Asian regulators push Microsoft’s Nokia purchase back until April
Despite receiving all of the necessary confirmations in the US and Europe, Microsoft will need to wait a little longer than expected to finalize its $7.45 billion acquisition of Nokia. Originally expected to close in the first quarter of 2014, both companies today issued a progress report on the deal, explaining that while things were moving well in Asia, it may take until April for regulators there to give it the green light. While the necessary reviews are being conducted, Microsoft is wasting no time advertising its future smartphone union, stating that it will “accelerate our mobile-first, cloud-first imperatives.” That, of course, means getting more Windows Phone handsets in customers’ hands, something new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella believes it can do a lot quicker once Nokia becomes part of the family.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Microsoft, Nokia
Source: Nokia Press, Microsoft Press
Apple to Move Production of iPhone Batteries to Automated Lines
Apple is set to begin producing all iPhone batteries on automated production lines starting later this year, according to a report from DigiTimes. The move is being done to reduce manpower demand and to allow the company to shift its supply chain resources towards production efforts on other parts.
Apple has already automated its Mac Pro and iMac production lines. Other than materials and final assembly, manpower is not required for the rest of the manufacturing.
The move will likely help Apple with iPhone production going forward, as company supplier Pegatron will reportedly be starting production on the iPhone 6 in the second quarter of this year at its new Kunsahn, China plant. Moving the production of iPhone batteries to automated lines may also help Apple avoid manufacturing defects like ones found in a small number of iPhone 5s last year.
Apple’s next-generation iPhone will likely be unveiled in the fall, and has been rumored to launch with two different models including one with a 4.7-inch display and one with a 5.7-inch display. The iPhone 6 could also feature a durable sapphire display, with other rumors pointing to a thinner chassis and bezel-free design.
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Government Action Promised on Nuisance Calls
In January, MPs from across the country attended the House of Commons All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Nuisance Calls. The issue of nuisance calls, which are more widespread than many realise, has become of particular concern to Mike Cockhart, MP for Edinburgh West, who co-chairs the meetings.
A Growing Problem
MPs from all parties have been receiving complaints from their constituents about the frequency of calls to their private landlines and mobile phones. The APPG heard that whilst the regulators report the number of complaints they receive per month at 6,000, BT reported that complaints to them are closer to 50,000. People clearly have more faith in reporting the problem to BT than to the regulators, which could be a problem in itself. If people do not trust the regulator to regulate, there is a deeper issue that needs to be addressed. Perhaps the problem has continued for so long, with no sign of improvement that people have simply given up reporting the issue to the regulator, in the belief it will make no difference if they do.
Elderly Concern
The APPG heard that elderly constituents are particularly vulnerable to upset from nuisance calls. One report found that 40% of calls to the elderly were nuisance calls. This is of particular concern, as the elderly are vulnerable to callers who wish to steal credit card details. Unscrupulous callers also persuade them to sign up to services they do not need.
The Sound of Silence
The calls that particularly upset the elderly were silent calls. These are intimidating for those who do not understand that there is no malign intent behind them, and that the calls may just be a marketing device or a technical error. Sometimes the phone rings but there is no salesperson available to take it, so the line goes dead. Ofcom are responsible for this sort of call, and attempts were made to limit the number of these calls by the Communications Act of 2003. It has had limited effectiveness.
What More Can Be Done?
Whilst the APPG are working hard to formulate new legislation to put before Parliament, there are measures that individuals can take to protect themselves or elderly parents from nuisance calls. The most common approach is to use a phone call blocker, which filters out calls which you do not wish to receive. If nuisance callers have become a real problem, this is one solution, although it does come at a price. But for peace of mind, an increasing number of people are opting to have systems which help them cut out calls from known nuisance call centres – such as those supplied by www.grouputilities.com/
Take Action
If you feel strongly about the issue of nuisance calls, do get in touch with your MP to voice your feelings. Mention the APPG on Nuisance Calls, and ask how your MP will be voting. The experience you have could well influence his or her vote, and help speed through tougher legislation to control what has become a real headache for many older people. Add your voice to the hundreds of others calling for a change in legislation to combat this modern day irritation.
