Apple to Host iPhone Upgrade Event at Retail Stores
Apple is planning to hold an iPhone upgrade event at its stores this week in an effort to boost sales, a source told 9to5Mac. Starting this week, Apple will be emailing owners of older iPhone models who are upgrade eligible about the new event, and will apparently separate from Apple’s current iPhone trade-in program.
This event will be held in multiple states across the United States, and Apple is said to be preparing for an influx of visitors to its stores on the levels of traffic driven to stores for new product debuts. Apple will brief Apple Retail management on the initiative tomorrow, according to the source.
Apple will be launching other new marketing and sales initiatives to help increase iPhone sales as well. There’s no word on what types of marketing and initiatives Apple could use, but they will be tied to Apple’s retail stores.
New Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts, who officially joined the company on May 1 and began her first full week today, will oversee the program.
Apple once again noted that iPhone sales hit another record for Q2 2014, making up 57 percent of Apple’s sales for the quarter for all products. CEO Tim Cook also noted in the conference call that Apple has started selling iPhone 4′s in the “very, very low single digit percentage” and last year said he wanted to sell more iPhones in stores.
AT&T’s new fiber optic phone network could delay disaster response
AT&T wants to put its old copper-based telephone networks to rest and start testing its next-gen fiber optic cables in more locations outside the initial ones in Florida and Alabama. There’s just one not-so-tiny problem: this new high-speed technology doesn’t work with the government’s special telephone service for national emergencies, according to the Department of Homeland Security. High-level authorities access a priority line called Government Emergency Telecommunications Service (GETS) during, say, times of disaster or terrorist attacks when phone lines are usually clogged. Without that priority line, authorities would have to brave clogged phone networks to communicate with each other, and that could delay first responders and affect response or rescue operations as a whole.
If you’re wondering, GETS had been tremendously useful in the past: it was used to make 10,000 phone calls during 9/11 and 45,000 calls (in tandem with its mobile counterpart, the WPS) the year Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc. So, AT&T’s at least willing to work with the DHS to configure its fiber optic network to recognize priority calls. That could take some time, though, and there’s no word on whether Ma Bell’s putting its plans to test the new technology on hold until then.
Source: The Washington Post
AMD plays both sides of the CPU wars with chips that use the same socket
Typically, you can’t reuse many parts when you switch processor technologies; if you change chips, you change the entire motherboard at the same time. That won’t be true for AMD in the future, though. It’s working on a common chip framework, Project Skybridge, that will let 2015-era ARM and x86 system-on-chip processors share the same pin layout. In other words, a basic motherboard design could handle both CPU types.
This doesn’t mean that you’d get to walk into a computer store, buy a motherboard and use your choice of ARM or x86 hardware in your new desktop. Rather, Project Skybridge would be for mobile and embedded gadgets — neither AMD nor device makers will have to reinvent the wheel just because they’re thinking of building x86-based Android tablets or ARM-based industrial gear. It’s also a hedge against obsolescence. AMD sees the computing world shifting toward ARM, and it doesn’t want to be stuck supporting only Intel’s x86 technology in the long run.
That’s just the start of the semiconductor firm’s expanded ARM plans, too. A 2016 core, K12, will be AMD’s first 64-bit ARM design. Most of its details are a mystery, but AMD says that the new processor focuses on high frequencies (clock speeds) and expanding ARM’s sphere of influence. That suggests that K12 will target heavy-duty tasks. It may not wind up in your pocket, then, but it could handle more duties that were previously reserved for desktops.
Via: AnandTech (1), (2)
Source: AMD
TicketZen lets you pay off parking tickets with a smartphone
Getting a parking ticket sucks, but paying for it shouldn’t have to be. That’s what the folks at Boston’s Terrible Labs think anyway — they built an app called TicketZen to take the trouble out of giving the state your money, and we took at peek at TechCrunch Disrupt NY today. Here’s the gist of it: once you’ve installed the iOS or Android app, you can use it to scan a barcode on your parking ticket to import all the pertinent data and pay it off with a touch.
