Marissa Mayer Says Yahoo Would ‘Welcome the Opportunity’ to Become Default Safari Search Engine
Yahoo chief executive Marissa Mayer, during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday, expressed interest in Yahoo becoming the default search engine in Safari. Mayer recognized the significance that getting Yahoo in front of Mac, iPhone and iPad could have for the search engine, referring to Apple’s default web browser as “one of the premier search deals in the world if not the premier search deal in the world.”
“The Safari platform is basically one of the premier search deals in the world if not the premier search deal in the world,” Mayer told RBC Capital Markets analyst Mark Mahaney. “We’re definitely in the search distribution business. I think that we’ve stated that really clearly in the past and I think with Mozilla and also in addition we brought Amazon eBay on board with smaller distribution partnerships in Q4.”
Google renewed its search partnership with Apple in 2010, although the contract is reportedly set to expire in 2015 and, supported by the fact that Google Maps and YouTube are no longer stock iOS apps, Apple is speculated to be considering a number of options. Back in November, it was reported that both Microsoft and Yahoo were courting Apple to become the default search engine in Safari.
“We’re in the search distribution business and anyone who is in that business needs to be interested in the Safari deal. The Safari users are among the most engaged and lucrative users in the world and it’s something we would really like to be able to provide.
We’ve worked really closely with Mozilla to ultimately bring to their users an experience that they designed and that they feel really suits those users and we would welcome the opportunity with any other partner to do the same, particularly one with Apple’s volume and user base.”
The New York Times, citing various reports from analysts, suggests that Google losing its Safari contract may not have much impact on the company’s bottom line. The two important factors involved are how much Google is paying for its Safari search engine deal, and how many users would simply switch back to Google if Apple switched to Yahoo or another search provider as default.
Leather case lovers rejoice! This BlackBerry Q10 pouch is 72% off today
Hand crafted and finished in genuine leather with a soft inner lining, this BlackBerry Leather Pocket protects against drops and scratches. It also recognizes settings and preferences, while power saving technology works to help extend battery life of your BlackBerry Q10. Yours today for only $9.95!
Children in Taiwan “may not constantly use” their electronic devices
Lawmakers in Taiwan believe that “gadget addiction” is such a serious issue with children and teenagers that they have decided to take action by passing new rules which state that children under 18 “may not constantly use electronic products for a period of time that is not reasonable.”
Although one would think that lawmakers would define what exactly constitutes “reasonable” use, no such definition exists according to the new rules. Taiwan already has existing legislation that makes it illegal for children to watch anything deemed “harmful” to them such as sex, violence or depravity.
As Quartz points out, lawmakers in Taiwan are now putting the use of electronic devices on the same level as “smoking, drinking, drugs, watching sexual or violent imagery, and chewing betel nuts.” If a child in Taiwan becomes “physically or mentally” ill from such electronic use, the parents will now be liable for a $1,600 fine.
This new rule was proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Party who said the new regulation is aimed at protecting the young from “indulging in electronic entertainment for long periods of time.”
Taiwan is not alone in these types of actions. China, South Korea and other countries have been trying to regulate online gaming for years.
ZTE announces the Blade S6 with Android Lollipop for $250
A new Blade is in town and it’s called the Blade S6. ZTE says this one is targeted for the “young and young at heart.”
It sports a 5-inch 720p (1280 x 720) display, a 64-bit octa-core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, microSD slot for expandable storage, a Sony IMX214 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front-facing camera, Hi-Fi sound, LTE, 2.400 mAh battery and Android 5.0 Lollipop skinned with MiFavor 3.0. It’s 7.7 mm thick and will be available in silver and matte pink.
ZTE has added Smart Sense, which allows you to launch apps using gestures like a flick of your wrist.
Probably the best part of the Blade S6 is the price. It will cost $249 and will be available globally on AliExpress, as well as Amazon and eBay in select markets.
Here’s a 90 second video detailing the device….
Click here to view the embedded video.