Image attributed to: FreeDigitalPhotos.net /Posterize
Source: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/nuisance-calls.htm
UK government closes tax loophole on digital media, could mean the end of the 99p song download
Buried within the latest budget plan for the UK, Chancellor George Osborne announced new laws that would ensure internet downloads from the likes of iTunes, Google Play Amazon and game networks would be taxed in the country they’re bought in. In the case of the UK, that would be around 20 percent VAT, substantially more than selling through countries like Luxemburg where the rate can be around 3 percent. Separate to the government’s grand plans for its digital future, the new rule would start January 1 2015 — “ensuring these are taxed fairly and helping to protect revenue.” According to the government’s estimates, it could net around £300 million in extra tax income, although it’s likely to bring digital download pricing (unfortunately) closer to physical media in the process.
Filed under: Internet, Apple, Sony, Microsoft, Amazon
Source: The Guardian
Wendy’s Updates iOS App to Enable Mobile Payments at U.S. Locations [iOS Blog]
Wendy’s has updated its My Wendy’s app for iOS devices with the ability to take mobile payments at most of its 5,800 locations in the United States, reports The Associated Press. The fast-food restaurant chain has reportedly been developing its mobile payment system over the past year, testing its app at some of its locations throughout the country.
Once opened, the app allows users to find the nearest restaurants accepting the new mobile payment system, which can be enabled through the creation of a Wendy’s profile. Unlike the process of mobile payments by other merchants however, a mobile payment at a Wendy’s restaurant is processed by showing a cashier a generated six-digit number. According to Wendy’s Digital Vice President Brandon Rhoten, this method was enabled to make it more convenient for customers going through pickup windows.
The move reflects a push by fast-food chains to court younger customers by tapping into the attachment they have to their phones.
“If they want to come in and give us business, we want to allow them to pay the way they want to pay,” Craig Bahner, chief marketing officer for Wendy’s, said in a phone interview.
The move comes as a number of other restaurants have begun to implement mobile payment systems, with Chipotle, Domino’s Pizza, and Pizza Hut all adding support in their respective apps. Taco Bell announced last month that it would be rolling out its mobile ordering platform nationwide later this year, with Burger King expected to follow suit with its own platform. McDonalds, the world’s largest fast food chain, is also expected to launch a mobile payment system sometime in future, with testing currently underway at some of its U.S. locations.
The updated My Wendy’s app for iOS devices is available now in the App Store. [Direct Link]
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Check Out these 10 Beautiful App Concepts for the Moto 360
The Moto 360 has captured the love of us tech enthusiasts due to its sleek, sexy design, and a lot of us can’t wait to get a hold of one. Android Wear has big time potential in the smartwatch field, and the Moto 360 will probably be the first winner running Android Wear.
Thetechblock posted 10 pretty awesome app concept for the Moto 360, and they range from a weather app, to having Flappy Bird on your watch. Don’t think we need to have that flappy-ness on our watches, but it wouldn’t surprise me if simple games end up on Android Wear. So check them all out and let us know what you think of them. The ones above are just images, but there are some GIF concepts as well, so I put those below.
Source: thetechblock.com
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ord = window.ord || Math.floor(Math.random()*1E16);
document.write('’);
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Latest Apple TV rumors have it teaming up with Comcast for streaming
Rumors Apple will launch a new TV-connected device/service seemingly never die, and now the Wall Street Journal reports it’s in talks with Comcast (and that rumored discussions with Time Warner Cable over a “Project Jupiter” team-up stalled when it became a takeover target). With interesting timing, the rumors focus on an aspect of the deal that would give Apple’s streaming of live TV and cloud DVR recordings over a “managed connection” avoiding last-mile bottlenecks. That’s similar to how Comcast sends video on-demand to its Xbox 360 app, and a contrast to the recent net neutrality discussions arising over its deal with Netflix. Noting that the companies “aren’t close to an agreement,” the rumors suggest an arrangement where Apple sells its hardware at retail TiVo-style, although how customers log in and who controls that relationship is something where the two continue to differ.
