Unannounced Motorola smartphone shows up in benchmark test with surprising specifications
According to a leaked Geekbench report, Motorola is in the process of testing a new, unannounced smartphone, which we believe to be the upcoming Moto E. If the results of the tests are anything to go by, the handset is expected to feature some unforeseen exceptional specifications.
As you can see in the screenshot below, the device is set to pack Snapdragon’s most-popular chipset, the MSM8916, otherwise known as the Snapdragon 410, and it looks like the second generation Moto E will be the first entry-level device to feature a Cortex 64-bit A53 1.4GHz quad-core CPU. This coupled with 1GB of RAM makes for an extremely impressive budget-friendly smartphone.
The benchmark shows the device running the latest developer build of Android 4.4.4 KitKat with support for LTE connectivity. We expect the device it to ship with the final version of Android 5.0 Lollipop onboard when it’s announced later this fall — so stay tuned for more information.
Source: PrimateLabs
Come comment on this article: Unannounced Motorola smartphone shows up in benchmark test with surprising specifications
Facebook is giving you better News Feed controls
Is there anything more important in Facebook than the News Feed? It is where users flock to see what is going on with friends, family, and complete strangers. It is your News Feed and you should be the one controlling it. That is why Facebook is handing over the keys to News Feed right to you.
On desktop and mobile, Facebook launched a News Feed settings area. It shows which people, pages, and groups a user is following and not following. It allows for quick following or unfollowing. To show who posts the most, the most visible users are shown. Facebook wants feedback to really tailor the News Feed. Is someone posting too much? Then elect to “See less” from them. It will not completely unfollow them if you do not want to, but it will definitely silence them a bit.
The changes are already live on Facebook’s desktop site and the mobile version will see it in the coming weeks.
Source: Facebook
Come comment on this article: Facebook is giving you better News Feed controls
AT&T Buyer’s Guide for Android (November 2014)
In the hunt for a new smartphone from AT&T? Regardless of whether you’re buying your first Android or upgrading for the fourth time there’s something for everyone. And, as you might suspect, Ma Bell has plenty to choose from. In fact, counting variations, there are roughly two dozen models to choose from today.
As the last of the big four carriers to adopt Android, AT&T is doing a bang-up job in supporting the platform. It seems we’re constantly hearing about an exclusive model or head start on the competition.
Defining high-end
Today’s top Androids feature big, gorgeous displays, fantastic high-resolution cameras, and lots of memory. Toss in some quad-core and octa-core processors and some killer high capacity batteries and you’ve got mobile devices that would rival your computer from just a few years back.
As 2014 draws to a close and we look at the hardware from late model Androids it’s not uncommon to find screens hovering at 5-inches or larger. Thanks to ever-shrinking bezels we have phones with massive displays that also happen to fit comfortably in our hand. And, they’re not only big, but they’re sharp, too. Resolutions across the the top models are 1080p and higher. For what it’s worth, we’re starting to get our first glimpses of 2K and Ultra HD screens. It can be argued that average users cannot discern much beyond 720p/1080p on such a small device.
If you’re not coming to the table with at least a quad-core processor and 2GB RAM then you’re not going to sit at the big boy’s table. Most of the bleeding edge stuff you’ll find today comes with 3GB memory and chipsets of around 2.3GHz – 2.7GHz.
Storage capacities, for the most part, haven’t moved forward quite as quickly as other areas. You’ll still routinely find 16GB and 32GB models in most models though some are creeping into the 64GB space. Given that many handsets offer external storage via microSD cards it should matter little where you start out – especially if cost is a factor.
Another important factor in determining a smartphone purchase is the version of Android. Typically, it’s a simple case of “the newer the phone, the newer the operating system”. Today’s most recent phones are powered by Android 4.4.4 KitKat but anything running at least 4.4 should suffice for the average person. You will still find an occasional straggler, though, running something older.
