Google leads pack as ten tech firms spend more than $61 million lobbying Washington

Ten of the largest technology companies in the US spent more than $61 million lobbying Washington in 2013, according to an analysis of records filed by Consumer Watchdogearlier this week. The firms, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Facebook, used the money in attempts to guide the government's hand on issues such as privacy, data security, and advertising.

The $61 million used for lobbying between the ten companies is an increase of 16 percent since 2012, in which they spent a collective $52.78 million. 2013's biggest spender remained Google, but the $14.06 million the search giant put towards Washington was actually a decrease in outlay of 14.7 percent from the previous year, when it was the target of an antitrust investigation. The firm's lobbying costs looked to be trending upwards at the end of 2013: after a decrease in relative third quarter spending, Google's fourth quarter expenses rose from $3.35 million to $3.98 million.

SEVEN OF THE TEN COMPANIES ON THE LIST INCREASED THEIR LOBBYING SPEND FROM 2012 TO 2013

Seven of the ten companies on the list increased their spending on lobbying. Microsoft increased its budget 30 percent from 2012, spending $10.49 million last year. Amazon was up 38.3 percent to $3.46 million, IBM leaped 45.6 percent to $7.06 million, while Yahoo's one percent increase pushed its spending to $2.78 million. Facebook and Apple had the largest rises in lobby spending: the former was up 61.2 percent to $6.43 million, while the latter jumped almost 72 percent to $3.37 million.

The increase in lobbying spend comes as the United States' largest technology companies increase their political efforts. Among the group, Facebook has been particularly active. In April last year, Mark Zuckerberg launched FWD.us with other Silicon Valley executives to push for immigration reform. In November, the Facebook CEO took his political advocacy to ABC's This Week, discussing NSA surveillance and directly criticizing the government's Healthcare.gov. Addressing the rise in lobbying spend, Consumer Watchdog's Privacy Project Director John M. Simpson said "policymaking in Washington is all about how much money you can throw around." He sees the upward trend continuing. "These tech guys are increasingly willing to spend whatever it takes to buy what they want."

Read More »

Apple promises to fix iOS 7's 'black screen of death' in future software update

Apple promises to fix the "black screen of death" bug that's affected iPhones running iOS 7 since September.

The bug causes the iPhone to "soft reboot" out of nowhere, interrupting tasks for 30 seconds to one minute as you wait for the home screen to return. We've seen it here at Pocket-lint, and while it doesn't occur every day, it does happen more than we'd like.

Apple told Mashable in a statement: "We have a fix in an upcoming software update for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash." It didn't detail when the update will be available, but it's expected to come as part of iOS 7.1, which is currently in testing withdevelopers.

BGR, who has pegged Apple's software releases correctly in the past, reported iOS 7.1 will come to the public in March. Past the "black screen of death" fix, the new software is expected to include iOS in the Car, new accessibility options, and multiple other bug fixes to smoothe over performance.
Source: Mashable

Read More »

Samsung SM-T535, SM-T531 and SM-T530 might be new Galaxy tablets

Samsung announced no less than five tablets this month (and year), and yet it might introduce new ones in the near future.

The Bluetooth SIG yesterday approved a previously unheard-of Samsung SM-T531 tablet. We noticed that its model number doesn’t correspond to any of the already unveiled Galaxy slates, so we tried to find more info about it. It turns out that Zauba (which lists products imported to India) has the SM-T531 in its database, describing it as a 10.1 inch tablet.

We also discovered a Samsung SM-T530 and a Samsung SM-T535, both listed as being 8-inch tablets. All three devices were imported to India last week for testing purposes.

The new model numbers are close to SM-T520 and SM-T525 - which are the Wi-Fi and LTE versions of the Galaxy TabPRO 10.1. However, it’s weird that they’re from the same SM-T53x series and yet have different display sizes. But maybe - just maybe - they’ll have the same display technology, if not the same size. We’re thinking Super AMOLED here. New Samsung Galaxy tablets with 8-inch and 10-inch AMOLED screens - this would make sense, especially since last year there were many rumors hinting at new AMOLED tablets made by Samsung. Naturally, we can't vouch for any of this at the moment, but we'll try to dig for more info, and let you know if we find anything.

