iFixit: OnePlus One equals five for repairability
Like the proverbial internet pony of lore, the OnePlus One smartphone is highly desirable with its juicy specs and cheap $300 price, but you can’t have it — yet. Somehow the iFixit screwdriver brigade got one though, and recently disemboweled it for your pleasure (see the video below). Sure enough, all the bits are there: 3GB of Samsung-based RAM, 5.5-inch 1080p screen, Snapdragon 801 CPU and a goodly 3,100mAH battery, all inside an 8.9mm thick body. That’s pretty slim for a phablet, and therein lies the problem: squeezing all those bits in required a hard-to-budge fused screen, hidden connectors and adhesives. All that adds up to a repairability score of five out of ten — far from the worst we’ve seen, but if you ever manage to nab one, you may want to insure it.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Via: Slashgear
Source: iFixit
Google to the rescue: Android 4.4.4 gets a speedy release to plug security Holes
Just a few weeks after Android 4.4.3 was rolled out to Nexus and Motorola devices, a new software update has already popped up. Android 4.4.4, or KTU84P for those keeping track with builds, allegedly deals with some security issues, presumably ones which have arisen due to the last update. People with devices on Android 4.4.3 and suffering an array of issues shouldn’t get too excited though; while it is a new iteration of Android, the build progression has only gone from KTU84M for Android 4.4.3 to KTU84P for Android 4.4.4, and accordingly, the changelog is extremely short.
This is eerily similar to what occured when Android 4.4 was first announced and needed to be patched almost immediately to remove security issues. Still, it’s always good to know that Google can act quickly when it needs to, but everyone who is currently struggling with major and minor issues on Android 4.4.3 probably wish Google would act quickly to help them too. The factory images for Android 4.4.4 on Nexus devices are available now, and the OTA updates have been reportedly already started rolling out.
Have you gotten the Android 4.4.4 update yet and have you noticed anything different? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Google via Phone Arena
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New Motorola boot animation catches the World Cup Fever
Unless you live under a really big rock, you will be aware that the 2014 FIFA World Cup is currently underway in Brazil. Seeing as this is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, Motorola has decided to give a little themed flair to its boot animation to celebrate soccer all over the world. You can check out the new Motorola boot animation in the video below:
Owners of the Moto X, Moto G and Moto E should have seen the update from Tuesday this week, but if you haven’t seen it yet, be sure to make sure your Motorola Boot Services app is up to date. This isn’t the first time that Motorola has changed the boot animation on its devices; Motorola has also made cool animations to mark April Fool’s Day and also the start of Autumn or Spring, depending on which hemisphere you live in. It’s not game changing, but it’s always nice to see that a manufacturer likes to do the little things to make things a bit different for its users.
What do you think about the new Motorola boot animation? Do you appreciate these little things that Motorola has been doing? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Motorola Blog
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Vudu makes it a little easier to buy your TV shows by the episode
If you’re really dedicated to a la carte TV, then maybe separating by channel isn’t enough and it’s time to buy only the shows or episodes of shows you really want. The only problem with that? On some services, if you buy a few episodes and then decide to grab the entire season later, that means paying twice for the same shows, but Vudu has added a fix, which it’s pitching directly towards cord-cutters. In addition to the Season Pass that lets users buy shows as they’re airing on TV, now there are options for Season Complete and Season Upgrade. Complete means just paying the price for the season, minus the price of the episodes you’ve already purchased, while Upgrade lets you jump from a low-res standard definition copy to HD (720p) or HDX (1080p) by again just paying the difference in price. The iTunes store added a “Complete My Season” option to its TV store back in 2011, but it still isn’t there for stores like Amazon and Google Play. Vudu is available on many more devices than Apple’s digital store, so if you’re building out your TV library episode by episode and season by season, now there’s one more option.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD
Source: Vudu Blog
Mozilla and US news giants team up to reinvent commenting
If we ask you for a favorite comments platform, will you be able to name one, or will your answer be “I hate them all — including yours?” Folks at The New York Times and Washington Post believe they can make one better than the current options. So, they teamed up with Mozilla to make an open-source comments platform that newsrooms everywhere will be able download and use for free. The organizations claim it’s actually more like a “publishing platform for readers” than a comments system: users will be able to submit links, pictures and other media, as well as manage their online identities and track their contributions. They also mentioned that publications can use submitted content “for other forms of storytelling and to spark ongoing discussions,” though they didn’t expound on what that means exactly. Sadly, you’ll have to wait a while to find out and take the platform for a spin, as the companies expect to spend two years to complete the project.
[Image credit: Wikimedia Commons]
Source: Adotas, Knight Foundation, The New York Times
Hackers use Snowden leaks to reverse-engineer NSA surveillance devices
Over the past year, we’ve learned of the many techniques the NSA has used to tap into global communications. However, Edward Snowden’s document leaks didn’t just uncover the gadgets the agency used, they also gave security researchers the necessary insights to develop their own. After the NSA’s classified Advanced Network Technology catalogue was published, Michael Ossmann and his team set about recreating two of its approved radio-based surveillance devices: one that could be fixed to a computer’s monitor connector to send on-screen images and another that can be fixed to a keyboard cable to collect keystrokes.
Before, nobody knew how the so-called “retro reflectors” worked, but armed with NSA documentation, Ossmann and co. were able to create their own tiny transistor-sized devices that could surreptitiously transfer wireless data to a nearby radio point (much like the NSA is reported to have done). For reference: intelligence officers can use radio-based trackers to monitor computers that are not connected to the internet. Now that the NSA tech is no longer a mystery, Ossmann intends to educate others about how the NSA’s bugs operate so they can be protected against in the future. He’s due to present his findings at the Defcon hacking conference in Las Vegas in August, alongside many other experts who have found ways to expose and rebuild the agency’s technology.