Don’t see a barcode? That’s fine, too. Not every town is that forward-thinking, so you can punch in the violation number instead. The process of actually paying the ticket from the app can be as short as a few moments once your credit card info is stored, and in the worst case founder Cort Johnson says payments will clear overnight. It all comes down to how often each municipality submits their tickets, which is why users get a push notification when the city gets around to processing it. Speaking of different municipalities, using TicketZen to wipe away your vehicular indiscretions comes at a price — you’ll be paying the startup a small fee (between $1 and $3) depending on where you are. Got a few tickets of your own to quietly get rid of? The iOS app is usable in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston, Cambridge, State College and now New York City. Alas, you Android fans can only use the app in Boston, so be careful where you park everywhere else.
Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
Cryptolocker ransomware on Android is the new face of malware Evil
Viruses and malware are a constant danger no matter what device platform you are on. Thankfully for Android, very few Windows-based threats are applicable to the mobile platform and in general are entirely avoidable. That doesn’t stop people thinking up malicious ways of trying to compromise your devices, however, and the latest threat appears to be cryptolocker ransomware on Android. The basis of this malware is that it encrypts some of your system files and requests payment to unlock them, hence the name ransomware. The source of this threat appears to be malware group Reveton Team who is selling the malware online.
If the infected malware Android app is installed on your device, you will be prompted by a window (like the one at the top of this page) which alleges that you have been viewing illegal material and is adorned by several well known governmental insignia. The window will inform you that your files have been encrypted and that a payment has to be made in order to unlock them. This window will continue to reappear on the device, even on reboot, and while your homescreen can be accessed, it will curb your access to any of your other existing apps.
Fortunately, this ransomware can be easily avoided completely; the malware app cannot be automatically installed though it often tries to trick users into installing the app. When installing, the app will ask for access to “phone status and identity, full network access, run at startup and prevent the phone from sleeping”.
Android anti-virus software may not have been updated to deal with this latest malware threat yet, but as it is easily avoidable, in general, it’s best to remember not to install apps that have shady origins. What do you think about this latest threat to Android? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: myce.com
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New Retail SVP Angela Ahrendts Receives Signing Bonus Worth $68 Million [Mac Blog]
New Apple Senior Vice President of Retail and Online Stores Angela Ahrendts has received a signing bonus potentially worth $68 million at current share prices, in the form of 113,334 restricted stock units that vest over the next four years.
Ahrendts will receive shares spread over several different vesting periods between June 1, 2014 and June 14, 2018, assuming Ahrendts stays with the company. Were Apple’s share price to rise, the RSUs could potentially be worth significantly more over that time.
A restricted stock unit is a standard form of stock compensation that reward employees for staying with the company. They are used as general compensation and for employee retention. Each RSU converts to one share of stock on its vesting date, typically set annually based on award date.
Because of Apple’s upcoming 7:1 stock split, awarded RSUs will be multiplied by seven to maintain value. Apple does award dividends to employee holders of RSUs as if they were standard shares, so the more than 110,000 shares that Ahrendts holds will be worth nearly $1.5 million in yearly dividend payments.
Angela Ahrendts officially joined Apple earlier this month.
Rock Band team hits Kickstarter to fund a remake of its cult classic, Amplitude
The team behind Rock Band and Dance Central wants to return to its roots, but needs your help to do so. That’s right, Harmonix Music Systems is revisiting the PlayStation 2 cult classic Amplitude and have turned to Kickstarter to fund development. Harmonix says that while making Rock Band, the plan was to use the new beat-matching tools it developed for that game and apply them to a sequel to its classic rhythm title. That fell by the wayside, however, as publisher-funded games naturally took priority over a passion project. For the new version, Harmonix plans to apply the improvements afforded by the last 11 years (namely: widescreen HDTVs, more powerful consoles, the development team’s talent) and marry them with the original’s game-play. Because Sony still owns the property, the game’s only been announced for PS3 and PS4 release, though. One aspect of the original that won’t make the cut, however, is online play — you’ll have to make due with leaderboards and local multiplayer.
