California introduces anti-theft “kill switch” bill
It is not uncommon to store basically every bit of personal information on your smartphone. And with cellphones being more popular than they ever have been, if somebody steals your phone, you could lose everything. That’s where a new bill proposed in California hopes to come in.
The idea has been thrown around many times in the past few years, especially with all of the sensitive information that we carry around with us. It turns out, some California lawmakers may want to make it legislation. The bill, if passed, would require all smartphones and tablets sold after January 1st, 2015, to ship with a certain type of security feature. What’s more is that they would fine companies up to $2,500 for each device that ships without this “antitheft solution”.
State Senator Mark Leno is the man proposing this bill, and has backing from California’s District Attorney. Leno explains in an official statement,
“With robberies of smartphones reaching an all-time high, California cannot continue to stand by when a solution to the problem is readily available. Today we are officially stepping in and requiring the cellphone industry to take the necessary steps to curb violent smartphone thefts and protect the safety of the very consumers they rely upon to support their businesses.”
We have seen something along these lines when Google introduced Android Device Manager, and when Apple introduced Activation Lock. But is that enough? Some people seem to think that it isn’t.
The CTIA stated last year that “a kill switch isn’t the answer.” They went on to say that there would be many risks involved, especially with hackers taking advantage of the system. Also, if the owner retrieves the phone at a later date, they will have no way of using it again.
Obviously there is a lot to talk about here. It’s still very early in the process to be making any assumptions, or to be worried about anything. What are your opinions on this? Do you think the government should step in and help with theft? Or do you think Google and Apple can take care of it themselves? Let us know in the comments!
Source: The New York Times
The post California introduces anti-theft “kill switch” bill appeared first on AndroidGuys.
This concept car uses its own reconnaissance drone to spot traffic jams
The idea of receiving traffic updates on your sat nav may suddenly seem tawdry next to this more futuristic alternative dreamed up by Renault: If you’re driving along in its “KWID” concept car and you’re worried about jams up ahead, you simply launch a quadrocopter drone from the car’s roof, send it skyward using a control app on your tablet and then survey the road through its camera. Would it be distracting, trying to perceive two views at once without the multitasking skills of an Apache pilot? Whose insurer would pay out if your drone pranged someone else’s? Fortunately, these questions need not concern us, as Renault readily admits that the KWID will probably never see the light of an assembly plant. And in any case, if the technology does come about one day, the parallel advent of semi-autonomous cars and mind-controlled drones would surely make it practical.
Filed under: GPS, Transportation
Via: Wired, The Verge, AutoExpress
With Xbox, you can enjoy Bonnaroo from your couch
Can’t make it out to Tennessee this June to catch the concerts at Bonnaroo? If you have an Xbox, you won’t have to. A new Bonnaroo app will let you watch the music festival through your console. There will be multiple streams from the four-day show, and you’ll get to socialize with other virtual attendees. You also won’t have to wait until the spring to get a taste of the experience — Bonnaroo will use its Xbox app to announce its artist lineup on February 19th. The internet feed likely won’t have dedicated fans staying at home, but it may be just the ticket for music lovers who’d rather not deal with the crowds.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD, Microsoft
Source: Xbox Wire
The Engadget Podcast is live at 12PM ET!
With Ben Gilbert currently escaping the DICE-y wilds of Las Vegas, our three podcasting amigos are down to just two for today’s installment. Join in then as Terrence O’Brien and Joseph Volpe walk through the week in tech that was, and dissect the chrysalises Sony and Microsoft are trying so desperately to shed. Don’t know what that means? All the better reason for you to tune in live (and learn) at 12PM.
Apple Again Rumored to Release iOS 7.1 in March
A new report from 9to5Mac claims iOS 7.1 will indeed be released to all iOS users in March, representing the first major revision since iOS 7 was launched publicly in September of last year.
Sources note the next version of iOS 7 will continue with the visual improvements, minor tweaks and bug fixes reported in earlier beta versions seeded to developers.
While recent reports are pegging a launch sooner than later, reliable sources say that Apple is currently planning to ship iOS 7.1, the first significant update to iOS 7, in March. The iOS 7.1 update is said to not have any “secret features,” and it will basically be what we have been told to expect by the past five betas: some user-interface tweaks in the Phone app, an improved Calendar app, speed improvements, and numerous bug-fixes.