Until now, Samsung released only one tablet that features an AMOLED display: the 2011 Galaxy Tab 7.7. Has the time for a renewal finally arrived?

Read More »

Apple iOS 7 fix for random iPhone reboots in pipeline

Apple is readying a firmware update for iOS 7 which the company says will address unexpected reboots that users of the iPhone have reported in considerable numbers since the latest smartphone OS version was released. The glitch, colloquially known as the "white/black screen of death", affects iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 5 users, among others, with the smartphone suddenly freezing and then performing a soft-reboot.

The exact cause of the problem is unclear, though some have suggested that the reboots are more common when the battery level falls below 30-percent. That's not consistently the case, however, and the reboots can occur when apps are being loaded or switched between.

"We have a fix in an upcoming software update" an Apple spokesperson told Mashable, "for a bug that can occasionally cause a home screen crash."

The problem manifests in different ways depending on the color of the iPhone. Those with a light colored handset usually see a black Apple logo on a white background, while on a dark handset that's reversed.

Waiting for Apple to address the problem is not something every iPhone owner is willing to do, and the company's support forum is full of users either experiencing the issue or with a potential way to patch it. Although most affected find their phone restarts with no issues, some have had to connect an external power source in order to reboot.

The official fix is expected to be part of iOS 7.1, the next significant update, and currently in the fourth round of testing with developers. When it'll be released publicly is unknown at this stage.

Read More »

Apple reportedly decided on a 4.8” display for next iPhone

According to a note to investors by the Wall Street analyst Timothy Arcuri of Cowen and Company, Apple has already decided on the screen size of the next iPhone. The device will reportedly feature a 4.8” display when it goes official.



The information is said to be based on checks within Apple’s supply chain. In addition to the larger display, the upcoming iPhone will support the zippy Wi-Fi 802.11ac standard, as well as major software innovations brought by the next major iOS release.

A report on an Apple iPhone with a larger display in the pipeline is hardly a surprise – we’ve received a word about it on couple of occasions already. However, the analyst doesn't mention anything about therumored 5.7” phablet by Apple.

If Apple remains true to its current release schedule, the next iPhone will likely break cover in September. Recent rumors however, suggest a launch time as early as June.

Source | Via

Read More »

New iWatch concept beautifully builds on the Nike FuelBand concept

A few months ago, we saw a concept for the Apple iWatch from designerThomas Bogner that modeled the device after the Nike FuelBand, and it was one of the better designs that we had seen (regardless of how realistic of a design it would be). Now, designer Todd Hamilton has expanded on that design and added in the iOS 7 UI, which looks very at home on a wearable.

As far as the design of the hardware itself, Hamilton has only made a couple tweaks, but seemingly important ones. First off, he has given more thought to the materials of the device, blending the screen with a glossy outside, and making the inner part of the band rubber. The other big change was in changing the orientation of the screen. Bogner's design had information displayed horizontally, which looks nice in a concept, but makes very little sense when placed on a human wrist. Hamilton has the data displayed vertically, which makes the whole system make more sense.

Additionally, the iOS 7 icons, clean design, and ambient color look far more dynamic and interesting on a smartwatch than you might expect. This looks like a device that we'd love to use. Of course, realistically it is fairly impossible right now for a device like this to be made, because we don't yet have quality curved batteries, flexible cables, and the other components to make it a reality. Still, we definitely prefer this idea to the silly iWatch S and C concepts we saw recently.


source: Todd Hamilton via Mashable

Read More »

DacMagic XS USB Headphone Amp Turns Up The Sound On Your Computer

For those who like to really turn up their music while on the computer comes the DacMagic XS USB Headphone Amp! That cheap headphone output of a typical laptop or desktop just doesn’t cut it for many, which is where this handy devices comes into play. It’ll instantly upgrade any computer’s sound output and is super easy to use. It just connects to any USB port (for both power and audio) and you’re good to go!