Flagships & Exclusives
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Launched in October, this is Samsung’s annual plus-sized experience. Thanks to the release time-frame, these are typically a step-up from the Galaxy S series of smartphones. Standout specs include 32GB storage, a 5.7-inch Quad HD display, 3GB RAM, an S Pen stylus, and a 3220mAh battery. Best Buy | AT&T
- Samsung Galaxy S5: Released in spring 2014, it’s the most popular series of Android models to date. Hardware includes a 5.1-inch display, 16-megapixel camera, 16GB storage, and a 2800mAh battery. Best Buy | AT&T
- LG G3: LG’s increasingly popular family of phones, this one is unique in that it features rear button configuration under the camera. Best Buy | AT&T
- Motorola Moto X (2014): Motorola’s now annual flagship model, the Moto X is significant for its stripped down Android experience. Slightly bigger than last year’s model, this one has been very well received in the space. Best Buy | AT&T
- HTC One M8: Perhaps the oldest model in this list, HTC’s flagship handset received very high marks for its build quality and toned-down custom UI. Often cheaper than others in the group, it’s still plenty of bang for the buck. Best Buy | AT&T
- Samsung Galaxy Alpha: The first device from Samsung to employ the new “design language”; features a svelte body wrapped in metal trim. Best Buy | AT&T
- Samsung Galaxy S5 Active: A variation of the flagship with pre-installed apps based around the more active user. Rugged and durable, with a trio of new colors. Best Buy | AT&T
Mid-range
While not always the case, the mid-range Android is typically made up of last year’s top models. This is not to suggest, however, that there’s not a one-off model or variation that sneaks in every once in a while. Specs, as you can imagine, are often a step below. Processors, cameras, and batteries are sometimes the key difference though many of them also feature a screen resolution of 720p or 1080p. What follows what could be considered some of AT&T middle-of-the-pack handsets.
- LG G2: One of LG’s breakout devices over the last few years, the smartphone was the first to employ the rear button setup. Killer hardware and a refined UI make this one hard to resist even a year later. Best Buy | AT&T
- LG G Flex: The first smartphone from LG to offer the curved display; six inch screen and a 3500mAh battery make it big and long-lasting. Best Buy | AT&T
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3: As the plus-sized Samsung flagship from 2013, its quad-core CPU and camera make it a moderately strong device one year later. Best Buy | AT&T
- Amazon Fire Phone: The first smartphone from Amazon, it’s exclusive to AT&T. It might be a little more gimmick than seasoned Android users might enjoy but plenty for new users. Works great for those who can’t get enough Amazon (Prime). Best Buy | AT&T
Entry-level
- Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini: A smaller take on the 2013 flagship model, the S4 Mini has a very pocketable 4.3-inch display, an 8-megapixel rear shooter, and plenty of Samsung software features. Best Buy | AT&T | Amazon
- Motorola Moto G: A perfect starter smartphone, it has a 4.5-inch screen, a quad-core CPU, and LTE support. Best Buy | AT&T | Amazon
- HTC Desire 610: Low-cost take on the form factor from the One M8, you’ll find front-facing speakers and a host of HTC custom tweaks. Best Buy | AT&T | Amazon
- Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro: Features a 4-inch display, enhanced push-to-talk (PTT), and is built tough to resist shocks, water and dust. Best Buy | AT&T | Amazon
- NEC Terrain: The only one on this list that features a physical keyboard; rugged design and PTT make this a great option for people who spend their days in the field. AT&T | Amazon
The post AT&T Buyer’s Guide for Android (November 2014) appeared first on AndroidGuys.
GT Advanced COO: Apple Told Us ‘Put On Your Big Boy Pants and Accept the Agreement’
Apple and GT Advanced fought to keep key documents related to their sapphire agreement out of the public eye after the latter company filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, but earlier this week, a judge ruled that the documents did not contain trade secrets or confidential information, and would thus be largely unsealed.
As of today, those previously sealed documents are now available for public inspection, including an unedited affidavit [PDF] from GT Advanced COO Daniel Squiller. Squiller submitted a revised affidavit on October 28, which gave some insight into the deal between Apple and GT Advanced, but the newly available unedited version expresses much stronger negative feelings towards the partnership and places more of the blame for GT’s failure on Apple.