BGR originally cited a March release date for iOS 7.1 back in late December, but a follow-up report earlier this week seemed to hedge on that claim somewhat by noting that the update was expected in the “coming weeks.” Slowing increments of build numbers from the developer beta versions suggest the software is nearing a public launch, but whether that date lands in late February or the early March is not clear.
Previous iOS 7.1 betas have included various improvements such as a new “Button Shapes” option in Accessibility, keyboard tweaks that indicate shift and caps locks, a new event list view within the Calendar app and refined icons for the Phone, FaceTime, and Messages app. The unreleased iOS in the Car feature has also been refined in the iOS 7.1 beta testing period, but it is unclear when the functionality will be made available to the public.
Details on features in past beta releases can be found in our previous beta posts: Beta 1, Beta 2, Beta 3, Beta 4 and Beta 5.
     |
Amazon offering Gold Metal deals on highly popular games for duration of Olympics
Amazon today announced a new promotion which sees the online giant discounting games from around the globe. Starting immediately and running through February 22, there are games slashed as low as $.59 a piece. Not just any old generic titles, mind you, but popular stuff from big name developers. As Amazon puts it these are some of the “Appstore’s most popular titles of all-time”.
Gold Medal discounts on highly rated and some of the Amazon Appstore’s most popular titles of all-time will run from February 7th – 15th, for only $.59, with additional discounts coming from February 16th – 22nd, from developers like 2K and PlayFirst.
Top apps available for only $.59 today include:
- Plants v Zombies
- Cut the Rope: Experiments
- Doodle Jump
- Angry Birds Ad Free
- Rabbids Big Bang
- Angry Birds Star Wars 2
- Ski Safari (Kindle Tablet Edition)
- Fruit Ninja
- The Island Castaway
- Colossatron
As part of Amazon’s Free App of the Day (FAD) program, customers can take home medals with three great titles today and through the weekend. Today’s FAD is Stack the Countries, and FAD’s running through the weekend include Dandelions the Game on February 8th and Deep Sleep with Andrew Johnson on February 9th.
The post Amazon offering Gold Metal deals on highly popular games for duration of Olympics appeared first on AndroidGuys.
The week’s best Android rumors (February 7)
HTC Nexus tablet
HTC and Google may again partner for a Nexus product, this time a “high end” tablet. Details are very light at the moment, however it’s rumored for release in Q3 2014.
Asus 8-inch Nexus tablet
Google and Asus will release an 8-inch Nexus tablet by the end of April, says semi-unreliable Digitimes. Rather than fighting it out in the 7-inch space yet again, Google wants to put distance between the larger smartphones and other tablets.
Samsung Galaxy S5
Samsung will reportedly tone down the introduction of the flagship smartphone when it’s introduced later this month, says the New York Times.
As for the hardware, the latest chatter says we should expect a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor or an octa-core 64-bit Exynos SoC clocked at 2GHz – varies by market. Additionally, the display may be a 5.2-inch/5.25-inch AMOLED display with WQHD resolution (2,560 x 1,440 pixels). Rounding the specs, we’re told to look for 3GB RAM, 32GB/64GB/128GB internal storage capacities, a 16-megapixel rear camera, a front-facing 3.2-megapixel camera and a 3,200 mAh battery. Reportedly, this is will be the first Samsung flagship to feature an all-metal case.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Active
As we’ve seen with the Galaxy S4, Samsung is alleged to be working on a waterproof version of the upcoming smartphone. It’s not known if it will arrive at the same time as the standard model.
Samsung Galaxy S5 Zoom
Indian import database Zauba is listing a Samsung SM-C115 “mobile camera for R&D purpose”, leading some to assume this is the camera-centric version of the forthcoming flagship.
Samsung TouchWiz UI
Leaked screenshots, which have since been pulled, show flatter user interface elements in Samsung’s S Health app. Presumably, Samsung will employ the same aesthetics across all of its apps in upcoming devices.
Sony’s nearly bezel-free smartphone
Two images posted on Chinese-language Digi-Wo forum might be our first look at Sony’s next flagship smartphone experience. Although they are blurry, the photos do show a handset with almost zero bezel around the screen, something that could lead to smaller devices with bigger screens.