You’ll be hearing all your favorite tunes and movies with every drop of detail, exactly how it was originally intended to sound. It dramatically improves audio quality on all types of digital audio, including MP3s, high res audio files (e.g. FLAC or WAV), streaming services, films and games. It has a headphone amp built in for a deeper base sound and is portable so it’s easy to carry it around with you anywhere. And you can connect your laptop to your Hi-Fi system for better sound at home!

Read More »

BlackBerry stock climbs on news of Department of Defense contract

Just when it seems as though BlackBerry is about to flatline, the struggling handset maker shows signs of life. The Canadian company recently managed to secure a contract with the US Department of Defense that will see 80,000 smartphones put into commission in the near future according to a statement on the matter from the Defense Information Systems Agency. BlackBerry is one of the few companies whose devices have met the high-level security demands of various government agencies but they aren't alone in their efforts. In addition to the BlackBerry handsets, the agency said they support 1,800 unclassified mobile devices which include the iPhone and iPad from Apple as well as several Samsung and Motorola devices. BlackBerry stock value was up more than nine percent on the news in after hours trading as US exchanges were closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Shares have rallied around 35 percent since the end of 2013 but are still down roughly the same percentage over the past 12 months. In other BlackBerry news, the company also recently revealed plans to divest much of their Canadian real estate holdings. Specifically, they will sell more than three million square feet of commercial real estate. The company plans to remain headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, according to CEO John Chen, but the initiative will provide additional resources to support their operations as the business continues to evolve.

Read More »

World's tiniest quadcopter, the Nano Quadcopter, takes to the skies

Billed as the world's tiniest quad-copter, the nano quadcopter from Revell is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, but at the same time still have a decent amount of oomph to take off and fly where you want it to.

Demoed at the London Toy Fair to Pocket-lint, we have to admit that the quadcopter was so nippy that we had trouble taking photos and video of it when it wasn't sat on our hand. That's a sure sign that it is both great fun, and will no doubt be difficult to fly for the absolute beginner without some practice.

The quadcopter will give you around 5 minutes of battery life for a 30 minute charge. While you'll need a couple of AAA batteries for the diddy remote control, the flying machine comes with a lithium rechargeable that charges off a USB socket.

Read More »

iPhone 5S vs iPhone 5C head to head review

GADGET DESIGNER Apple's iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C handsets have been on the market since last September, which means that we've managed to spend a couple of months with both of the devices to find out which one really is best.

Design
The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C are world's apart in design. The iPhone 5S carries over the iPhone 5's two-tone aluminium design, while the iPhone 5C does away with this in favour of a fully plastic chassis.

Although we immediately warmed to the design of the iPhone 5C because the phone was something new and different from Apple, the iPhone 5S undoubtedly is the more premium of the two. It's the smaller of the two, also, measuring just 7.6mm thick. As with the iPhone 5, this means that the iPhone 5S sits comfortably in hand despite its angular shape.



One downside of the iPhone 5S design, however, is that Apple's aluminium casing is prone to scratches and chips.

Some have argued that the plastic casing of the iPhone 5C makes it look cheap. As we pointed out in our iPhone 5C review, however, the handset feels surprisingly tough, with the smooth plastic feeling more expensive than cheap. That said, we did find it hard to grip at times due to the slick plastic, although the handset's chunkier 8.9mm casing didn't make it feel bulky.

The iPhone 5C is available in blue, green, pink, yellow and white, while the iPhone 5S is available in white, gold and space grey.

While some will prefer the plastic casing of the iPhone 5C to aluminium, the iPhone 5S has an additional design feature which we think puts it ahead in this category - its Touch ID sensor.



This is a reworked Home key, and allows users to unlock the device using their fingerprint. Although it's temperamental at times, we think that this feature nudges the iPhone 5S to victory in design.

Winner: iPhone 5S

Display
While they are world's apart in design, the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C both have the same 4in 640x1136 resolution display with a pixel density of 326ppi.

Of course, while it's impossible to pick a winner in this category, it's worth noting that the screen on both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C remains one of the best smartphone displays on the market, producing crystal-clear images and sharply defined text.

Winner: Draw

Performance
There are only a few major differences between the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C, but performance is one of them.