Full Press Release:
ZTE unveils Blade S6 4G LTE smartphone with innovative Smart Sense and a host of other premium features for the masses
28 January 2015, Hong Kong – ZTE, a global leading mobile device maker, released its Blade S6 4G LTE smartphone today. Aimed at the young and young at heart, the Blade S6 – per its name – boasts six key features designed to provide customers from across the board with world-class user experience. The new features including ZTE’s Smart Sense gesture motion control, world’s first Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 octa-core chipset running on the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system, a SLR like ultra-high-definition camera, Hi-Fi Sound, ZTE’s MiFavor 3.0 user interface and ZTE’s AliveShare application for network-less communication.
“In line with our product portfolio plan, we very much sought to push the envelope with the Blade S6, and to do so in a way that would appeal to youths, as well as those with active social lives,” said Mr. Adam ZENG Xuezhong, Executive Vice President of ZTE Corporation and CEO of ZTE Mobile Devices.
“The Blade S6 is part of our 3+1 approach, which is led by a trio of product lines that includes the voice control Star series, security-focused Grand series and mass-market premium Blade series. The sub-brand Nubia series completes the approach, which together allows ZTE to address an expansive variety of customer needs.”
To date, the Blade series has accounted for over 20 million units of ZTE’s global device sales, thereby validating the company’s strategy of adding high-end features to devices targeted at multiple customer segments.
Among those key features are the device’s Smart Sense, which includes an intuitive and practical sets of gesture and motion controls, such as with a flick of the wrist that allows users to shine the Blade S6’s flashlight, activate its built-in mirror application, take rapid succession of photographs, play music, and much more.
Powering the Blade S6 is the new Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 chipset – Qualcomm’s first octa-core system-on-chip solution – and an Adreno 405 image processor capable of Full-HD H.265 decoding. This makes the Blade S6 the world’s first Android-L device to be powered by the Snapdragon™ 615, and uniquely capable of providing one of the most seamless user experiences currently on the market.
ZTE’s MiFavor 3.0 user interface meanwhile offers numerous customisation and personalization options at the finger-tips of the consumer. The Blade S6 also packs equally a punch in the audio department thanks to its Hi-Fi sound capability. The device’s five-inch screen is built using In-Cell technology, which allows better and more vibrant image quality.
Packaged in a slender two-millimetre-thin casing, the Blade S6 comes in a silver or pink matte finish.
“With its small package and powerful capabilities, the Blade S6 is the dream device for the socially active consumers and a clear demonstration of ZTE’s ability to offer a premium smartphone at an affordable price.” ZENG added.
Price and availability
The retail price for the ZTE Blade S6 is $249.99 US. ZTE Blade S6 will be available online globally on AliExpress, and with Amazon and eBay in selected markets.
It will be available through the distributor, Qool International Ltd, and exclusively at the Hong Kong mobile operator csl. and other major retail channels including Suning, Dream Team, Sun Shine Telecom, Cyber Telecom, 188 Digital.com, Pak Lik and I Mobile in Hong Kong.
Come comment on this article: ZTE announces the Blade S6 with Android Lollipop for $250
French law would make Google and Facebook ‘accomplices’ to hate speech
France is eying new laws that would make the likes of Facebook and Google accountable for hosting extremist messages. As Bloomberg tells it, the new talk is a direct response to terrorist attacks from earlier this month, and should the draft law pass, it’d make online entities “accomplices” for hosting hate speech or terrorism sites. French president François Hollande addressed the sharp increase in terrorist recruitment over the internet, saying:
“We must act at the European and international level to define a legal framework so that Internet platforms which manage social media be considered responsible and that sanctions can be taken.”
Speaking at an event marking the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust, President Hollande also called on social networks to stop the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of hate speech. He asked, “how in 2015 can we accept the need for armed soldiers to protect the Jewish people of France?” Like Canada and other nations, France has strong laws against Holocaust denial, racist statements and other forms of hate speech.