As the article notes, this proposal is similar to Comcast’s arrangement with TiVo — it sells boxes at retail that in some areas can access Comcast VOD — but going in with Apple to create some kind of hybrid service would be a major change. So far, Comcast has pushed its X1 platform with live TV, internet features and eventually cloud DVR streaming to multiple devices, while also testing out a full IPTV service on college campuses.
Despite years of rumored negotiations and device testing we still haven’t seen Apple jump out with a product to modernize/revolutionize the existing TV experience. Now, we wonder if pressure from regulators on the proposed Time Warner Cable / Comcast merger, cord-cutting (the number of customers paying for cable, satellite and fiber TV dropped slightly last year, the first time that’s happened), and competing internet TV services (Netflix, Sony, Amazon etc.) is creating a new reason for cooperation. If any of those are true, the next steps are figuring out how the two sides will split the money coming in, if the studios and networks that supply content will play ball, and if Reed Hastings will fire off another angry open letter (following up his net neutrality-related posts on Comcast’s Xbox 360 video on-demand and peering).
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple
Source: Wall Street Journal
How would you change’s Sony’s NEX-5R?
Most camera geeks agree that Sony needed to make up for the NEX-F3, and that it did so with style by producing the NEX-5R. When we placed this in the hands of our in-house camera guru, he was “thrilled.” In fact, he described it as one of the best compact ILCs of 2012-2013, and that people should keep it in their mind the next time it came time to buy a camera. The question that needs to be asked, however, is did our man Honig get it right? If you’re a shutterbug who put one of these through its paces, then share with us your impressions and feelings over on the forum.
Source: Engadget Product Forums
This one-of-a-kind 3DS has your name on it, proves you’re a Pokemon Master
You wanted to be the very best? (Like no-one ever was?) Here’s the proof that you made it. Japan’s annual Pokemon tournament kicked off this week, with the grand prize (aside from proving that it was worth all those hours of walking around in grass) of a limited edition, well there’s only one, 3DS XL. With a Mega-Charizard sticker design on the front, and the victor’s name engraved on the back, it’s likely the ideal prize for whoever earns it — and maybe even a nice little nest egg waiting to mature.
Source: Pokemon (Japanese)
Apple in Talks with Comcast to Provide Streaming TV Service on Future Apple TV
Apple is in talks with Comcast about using the cable provider’s network for a streaming TV service to be integrated in a future version of the Apple TV, reports The Wall Street Journal. According to the report, Apple’s set top-box would be able to access Comcast’s wide variety of channels for a monthly subscription, with the Apple TV receiving “special treatment” from Comcast when connected to its cable network to ensure that it would bypass congestion on the Internet for optimal streaming.
Apple’s intention is to allow users to stream live and on-demand TV programming and digital-video recordings stored in the “cloud,” effectively taking the place of a traditional cable set-top box.
…Under the plan Apple proposed to Comcast, Apple’s video streams would be treated as a “managed service” traveling in Internet protocol format—similar to cable video-on-demand or phone service. Those services travel on a special portion of the cable pipe that is separate from the more congested portion reserved for public Internet access.
People familiar with the matter said that while Apple would like a separate “flow” for its video traffic, it isn’t asking for its traffic to be prioritized over other Internet-based services.
The report also adds that the discussions between Apple and Comcast are still in early discussion, and that Apple’s ultimate goal would be to ensure that Apple TV users receive the same quality that Comcast’s regular set-top TV boxes receive. Apple has proposed to Comcast that users would sign onto the new device using an existing or new Apple ID, as well as a cut of the monthly subscriptions paid by customers.
Apple is expected to launch a new Apple TV sometime in the near future, with some rumors pointing to Apple working on a refined set-top box with expanded functionality that may include gaming and cable box-like capabilities. The move would also come as Comcast announced the acquisition of Time Warner Cable in February, which Apple was reported to be in talks with for quite some time to provide TV shows and other media.
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AIVAnet 