The iPhone 5S features Apple's 64bit A7 chip, which is paired with the firm's M7 coprocessor for more accurate movement detection. The iPhone 5C, on the other hand, features Apple's previous generation A6 processor that made its debut in the iPhone 5.

While there are no major performance differences between the two in real-world testing, the iPhone 5S is the more powerful of the two compared to its cheaper sibling in gaming, opening apps, and loading webpages. We also found everything was a little bit smoother on the iPhone 5S, with the iPhone 5C stuttering occasionally.

Winner: iPhone 5S

Software
Both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C run Apple's latest iOS 7 mobile operating system.

Of course, the software remains nearly identical on both devices. There are a few slight differences, with the iPhone 5S boasting the ability to buy apps, and of course unlock the device using the built-in Touch ID sensor. The iPhone 5S camera app also comes with a built-in slow-motion video recording mode, a feature that's missing on the cheaper iPhone 5C.



As we mentioned, iOS 7 is also slightly smoother on the iPhone 5C, with apps opening a fraction quicker, webpages loading more smoothly, and gameplay being more impressive.

Beyond that, however, you'll find the same, minimalist iOS 7 user interface and features on both the iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C. Although Apple's latest mobile operating system received a fair bit of criticism at launch and we still have our gripes with the reworked user interface, we have warmed to iOS 7. The new user interface feels fresh, and new features such as the Control Center and the redesigned Safari web browser are welcome.

Winner: iPhone 5S

Read More »

8 Ways to Use Google Glass on the Job

Google Glass isn't without its limitations -- not to mention privacy concerns -- but Google Glass 'Explorers' are finding many ways to use the device to work smarter and faster. The key to more widespread adoption, though, will be seamless integration into existing technology workflows.

CIO — Glass, Google's head-mounted, Internet-connected device, won't be available commercially until sometime in 2014. Even so, there are thousands of Glass "Explorers," or early adopters, already using the high-tech eyewear on the job. Many are discovering that, in addition to being a geeked-out plaything, Glass can in fact solve everyday business problems, help people be more productive, enhance workflows and deliver other real-world benefits.

Here's a look at some of the practical and innovative ways Explorers are using the $1,500 prototype device in their work — from automotive repair to sports reporting.
 1. Live, Remote Sales Training
Josh Cohen is CEO of TownSpot, an online video network startup. The company has no actual offices, Cohen says, with team members scattered around the country. The virtual organization structure makes it challenging to train the sales team — a problem Google Glass is helping to solve, according to Cohen.

For example, on a recent sales call to a new customer in Los Angeles, with the customer's permission, Cohen streamed video of his view in real-time via Google Glass to an Atlanta co-worker. Cohen's colleague could see the customer's reactions and hear how he delivered the sales pitch, he says, adding that this type of easily set up, live and remote training "could never have been done before."

Often, salespeople are trained by accompanying the sales leader or CEO on customer calls, Cohen notes. This usually requires flying the sales person to another location, among other costs. Glass lets Cohen virtually take multiple people on sales calls with him wherever he goes, thereby reducing travel and other training expenses.
2. Hands-free Sports Reporting

Andrew Abramson, the Miami Dolphins beat reporter for The Palm Beach Post, uses Glass on the job. He was interested in the device mainly for its video and photo capabilities.

"Video has become a huge part of sports reporting," Abramson says. "While the traditional TV reporters still enter locker rooms with their bulky cameras, other reporters are often uncomfortably holding up their cell phones and shooting their own clips."

Meanwhile, Abramson finds it much easier to wear a video camera on his face. "With Google Glass, I can shoot photos and videos simply by pressing a button or using voice commands," he says. "I can instantly upload photos and videos to the Web without using my hands."


Abramson has received "an overwhelmingly positive response" from Dolphins fans who follow his reports, and about half of the Dolphins' players have tried on his pair. Reaction varies, he says, from ridicule to amazement to "Where do I get my pair?"
3. Sharing Conference Sessions

"Literally every day, there are different start-up related conferences and events," Cohen says. He can't make it to them all, but with Google Glass — and the permission of conference organizers — Cohen and his team divide and conquer. Recording the events in real time "is easier and less obtrusive than using a video camera," he says, and it gives employees the convenience of watching a conference or event on their own time.
Page 2
4. Taking Notes
Evernote, the popular note-taking Web service and application, is among the few official Google Glass apps currently available — and Shazafar Khaja, integration architect for The Kroger Company, says Evernote is the most useful app thus far for Glass.