According to Squiller, Apple used a “bait-and-switch” strategy, offering GT Advanced “an onerous and massively one-sided deal” in 2013. He says that Apple initially drew GT in with the promise of a huge deal, originally agreeing to purchase sapphire furnaces and let GT operate them, but eventually demanding a “fundamentally different deal” requiring GT to purchase the furnaces itself.
The new structure, as a contract matter, shifted all economic risk to GTAT, because Apple would act as a lender and would have no obligation to purchase any sapphire furnaces, nor did it have any obligation to purchase any sapphire material produced by GTAT.
GT gave into Apple’s new terms because it had “invested months negotiating a sale contract with Apple while being effectively locked out of pursuing other opportunities with Apple’s competitors.” During “extensive and all-consuming” negotiations with Apple, GT ceased speaking to other companies about its furnaces due to the lure of Apple’s large offer.
Apple reportedly told GT not to bother attempting to negotiate because it “does not negotiate with its suppliers.” GT was required to agree to all of Apple’s terms or risk losing the deal, and as has been previously noted, the contract was highly favorable to Apple, requiring GT to produce sapphire that Apple was not obligated to buy. Squiller alleges that when GT execs balked at the terms, Apple said “Put on your big boy pants and accept the agreement.”
As Squiller previously described, the company’s relationship with Apple became “unsustainable” after Apple refused to take responsibility for cost overruns and expenses that it caused due to its control over operations. Apple also reportedly selected fabrication equipment that “could not economically produce a product that Apple would accept” and then refused to permit equipment changes that would allow the company to produce an acceptable product.
Squiller accuses Apple of “embedding” itself in GT’s operations so deeply that GT was forced to “divert an inordinate amount of its cash and corporate resources” into the Mesa facility, affecting GT’s continued viability as a whole.
Apple and GT Advanced have already reached an agreement to officially end their partnership, nullifying the terms of the original deal. Under the terms, GT will repay its loans to Apple by selling off its sapphire furnaces, and it has already begun shutting down its Mesa, Arizona plant and laying off employees.
Unsealed GT Advanced Court Documents Give Insight Into Apple’s Business Practices
Though Apple and GT Advanced fought to keep documents related to their sapphire agreement sealed after GT’s bankruptcy filing, a judge recently ruled that the documents did not contain trade secrets and would be largely unsealed.
One of those documents, an unedited affidavit from GT Advanced COO Daniel Squiller, gave insight into the terms of the deal between the two companies, but another, the original privacy agreement that GT Advanced signed, gives a rare look into how Apple does business with its suppliers.
According to the documents, Apple and GT’s sapphire deal was known internally as “Project Onyx,” and was subject to strict confidentiality agreements. GT employees were forbidden from referring to Apple or the project by anything other than code names, and they were also required to undergo training regarding confidentiality and security in addition to signing extensive non-disclosure agreements. Only employees who needed to know about the project were given information, in order to keep the deal as quiet as possible.
GT was required to establish a qualified security team and adhere to strict guidelines that called for 24/7 surveillance, credential screening, tracking of all confidential supplies, and the secure destruction of all scrap materials to prevent potential leaks.
As part of the agreement, Apple was able to audit records, inspect facilities, and interview personnel to ensure compliance, and any evidence of non-compliance with the non-disclosure agreement would result in a $135,000 “Security Fee” to pay for the cost of the audit and an increase in Apple’s security efforts.
In addition to agreeing to Apple’s strict access restrictions, GT Advanced was required to maintain liability insurance, and comply with Apple’s Supplier Code of Conduct, which demands safe working conditions for employees. GT was also required to fulfill orders for replacement goods for seven years after “the date Apple designates as end-of-life” for the Apple product featuring sapphire, as well as maintain an “adequate stock” of materials for Service Units.
