Netflix finally launches on Sweden’s TiVo boxes
All caught up with Bron, Wallander and Pippi Långstrump? You’ll need something new to watch, which makes today your lucky day. A month later than promised, Sweden’s Com Hem has added Netflix to customer’s TiVo boxes. All locals need to do is navigate down to the apps menu and log-in with their subscription details — just in time for another round or two with Frank Underwood.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD
LG G Flex will be $300 on AT&T, pre-orders begin January 24th
Sprint was the first out of the gate to announce LG G Flex pricing and availability for the US, but AT&T isn’t too far behind. The network just made it be known that the curved smartphone will be available for pre-order online and at retail stores starting January 24th. We haven’t been given specifics on when the device will get shipped out to early adopters, nor do we have a date on when it’ll be stocked on shelves for everyone else — but we do know, however, that it’ll be all yours for $300 with a two-year contract. If you’d rather get it on a Next plan, you can do so by paying $27 per month (on an 18-month plan) or $35 per month (on a 12-month plan).
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Mobile, Google, AT&T, LG
Source: AT&T
iOS 7.1 Beta 4 May Be Released to Developers Tomorrow
Apple may be close to releasing iOS 7.1 beta 4 to developers, according to a report by BGR. The new beta is reportedly in the hands of testing partners and is slated to be released to developers as soon as tomorrow. The beta will be the fourth of a reported six planned developer builds for iOS 7.1.
We are told there are various fixes in this latest version, including fixing keyboard issues, problems with the contacts app, more changes to the phone UI, and other changes. We have heard from sources that with iOS 7.1, Apple is working very hard to address some large memory bugs and other issues in iOS 7 that have caused crashes and restarts for a lot of people. Additionally, iOS 7.1 should help unify iOS 7 better graphically, with various user interface updates across the entire system and in apps for a more cohesive feel.
BGR has a bit of a hit-or-miss track record when it comes to predicting iOS releases, but the timing for a new iOS 7 beta release makes sense. Apple tends to release new beta versions every few weeks, and tomorrow would be two weeks since the release of iOS 7.1 beta 3. It should be noted that the build number mentioned by BGR for the fourth beta, 11D5127c, is actually for the current iOS 7.1 beta 3. A possible typo, however, doesn’t invalidate the entire rumor, and therefore it remains plausible that the beta 4 is still in the pipleline for a developer release tomorrow.
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Google starts banning Chrome extensions bought by shady ad firms
A brouhaha over adware-laced Chrome extensions has forced Google to remove two from its store and possibly exposed a wider issue. According to the original developer of “Add to Feedly,” the problems happened after he sold his plug-in — created in a few hours — to a party for a too-good-to-be-true “four-figure” sum. As detailed in a blog, he discovered that new code was injecting ads into every page browsed without approval, angering users and lowering its rating. The same thing happened with “Tweet This Page,” another app that served up unwanted ads after being sold. Since other developers were also approached, there’s speculation that it could be a new type of scam: buying perfectly good extensions, altering them and then letting Google slip them to users via automatic updates. After it was contacted by the WSJ, Google pulled the renegade extensions, saying that recently altered terms of service prohibit them. However, that’s only because they didn’t ask user permission; there’s nothing to prevent apps from inserting such ads — something to keep in mind the next time you tweak Chrome.
Via: The Verge
Source: WSJ, Amit Angarwal
Nest promises not to force any privacy changes on customers after Google’s takeover
Google’s acquisition of Nest prompted more than a few privacy concerns, legitimate and otherwise — will you have to share temperature data with advertisers? You won’t, as long as CEO Tony Fadell has his way. He told those at the DLD Conference that there aren’t any plans to change Nest’s current privacy policy, and any changes will be both transparent and opt-in; your smoke alarm won’t start posting Google+ updates without permission. It will be a while before we see how well the company lives up to its promise, but it’s good to know that Nest’s ideal connected home won’t be too connected. Check out Fadell’s privacy remarks in the video below at about the 12:49 mark.
Filed under: Household, Internet, Google
Via: The Next Web
Source: DLD Conference
Samsung’s new smartphone TouchWiz UI leaks again
Expected to debut with the Galaxy S5, it looks like a combination of Google Now and Metro UI
A new tweet popping up yesterday from evleaks shows us a glimpse of what we might expect out of the Samsung Galaxy S5′s user interface. Looking like a cross between Google Now cards and Microsoft’s Metro UI cards, it’s unlike anything we’ve seen in Samsung’s smartphones. If Google is big on flat and clean, Samsung’s going glossy and full colored.
We can only imagine that these cards give priority to Samsung’s own apps and services, showing items such as weather, flight details, social media activity, events, and more.
Samsung recently introduced a new interface for tablets when they debuted the Pro family of devices; we would expect a smartphone refresh for 2014. Although these are only a few static images, we cannot help but appreciate the change in direction for Samsung. We’d like to see these in action, however, before we can give them a full pass. How intrusive is the experience? How does it work if you aren’t using Samsung’s apps? How user-defined can we set this up?