"Before I go to meetings, I email myself the minutes from previous meetings and action items. I have all of this accessible to me in the meeting at the flick of a finger, with Glass," he says. "I've also started to record (with everyone's permission) parts of brainstorming sessions where we have ideas flying around. This enables me to be involved without having to fiddle with a phone or camera."

Khaja admits he could do all of the above using traditional methods — "But with Glass, I'm less distracted and more focused on what's going on."
5. Fixing Cars

Glass Explorer Will Elias says Glass has helped him with the complexity of fixing vehicles. "With cars changing so quickly, and everything computerized, I was able to work on a vehicle with the assistance of an ASE-certified mechanic," Elias says. "He watched what I was doing (through a Glass video chat) and guided me on how to fix the vehicle correctly."
6. Showcasing Your Company

Google Glass is an ideal way to show off a company's customer service experience, notes Hilary Topper, CEO of HJMT Public Relations: "Imagine walking in and videotaping, with a first-person perspective, the way someone would be treated if they entered your restaurant, spa or bank." Topper's firm used Glass to make a reality video to both showcase the firm and show off Glass. The video, Glasslandia, has received more than 50 million social media impressions," she says.

7. Staying Up to Date While Out and About


Matt McGee is editor-in-chief of Marketing Land and also runs the popular Glass Almanac blog. "With Glass I can get RSS feeds, Tweets, emails and so forth sent right to me while I'm out and about," he says. "It's great at conferences, for example, to be able to consume this kind of information while walking the halls or expo floors. It keeps me in the know."

McGee admits that he could get these updates on his iPhone — but consuming that kind of information at a conference means stopping, find an out-of-the-way spot and reading. With Glass, on the other hand, he can keep walking and see headlines and tweets as they come to him. "I can even speak a reply," he says. "And it's all done hands-free with my head up, so I don't have to worry about walking into someone."
8. Troubleshooting a Website From a Distance

Cohen says the capability to share visual information immediately can help solve tech issues. If he encounters a bug or other technical glitch on his company's website, the Los Angeles-based Cohen can say, "OK, Glass, take a picture," and share a photo of his computer screen with his two Web developers in Virginia. The real-time sharing lets his Web developers understand the issue better and react immediately, Cohen says.

Read More »

Nigeria: NCC Outlines Spectrum Requirements

Lagos — THE Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has modified the conditions required to adjudge the eventual winner of upcoming 2.3GHz spectrum auction.

In an update on the requirements for a successful bid, the NCC said that it would allow the eventual winner to forge an alliance with an existing Unified Access Service License (UASL) owner.

The NCC said that a successful bidder without a UASL would be issued a Wireless Wholesale Access Service Licensee (WWASL) license upon payment of fees.

CAJ News learnt from a top NCC official that the commission currently charges about N374.6 million for the UASL license.

With the update, a successful bidder without the UASL license would now have to pay that amount to the actual N3.6bn (US$23 million) auction price.

The NCC had pegged a N3.6billion reserve price for the single spectrum being offered for sale as part of a Presidential Broadband Plan to promote diffusion of high-speed Internet services across the country.

The new conditions have now thrown the bids open to existing telecoms licensees and new entrant companies that are duly registered under local laws.

A total of 16 companies in the country currently have the unified access licences including three of the big four GSM networks as well as companies linked with big businessmen like Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, Visafone Communications, owned by Jim Ovia and Smile Communications jointly-owned by Irene Charnley, ex-Director of MTN Group and Arab investors.

NCC also said that with the emergence of the wholesale broadband provider, undersea cable companies that currently provide both wholesale and retail broadband services in the market will be made to adhere to licence restrictions.

“The submarine cable infrastructure and landing station licensees will continue to provide their services based on their license conditions.