Filed under: Desktops, Internet
Source: New Scientist
Report Claims iWatch Awaiting FDA Approval, Will Feature Blood Glucose and Sweat Sensors
The final version of Apple’s first-generation iWatch is awaiting certification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before it enters mass production for a launch this Fall, claims Chinese website Laoyaoba (Google Translate, via GforGames). Citing inside sources, the site claims that Apple has already finalized the design and specifications of the watch, noting that the company is trying to get the device certified as medical equipment.
The Basis Health Fitness Tracker
It was reported earlier this month that Apple had met with the FDA in December to discuss a number of topics, with some suggesting that Apple might be laying some groundwork for the iWatch. However, a memo issued by the FDA noted that the dialogue merely revolved around its guidance on mobile apps and making sure that the technology industry and regulators are on the same page.
Laoyaoba also claims that the iWatch will come with a number of advanced health sensors, including those that measure heart rate, blood pressure, and blood glucose. Apple has also apparently developed an in-house sweat analysis sensor for the iWatch, which will all work with iOS 8′s Health app to track various health metrics.
This information also contrasts a number of past reports that pointed to the iWatch focusing on more simple functionality to make the health-tracking experience more accessible to everyone. While Apple hired a number of personnel with expertise in fields like blood glucose monitoring, it has been noted that such technologies may not make it into the first-generation iWatch, which require a lengthy-approval process from the FDA and complex hardware integration.
Reports from the The Wall Street Journal and Reuters yesterday noted that Apple is also still trying to finalize specifications for the device. Notably, the Wall Street Journal report suggested that the iWatch will ship in “multiple versions”, while the Reuters report said that the device will sport a 2.5-inch screen and feature wireless charging and pulse sensing capabilities.
The iWatch is expected to be revealed and launched in October, which was a date reported earlier this month by Re/code.
iWatch Coming in Multiple Sizes With More Than 10 Sensors
Apple will launch multiple versions of its highly-rumored “iWatch” smartwatch in the Fall, according to a new report from the The Wall Street Journal. The device is said to come in multiple screen sizes and will utilize over 10 sensors to track health and fitness, with Apple aiming to go beyond the smartphone-related functionalities seen in current smartwatches.
Android smartwatch coming from LG
Apple’s smartwatch could launch as early as October with production to begin in two to three months at Quanta Computer Inc., a Taiwanese manufacturer that has long been Apple’s supplier for Mac computers, said the people familiar with the matter. Quanta will begin some trial runs next month.
In total, sources familiar with the matter estimate that Apple will ship between 10 and 15 million units by the end of the year, as the company is still finalizing specifications before mass production starts.
The report adds additional data to a report from Reuters which claimed that the iWatch would measure in at a surprisingly large 2.5 inches diagonally, and feature wireless charging capabilities in addition to a touch interface. While the new report doesn’t contradict the Reuters piece directly, it’s not clear if the 2.5-inch screen will be one of the “multiple versions” of the watch that launches this Fall. Previous rumors had suggested that the device would come in a 1.3 and 1.6 inch sizes to accommodate different sized wrists.
Apple is expected to introduce the iWatch at an October event, with a launch coming in the same month.
‘Air Stylus’ Turns Your iPad Into a Drawing Tablet for Your Mac [iOS Blog]
Air Display developer Avatron Software today launched Air Stylus, an app that allows users to utilize the iPad as a pressure-sensitive, wireless drawing surface for over 30 graphics programs on the Mac.
The app is compatible with a number of pressure sensitive styli, including the Wacom Intuos Creative Stylus and the Adonit Jot Touch 4, and works with popular programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Pixelmator. Air Stylus also includes support for pinch-to-zoom and two finger gestures while drawing, and features the ability to toggle palm rejection on and off.
– Make Your Mark – With palm rejection and multi-touch support, Air Stylus lets you draw naturally and makes your stylus do all the work.
– Quick On The Draw – Air Stylus creates a fast, reliable wireless link so you can immerse yourself in your art without distraction.
– Draw The Line – Pen-based pressure sensitivity means your lines are accurate, whether they’re paintbrush bold or feather light.
– Best Of All – Compatible with 30+ graphics apps so you can incorporate your iPad into your existing workflow (support for Windows and Android imminent!)
Air Stylus can be purchased from the App Store for $19.99 and is available now. [Direct Link]
WSJ: Apple’s smartwatch will feature ‘more than 10 sensors’
Apple is said to be creeping ever closer to launching a smartwatch, and there could be more than one. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company is planning a new wearable that comes in “multiple screen sizes” and includes “more than 10 sensors” capable of tracking fitness and wellbeing. It’s believed that the smartwatch will include more sensors to differentiate it from Apple’s smartphones and tablets, like being able to collect fitness data without the need for a mobile device. What could those sensors be? Well, an accelerometer, magnetometer, gyroscope, compass, heart-rate monitor, altimeter and an ambient light sensor are all possible inclusions. Samsung and Google are already detecting body temperatures, location and integrating voice commands inside their wearables, so perhaps Apple’s ambition is to find a way to cram in the whole lot.
This latest rumor builds on a recent New York Times report which indicated that Apple was testing new ways to charge its wearable without plugging it in. Inductive, solar and motion charging were all said to have been mooted, which if true, would offer users longer usage times. The Journal’s sources suggest production of the fabled iWatch could begin in the coming weeks ahead of an October launch, suggesting Apple could have more than new smartphone(s) to show us before the year is out.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Apple
Source: Wall Street Journal
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