If that isn’t too much of a deal-breaker, admission starts at $20 for a download code upon the game’s release, or $40 for an advance copy. The backer rewards get crazier the higher the pledge amount. If you pledge $8,000 the team will come to your house and throw a party (seriously). Ten grand gets you airfare to Massachusetts, a night’s hotel stay, a jam session with the Harmonix band, a studio tour and a helicopter tour of Boston. Neither of those have been claimed as of this writing, but the campaign still has a long ways to go in its 18 days. Amplitude has raised almost $80,000 in its first day, but that’s a far cry from the $775,000 funding goal. With the amount of irons Harmonix has in the fire — including Disney’s Fantasia: Music Evolved and Chroma – let’s hope that if the game is fully funded that the team can make sure it comes out on time. After all, we’ve seen other gaming projects with lower monetary ambitions stumble along the way to release.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Via: Joystiq
Source: Kickstarter
Bill to end NSA’s mass surveillance moves closer to a vote
The House Judiciary Committee is getting ready to begin mark up procedures on the USA Freedom Act, a bill that would effectively end the NSA’s mass surveillance program as it exists today. Jim Sensenbrenner, a Wisconsin Republican, is the man behind the bill and he’s got tons of backing from the tech and privacy communities. That support probably has something to do with the alternative bill currently with the House Intelligence Committee which many agree doesn’t do enough to rein in the NSA. In an effort to get it through committee with its teeth intact a slew of nonprofits and major companies, including the ACLU, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, DropBox, Mozilla and Reddit have signed a letter to its members stating their support. Plus there are 140 co-sponsors in the House and a sister bill working its way through the Senate with the support of Patrick Leahy, the Democratic chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Sensenbrenner, who has cast himself as a vociferous opponent of the NSA’s overreach, is actually largely responsible for the program. He is credited as one of the architects of the Patriot Act, and introduced that far-reaching law to the House. It’s the provisions of the Patriot Act, signed into law by George W. Bush after the September 11th attacks, that form the legal foundation of the NSA’s surveillance programs. It wasn’t until recently that the long-time Wisconsin representative seemed to take umbrage to the domestic spying programs.
Even with the support of 140 house members and dozens of organizations there’s still no guarantee the USA Freedom act will ever become law. The intelligence committee is bound to fight tooth and nail for its own version. And president Obama may very well veto the law if it fails to include provisions like immunity for the telecos.
Filed under: Misc
Source: Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, National Journal
Microsoft is planning a Surface event for May 20th
It didn’t seem that long ago that Microsoft held its last Surface tablet launch in New York City, but it’s time again for yet another one. Yep, Microsoft has just sent us an invitation for a Surface-related event slated for May 20th in the Big Apple, imploring us to join them “for a small gathering.” We really don’t know much else aside from that, but we’re guessing a new tablet — possibly a mini Surface? — could be unveiled. All we do know is that we’ll be there live and in person to tell you all about it.
Samsung prepping Galaxy Tab S line with 2560×1600 AMOLED Screens?
I personally like Samsung and what they do. I might not be a huge fan of the TouchWiz / Magazine UI or how device locked the Gear watches are, but the fact that they offer a plethora of device options at variable price tags is rather nice. In the tablet line there are the more prolific Galaxy NotePRO. Along with the TabPRO and the lesser expensive Galaxy Tab 4 line. Now a new set of details is emerging that hints toward a Galaxy Tab S family of AMOLED display sporting tablets.
The report comes in from SamMobile and offers up that Samsung has a pair of tablets, one 8.4-inch and the other a 10.5-inch, with screen resolutions hitting 2560 x 1600. Both of which are using AMOLED displays too. Talks get a little bit better even with the other leaked details suggesting a Exynos 5 Octa-core processor, 3GB RAM, 8 MP camera on the rear and a 2.1 MP camera on the front. Toss in Wi-Fi 802.11ac along with the more known a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0 LE / ANT+, GPS, GLONASS and an IR Blaster.
It would be stupid of Samsung to release this on anything less than Android 4.4.2 KitKat, which is exactly what the information details out. Not to mention the newer Magazine style UI that we saw on the NotePRO.
The insider is stating that that there will be 4 models of the device available. Standard Wi-Fi only models of each size along with an LTE counter part. Perhaps the better news is that the LTE models are said to retain the Exynos 5 (5420) chip this time around and not be forced to switch to Qualcomm to give the LTE radio coverage.The only thing that didn’t get mentioned was internal storage, but a screenshot sent it offered up internal storage numbers of 10.65GB. We suspect 16GB and 32GB offerings with micro SD card support surely.
I was pretty impressed with the NotePRO when I saw it, but this new Galaxy Tab S line is sounding a bit more interesting to someone like me who doesn’t need the fancy S-Pen. Now if they can make it affordable. What are your guys thoughts?
Source: SamMobile
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