The privacy agreement that GT Advanced was required to sign is likely similar in nature to the agreements that Apple gives to all of its suppliers, giving us a glimpse of the lengths Apple goes to in order to maintain secrecy. Despite Apple’s privacy efforts, the company still sees extensive product leaks. For example, ahead of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus release, hundreds of part leaks divulged information on nearly every aspect of the two devices, and a handset was even seen in the wild days before its official release.
Taylor Swift wants no part of the music streaming ‘experiment’
Just days ago, Taylor Swift shook off Spotify. The star opted not to leave her new album off of the service and pulled the rest of her catalog. Lucky for us, Yahoo caught up with the globe-trotting star during a promotional tour in Japan for more insight on the matter. As you might expect, she echoed the sentiment shared by some of her fellow musicians: streaming services don’t adequately compensate artists and the rest of the folks who have a hand in making albums. What’s more, Swift goes on to call Spotify and similar offerings “experiments,” and she isn’t “willing to contribute my life’s work” to those outfits that don’t properly pay up. Spotify, for example, has been around since 2008, so we’re a bit beyond the honeymoon phase. Subscription-based and ad-supported music streaming has taken root in our lives, and it’s not leaving anytime soon unless there’s some kind of drastic change.
She’s also well aware of the example she’s setting. And being the popular role model that she is, Swift doesn’t want folks thinking it’s okay to give their hard work away for free. In the end though, it apparently just didn’t feel right. “But I think it’s really still up for debate whether this is actual progress, or whether this is taking the word “music” out of the music industry,” Swift explainss. Of course, Swift’s previous releases are available elsewhere, and Rdio reaffirmed its commitment to artist choice today, while boasting that the star’s back catalog can still be streamed there. If you’re after the full quote from the interview, it’s just below. Oh yeah, Swift’s new album 1989 sold well over a million albums in its first week.
If I had streamed the new album, it’s impossible to try to speculate what would have happened. But all I can say is that music is changing so quickly, and the landscape of the music industry itself is changing so quickly, that everything new, like Spotify, all feels to me a bit like a grand experiment. And I’m not willing to contribute my life’s work to an experiment that I don’t feel fairly compensates the writers, producers, artists, and creators of this music. And I just don’t agree with perpetuating the perception that music has no value and should be free. I wrote an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal this summer that basically portrayed my views on this. I try to stay really open-minded about things, because I do think it’s important to be a part of progress. But I think it’s really still up for debate whether this is actual progress, or whether this is taking the word “music” out of the music industry. Also, a lot of people were suggesting to me that I try putting new music on Spotify with “Shake It Off,” and so I was open-minded about it. I thought, “I will try this; I’ll see how it feels.” It didn’t feel right to me. I felt like I was saying to my fans, “If you create music someday, if you create a painting someday, someone can just walk into a museum, take it off the wall, rip off a corner off it, and it’s theirs now and they don’t have to pay for it.” I didn’t like the perception that it was putting forth. And so I decided to change the way I was doing things.
[Photo credit: Fred Lee/ABC via Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Software
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Yahoo
Facebook makes it easier to hide your annoying friends’ posts
If you’ve just about had enough of those annoying online quizzes you keep seeing on Facebook, well the social network has just introduced a new way for you to stop seeing them. Now when you select to hide a story (which you can do by hitting the arrow on the top right), you can also request to see less from that person or Page. Or, if you so choose, you can unfollow them entirely. Additionally, there’s also a new News Feed setting that’ll show you the top people, Pages and Groups that have popped up in your feed in the past week. You can then unfollow them if you want, or re-follow the folks that you’ve unfollowed in the past. Both features are available on desktop today. As for mobile, the latter News Feed setting is ready today, while the former “see less” feature will be available in coming weeks. Thankfully, even after you’ve unfollowed your buddy’s posts, your Facebook friendship will still remain intact.