HTC Desire 310
The upcoming Desire 310 may be rather unique as it pertains to the software front. Leaked photos suggest the device could run a stock Android experience with HTC’s BlinkFeed sprinkled atop.
Huawei Ascend P7 “Sophia”
Huawei’s first smartphone to come with KitKat under the hood is alleged to be the 5-inch Ascend P7. Rumors say this model will have a 1080p HD display, quad-core 1.6GHz HiSilicon 910 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, and a 2460mAh battery. The front side should house an 8-megapixel camera with the rear offering a 13-megapixel shooter.
Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 with LTE
Another version of the Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is on the way, according to a user manual found on Samsung’s website. The key difference between this and the other model is that users can tap into 4G LTE data connectivity.
The post The week’s best Android rumors (February 7) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Google’s Chromecast expected to come to the UK in March
A representative from UK electronics retailer Currys has just revealed to TNW that it’ll start selling Google’s Chromecast dongle beginning March 1st. Google all but confirmed the arrival in Britain as well, though it cautioned that the date is only provisional for now. Currently for sale in the US only, the tiny media streamer supports a handful of apps like Netflix and Hulu, on top of tab streaming from Chrome. However, Google just opened the SDK to all developers, which prompted streaming outfits like Rdio and Beats to announce new apps that’ll arrive soon. That said, there’s no word yet on which services you’ll see in the UK at launch nor how much Chromecast will set you back. That’s assuming you don’t already have one, of course — it’s been available awhile on the grey market and even through legit channels in Europe.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Internet, HD, Google
Source: TNW
Padcaster’s tablet movie rig comes to the iPad Mini
The big iPad’s large, high-res screen is a plus for shooting video, but wielding it can make one look like, shall we say, a dork. One way to overcome that stigma is by shooting with the original Padcaster (pictured above), a metal frame that lets you mount your tablet on a tripod and attach lenses and other accessories. The company has now launched a version for the iPad Mini on Kickstarter, which you may prefer for its less bulky size but equally capable 1080p camera and (optional) retina screen. Like the last model, the Padcaster Mini consists of a frame with threaded holes for video accessories, a bracket for 72mm and 58mm lens adapters and a DSLR attachment if better video is needed. That’ll let journalists and bloggers broadcast live straight from an iPad, or even use it as a makeshift teleprompter or support to watch TV in bed, for instance. It’s now about halfway to its goal, so if you’re looking to cast in style from your own Mini, you can pledge at the source starting at $99.
Source: Kickstarter
Apple Lowers Licensing Costs for Lightning Cables and Other MFi Accessories
Last month, Apple reportedly reduced the licensing costs for accessory manufacturers who are producing official gear for the iPhone, iPad or iPod. According to Mac Otakara, this reduction applies to Lightning cables as well as other accessories that are part of Apple’s MFi (Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad) Program.
Made for iPod (MFi) was launched in 2005 as a licensing and quality control program that allowed iPod accessory makers to ship their products with an Apple-approved “Made for iPod” label. At launch, Apple reportedly charged companies that wanted to participate in this program a 10% fee based on the wholesale cost of the device.
Apple expanded its MFi Program to include the iPhone and iPad as those devices were added to the company’s product portfolio, with Apple’s Lightning cable introduced last in 2012 falling under the program’s guidelines due to the serialized authentication chip embedded in the connectors. At last year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple again extended the licensing to include game controllers for iOS devices.
Those game controllers have generally arrived with higher pricing than expected by consumers, with some of the blame for pricing and quality issues being placed on Apple’s requirements administered through the MFi Program. One high-profile controller, the SteelSeries Stratus, did, however, see a $20 price cut in the few weeks between announcement and launch last month, and while a cut to MFi licensing fees undoubtedly would not have accounted for the entire price drop, it may have given SteelSeries a bit of flexibility to make its pricing more competitive.
Beyond licensing and technical requirements, Apple allegedly also requires manufacturers in the MFi Program to agree to the company’s supplier responsibility code. This code takes steps to ensure that employees have access to safe working conditions and requires companies to submit to inspections that ensure compliance with Apple’s Code of Conduct.
| |
AIVAnet 