"The WWASL licensee may be a subscriber of the submarine cable infrastructure and landing station licensees for bulk International bandwidth. They are playing in different segments of the market,” the regulator says.

The regulator provided two accounts, one in Guaranty Trust Bank PLC and Zenith Bank PLC, where bidders hoping to pay in Naira can deposit their funds.

“Companies that wish to pay in Naira should pay the naira equivalent of the designated amount at the prevailing exchange rate for the date of payment,” NCC stated.

Read More »

New Intel Education Tablet features snap on magnification lens and thermal probe

Intel has pulled the wraps off a couple new computing devices aimed at the education environment. The new devices include the 10-inch Intel Education Tablet and the 10-inch Intel classmate PC. Both of the devices are designed to be rugged enough to survive the rough and tumble school days with kids. They can both survive drops of 70cm.

The products are also both water and dust resistant. The Education Tablet runs Android 4.2 and has rubber bumpers on the sides to make it easier to hold. It also features a stylus and a power button that is hard to press accidentally. The tablet runs on an Intel Atom Z2520 processor and has front and rear cameras.



The tablet can also be fitted with optional 3G connectivity and promises 12 hours of use per charge. Graphics for the tablet are handled via Intel GMA and it supports full HD video. Two of the coolest features are snap on magnifying lens and a thermal probe to help kids learn. The classmate PC is a 10-inch machine that runs Windows 8.1 with an Intel Celeron N2806 processor.

A version of the classmate PC with Windows 7 and one with Linux using an Intel Celeron N2805 CPU will be available later this year. The machine can be optioned with a touchscreen and it has a rotatable camera allows kids to create video content with the device. The classmate PC is the first device based on the classmate PC reference design and will be available this month in the US and other countries.

SOURCE: Intel

Read More »

Sharp outs Aquos mini SHL24 with the smallest 4.5" 1080p display, ultra compact EDGEST design

Sharp today outed the next in its line of marvelous phones and tablets with IGZO display tech, dubbed Aquos mini SHL24. The "mini" moniker stems not only from the fact that it sports a 4.5" 1080p display, but also because it features the so-called EDGEST design, basically a minimized bezel thickness from three sides - left, right, and top. This almost bezel-less design has brought on some record compact dimensions, with just 2.48" (63mm) of width and 4oz (115g) weight, making the phone perfect for one-handed operation. For comparison, the phone is as tall and almost as wide as an iPhone 5s with its 4" panel, weighing about the same.


Sharp didn't stop here, though, as it equipped the handset with a 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800, 2 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage plus memory card, as well as a 13 MP camera with f/1.9 aperture on the back that does some low-light shenanigans.


Aquos mini SHL24 sports 487ppi pixel density, that is just shy of the phone with the record ppi count - Vivo Xplay 3S - which, however, has an unwieldy 6" display. Sharp's phone is part of the new spring lineup of KDDI, which means it will be available some time in March in pink, blue, yellow green, and white.


source: KDDI via G4Games

Read More »

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Olympic Games Edition revealed

Samsung has started offering a Galaxy Note 3 Olympic Games Edition - although it looks like this is available only in the Netherlands for now, with no word on a wider availability.

The Note 3 Olympic Games Edition isn’t different from the handset’s regular version, but it comes in a special packaging. This seems to include tickets to skating sessions in the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium, and a special flip cover. Buyers are also offered the chance to win tickets to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, which takes place between 6 and 23 February in Russia.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Olympic Games Edition is offered by Dutch carrier KPN for free on select plans.

It’s not surprising to see a Galaxy Note 3 Olympic Games Edition, since the new Note is the official phone of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, and it's been gifted to all participating athletes.

source: KPN via GalaxyClub (translated)

Read More »

Leaked packaging shows Apple iPhone case that gives the phone NFC and support for Isis

Leak of retail packaging shows new case for the Apple iPhone that supports NFC and the Isis Mobile Wallet
A leaked photograph of some retail packaging appears to show a new case for the Apple iPhone that will be offered by AT&T. The case will feature a micro-NFC chip, which together with a free mobile app, will allow the iPhone to support the Isis mobile payment service. The Incipio Cashwrap will retail for $70 and is already in AT&T's inventory, according to published reports.

