Windows 8. I corroborated this rumor in my own post, logically titled Start Orb Removed In Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
To understand what I mean by this, consider the recent news that the Start button--more correctly called the Start Orb, but whatever--has been removed from Consumer Preview-era builds of Windows 8. I corroborated this rumor in my own post, logically titled Start Orb Removed In Windows 8 Consumer Preview.
EU competition chief threatens patent war smackdown
Sat, Feb 11 2012 01:28
| Legal
www.tech-sanity.com
European anti-competition chief Joaquin Almunia has warned that the EU won't stand for any messing about with technology standards-related patents.
Almunia, giving a speech today at the Concurrences conference in Paris, said that he was prepared to use the EU's enforcement measures, such as fines of up to 10 per cent of a biz's global turnover, to make his point.
European anti-competition chief Joaquin Almunia has warned that the EU won't stand for any messing about with technology standards-related patents.
Almunia, giving a speech today at the Concurrences conference in Paris, said that he was prepared to use the EU's enforcement measures, such as fines of up to 10 per cent of a biz's global turnover, to make his point.
Facebook Rules Prohibit Users From Promoting Their Work, Company, and alot more!
Sat, Feb 11 2012 01:25
| Facebook
www.tech-sanity.com
Have you seen Facebook's rules for users, developers, and partners? They give Facebook tremendous powers to disable accounts and to make money from your content. Here are a few examples, you can see more here in thisSEC document filed late Wednesday:
- You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).
- You will not send or otherwise post unauthorized commercial communications (such as spam) on Facebook.
Lots of people post about their company, promotional programs, or links to articles they've written. There is clearly a commercial gain in these profile updates. Anything related to your work, company products and services, etc, could be classified as spam.
This places many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of users in violation of this rule and subject to having their account terminated.
Have you seen Facebook's rules for users, developers, and partners? They give Facebook tremendous powers to disable accounts and to make money from your content. Here are a few examples, you can see more here in thisSEC document filed late Wednesday:
- You will not use your personal profile for your own commercial gain (such as selling your status update to an advertiser).
- You will not send or otherwise post unauthorized commercial communications (such as spam) on Facebook.
Lots of people post about their company, promotional programs, or links to articles they've written. There is clearly a commercial gain in these profile updates. Anything related to your work, company products and services, etc, could be classified as spam.
This places many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of users in violation of this rule and subject to having their account terminated.