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-393065display:none; .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-393065, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-393065width:570px;display:block;
trydocument.getElementById(“fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-393065″).style.display=”none”;catch(e)
Filed under: Internet
Source: Facebook
Silk Road 2.0 was just the first: police seize more Tor-shielded darknet sites
Yesterday’s takeover of Silk Road 2.0 was just the tip of the iceberg apparently, as the FBI and European law enforcement organizations have announced a “global action” against similar darknet marketplaces. “Operation Onymous” resulted in 17 arrests total, the removal of 410 hidden services that allegedly offered illegal drugs and weapons for sale, as well as the seizure of more than $1 million Bitcoins in, $250,000 in cash and drugs. Troels Oerting of the European Cybercrime Center told Wired that his staff hadn’t had time to assemble a full list of takedowns, but it includes Cloud 9, Hydra, Pandora, Cannabis Road and more. The Telegraph reports six Britons accused of helping run Silk Road 2.0 are among those arrested, while the BBC has word of two arrested in Ireland. Like both iterations of Silk Road, the sites were using Tor to anonymize access, but were still exposed. Details of how the service was pierced have not been revealed (we have an idea), but The Wall Street Journal quotes Eurojust spokesman Ulf Bergstrom saying “You’re not anonymous anymore when you’re using Tor.”
A Reddit thread charting the darknet takedowns also points out how the FBI was able to identify Blake Benthall, the alleged operator of SR 2.0. According to the complaint (PDF) they located and imaged the server that hosted the site, and while that occurred a support request came in asking the hosts not to reboot the machine. Then the FBI obtained logs from Gmail that tied it to Benthall’s IP addresses, as well as a network at a hotel where he was staying. Until the takedown , running the enterprise had its benefits, allowing Benthall to cash out about $273,626 in Bitcoins, and make a down payment on a Tesla Model S.
So what’s next? This round of arrests focused on those running the marketplaces, occurring in Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the USA. According to Oerting, the next step is to go after others, including those who purchased illegal goods from the marketplaces.
Filed under: Internet
60 seconds with a modular drone that packs a pro camera
We’re entering a golden age of UAVs, with models ranging from hobbyist drones like the Parrot AR Drone 2.0 all the way up to DJI’s DSLR-packing Phantom 2 Vision+. So what could an upstart Kickstarter drone possibly bring to the party? Ivan Stamatovski said he created the EasyDrone for one simple reason: portability. Unlike most commercial drones, the EasyDrone can be broken down into a relatively compact case and easily assembled without having to connect any wires. At the same time, it comes with all the capability of a high-end drone: video streaming, a built-in gimbal, the ability to carry heavier cameras like Sony’s NEX models and a high-end navigation system from 3D Robotics.
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-301650display:none; .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-301650, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-301650width:570px;display:block;
trydocument.getElementById(“fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-301650″).style.display=”none”;catch(e)
Yet after you’re done, it can be broken down in about a minute for easy transport. The very polished-looking flyer is constructed from carbon fiber and looks like it can handle a fair amount of abuse. At the same time, Stamatovski said that there are multiple ways for wannabe filmmakers to control it, either using the remote or plotting waypoints on Google maps and downloading the data into the drone. If you’re interested, the EasyDrone can be pre-ordered at $985 for a complete package capable of lifting a GoPro, or $1,185 for the heavy-lifting XL model. The team expects to complete Kickstarter deliveries by the New Year, with new orders shipping after that.
Easy Drone XL is something I will…
Filed under: Robots
Samaritans pulls its controversial Radar Twitter app
After facing a tidal wave of negative publicity and staying quiet for almost a week, counselling charity Samaritans has decided to suspend its controversial Twitter app. Radar was designed to remotely listen in on Twitter conversations and warn users when a person they follow might need some friendly support. The idea was noble, but its anonymous (and automated) nature and potential to be abused by online trolls led many to call for Samaritans to pull it offline.
In a statement on the Radar website, Samaritans executive Joe Fearns apologised “to anyone who has inadvertently been caused any distress” by “information and opinion circulating about Samaritans Radar,” in an attempt to deflect some of the attention away from the tool itself. The charity says it will now engage with partners to possibly refine Radar by “testing a number of potential changes and adaptations to the app to make it as safe and effective as possible.” That suggests the Twitter app could return in the future, maybe with more privacy safeguards in place.
Filed under: Internet, Software
Source: Samaritans
AIVAnet 