At CES, a version of the case for both the Apple iPhone 4 and Apple iPhone 4s was revealed. The cases are expected to launch in March. While AT&T is involved in the release of the Cashwrap case, it is unknown whether the other two carriers involved in the Isis mobile payment service, T-Mobile and Verizon, will also offer the cases.

By using the case and installing the Isis Mobile Wallet app, you can store credit cards and loyalty cards, using them to pay your bill by tapping the iPhone on an Isis Mobile Payment terminal.

source: Engadget

Read More »

It's officially a tablet: Wi-Fi only Sony Xperia Z Ultra on sale in Japan

From the first time we heard about the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, it was seen as a device that was clearly pushing the boundaries of the term "phablet". Most phablets haven't attempted to go much higher than 6-inches, but the Xperia Z Ultra features a 6.4-inch display and its footprint looks closer to a 7-inch tablet than a 6-inch phablet. Now, the device has officially gone over to the tablet world.


There had been rumors about Sony prepping a Wi-Fi only version of the Xperia Z Ultra, and it has become a reality. The Wi-Fi only model of the device will officially go on sale in Japan this Friday, January 24th. The device will sell for ¥52,000 (~$499), and it won't be alone on shelves. Sony has also launched an LTE-enabled version of the device on Japanese carrier KDDI.


The tablet version of the Xperia Z Ultra features all of the specs that you'd expect, including the noted 6.4-inch 1080p display, a Snapdragon 800 chipset, 2GB of RAM, and an 8MP rear camera. Of course, one thing that made the device feel more like a tablet than a phablet was that alongside that 8MP camera, there is no flash on the device, which is something of a disappointment.


source: Sony Japan via GSMArena

Read More »

Motorola Migrate can now shepherd iOS users (and their data) to a new life on Android

If a Motorola device has recently charmed you away from the iPhone, make sure to check out the company's Migrate app. Moto just refreshed the transfer tool to add iOS support (similar to the one found on MotoMaker), making it easier to transfer iCloud data to Google's services -- so long as you have a supported handset. Unfortunately, it'll only work with the Moto X, Moto G, Droid Ultra, Droid Maxx and Droid Mini at the moment, and it can only port calendar entries and contacts. Still, those are two things to slash off your list when moving phones, leaving you with more time to worry about transferring all those selfies.

Read More »

Google Video Quality Report to grade how well ISPs deliver YouTube

If you've ever tried to use YouTube as a practical measure of how fast your Internet connection is, then you might be in for a surprise. Apparently, Google has the same idea and has launched its Video Quality Report service to gauge an Internet Service Provider's performance based on how well they are able to stream videos from YouTube.

It might seem almost strange for Google to offer such a kind of service that would virtually pit ISPs against each other. After all, it can turn into a virtual hall of shame really quick. But Google's motives are more or less benign and want users to have a more understandable criteria for evaluating an ISP's offer, as well as making sure they're getting their money's worth.

Being Google, there is a bit of science and math behind the service. For sure, it isn't going to rely on users' feedback or comments, which will be very subjective. It also won't simply base its results from a single person's Home connection. Instead, it analyzes how fast billions of hours worth of YouTube videos are slurped over a span of 30 days. This is then categorized by service provider and location. It also properly considers the density of users on that network per region and adjusts the scores accordingly.

The result is a grading system, indicated by none other than badges, that Google believes can help users and service providers communicate better with each other. A "YouTube HD Vertified" badge tells users that the ISP in that area is able to load videos in 720p HD most of the time. "Standard definition", on the other hand, is given to those that can load at least 360p 90% of the time. And "lower definition" is reserved for those that cannot guarantee even standard quality or, worse, a stable connection.

The website for Google's Video Quality Report is already up but currently only contains informational material on what Google is trying to accomplish and how. For the moment, Google's first test subject is Canada, since Google considers the ISPs there to be exemplars of quality YouTube streaming. Google is so far keeping mum on when it plans to start rolling out to other regions as well. It will be interesting to see how much its badges will be adopted as a way of measuring quality of service in the future.

SOURCE: Financial Post

Read More »