The post Samsung’s new smartphone TouchWiz UI leaks again appeared first on AndroidGuys.
New week, new rumors for the Samsung Galaxy S5
When it comes to rumors surrounding Samsung’s flagship devices, it’s starting to feel more like rumors surrounding Apple devices — starting months in advance of release.
For example, back in November we started hearing rumors the Samsung Galaxy S5 was expected to launch in Q1 of this year. This isn’t all that surprising as it lines up nicely with previous launches of flagship Galaxy devices.
Then as time has passed us by, the rumor mill is starting to heat up and turn out more and more rumors surrounding the device, seemingly one rumor a week (give or take).
As of right now the Galaxy S5 is supposed to come with new battery tech for faster charging, a QHD screen, an aluminum unibody, revamped TouchWiz UI, and now a 20-megapixel camera, complete with an iris scanner for added security, according to a report from PhoneArena.
It’s hard to sift through all of the rumors and separate fact from fiction, but with the Samsung’s history of pushing the envelope with new features (even features that many may deem unnecessary), many of these rumors may indeed be true.
As usual, only time will tell and you can be sure we will cover the device and it’s specs once its made officially available.
Until then, be sure to tune in next week. Same rumor time, same rumor channel.
The post New week, new rumors for the Samsung Galaxy S5 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Detecting the Latest Security Trends
As the years pass, technology is becoming more and more advanced and the technology that’s used for surveillance systems is no different. Home and business owners who plan on getting a security system or who plan on upgrading their current security system should look into the newest security innovations to see if there’s anything that they might want to include into their system.
Security on the Go
You can now monitor your home no matter how close or how far you might be from it with mobile security. Smartphones can now be linked up to your security system so that you can activate or deactivate your system without being physically present. You can also monitor the video feed to keep an eye on your kids if you aren’t home when they get back from school.
In addition to monitoring security systems, you can also use your smartphone or tablet to turn lights on and off and adjust your thermostat.
Wireless Security Equipment
Now you don’t have to worry about tripping over the cords from your security system or drilling holes into your walls thanks to wireless security equipment. One of the great things about wireless equipment is that you can place sensors wherever you’d like rather than only where the wires will reach. If you do a lot of moving around, wireless security equipment is a breeze to pack up and move with you to your new home.
Better Video
Now you can enjoy high quality high-definition video with your home surveillance. You don’t have to worry about looking at a blurry image whenever you want to zoom in on an image now that there are more megapixles to enjoy. The advantage of this is that law enforcement will have an easier time of identifying criminals and the details of crime scenes.
There are also video verifications that allow you to receive a video clip via email or text whenever your alarm is tripped so that you can verify whether or not you have an intruder before an alarm is sent to the security company. If you’re charged for every false alarm that your system triggers, you’ll be thankful for the special verification system.
Firefighting
Rather than buying inexpensive smoke detectors for your home, you might prefer to have your home monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can’t always depend on a smoke detector to work properly, and you might get so tired of it beeping every time there’s a mishap in the kitchen that you remove the batteries and forget to put them back in.
If you live in an area that’s especially prone to wildfires, fire surveillance might be something you want to consider for your home and family. Another great thing about the new fire surveillance system is that the alarm is sent over the Internet instead of through your home’s phone line, which means that you don’t have to worry about paying for a monthly phone line. After about a year or so, the system will pay for itself.
Even if you already have a home surveillance system, you might want to think about upgrading it with the latest security technology. Criminals are getting smarter, so make sure that your surveillance system is up to the task of keeping you safe.
Is this the Samsung Galaxy S5’s new tile-based home screen?
As Samsung’s Galaxy S5 gets ready to launch, the rumor alert scale has already hit “yellow.” The latest from @evleaks shows a possible TouchWiz home screen that would be a sharp U-turn from the current one, if real. It displays information and notifications like Google Now in a tiled format à la Microsoft’s Modern/Metro UI — not unlike the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2‘s Magazine UX. Naturally, there’s no info about how the software would gather up such data, but in any event, the screenshot above could easily be a Samsung test or a fake — we’ll find out in a few short months.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Via: Engadget Spanish (translated)
Source: Evleaks (Twitter)
Korean carrier to launch broadband-shaming 300Mbps LTE-Advanced network this year
Most of us in Europe and North America try not think about how much we’re getting smoked by Asia in terms of internet speeds, but here’s another reminder: residents in South Korea will soon enjoy 300Mbps wireless on the nation’s largest carrier, SK Telecom. That follows on the heels of a similar effort by CSL in Hong Kong, which achieved the same speed by combining two 20MHz LTE bands. However, the Korean carrier is using so-called LTE-Advanced 3-band carrier aggregation tech, which combines one 20MHz and two 10MHz bands. Before residents there can download the proverbial 800MB movie in 22 seconds, though, the new format will have to be standardized globally and adopted by smartphone and chip makers, a process SK said is underway. While you’re mulling that, the carrier will actually be showcasing even better 450Mbps tech in February at Mobile World Congress — so enjoy your 75Mbps max LTE, citizens.
Via: TNW
Source: SK Telecom
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