French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve will soon travel to the United States to meet with Facebook, Google, Microsoft and Twitter and get their help in the matter preemptively. As The Verge points out, however, France will reportedly also ask internet companies for greater cooperation with law enforcement, which some fear could curtail privacy and lead to a European version of the Patriot Act. That means it may prove a tricky act for the Gallic nation to balance security with the EU’s strong privacy rules.
Steve Dent contributed to this report.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet, Microsoft, Google, Facebook
Via: The Verge
Source: Bloomberg
FCC Warns Hotels About Intentionally Blocking Wi-Fi Hotspots [iOS Blog]
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Tuesday issued a public enforcement advisory that warns hotel chains and other commercial establishments about intentionally blocking or interfering with Wi-Fi hotspots. The FCC’s Enforcement Bureau claims that interfering with Wi-Fi hotspots is illegal and that it will take appropriate action against violators by imposing substantial fines.
The warning follows an FCC investigation in which the government agency discovered a so-called “disturbing trend” where hotels and other commercial establishments were purposefully blocking wireless customers from connecting to their Wi-Fi hotspots. Marriott Hotels was found to have “deployed a Wi-Fi deauthentication protocol” to block customers from accessing Wi-Fi and agreed to pay a $600,000 fine.
iPhone users have long resorted to Personal Hotspot to turn their cellular data connection into a Wi-Fi network for the purpose of tethering a Mac or other connected device. Apple made Personal Hotspot more convenient in iOS 8 with Instant Hotspot, a new feature that automatically detects when an iPhone is within close range of an iPad or Mac and displays the device in the list of available Wi-Fi networks.
Accessory of the Day: Bluetooth-equipped selfie stick, $19.99
While they might not be the hippest looking things on the market, you can’t deny the effectiveness of a selfie stick. This one, from Mpow, features a Bluetooth controlled shutter button so you can easily snap that wide-angle shot of you and your friends for Instagram. At only $19.99 (Prime), this makes a perfect gift!
Join Prime and get this deal with FREE two-day shipping!
Also worth checking out:
The post Accessory of the Day: Bluetooth-equipped selfie stick, $19.99 appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Samsung kicks off its Note 3 Android Lollipop update in Russia
Reports are coming in that Samsung has begun rolling out Android 5.0 Lollipop for the Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900) in Russia this morning. Probably leaving a few Note 4 owners a little miffed that they weren’t first on Samsung’s update list.
As you have probably seen from some of the screenshots and videos leaked over the past few months, Samsung’s Lollipop build comes with a revamped Touchwiz user interface and replaces many of the dark themes with a white Material Design inspired finish. Based on the leaked preview build from late last year, the Note 4’s Multi-Window feature also makes is way to the Note 3 with Lollipop.
While the Lollipop update will take some time to roll out to other regions, Russian owners can double check for the N900XXUEBOA6 build update notification by heading over to Settings > About phone > Software. Alternatively, eager SM-N900 model owners can download and flash the official firmware with Odin, which has been uploaded by SamMobile. As always, be sure to read the instructions and make the appropriate back-ups.
If you’re the patient type who’s going to sit tight and wait for the download to arrive in your region, you can check out the video below to see what Samsung has in store for your Note 3.
Hopefully an update for Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 won’t be too far away either.
iPod Shuffle Shipping Times Improve to 5-7 Days in Europe Following Reports of Supplier Change [iOS Blog]
Earlier this month, the iPod shuffle’s shipping estimates slipped to 7-10 days in the United States, Europe and other regions, leading to speculation as to whether the portable media player would soon be discontinued or was going through reported supplier changes. Today, we are beginning to see a clearer picture.
For now, it appears that the iPod shuffle will continue to live on. iGen.fr was first to notice today that shipping times for the iPod shuffle have improved to 5-7 days on the Apple Online Store in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and some other European countries. The improved shipping times are not reflected in the United States or Canada storefronts yet, which still display shipping estimates of 7-10 days.
While demand for the iPod shuffle has been overshadowed by devices such as the iPhone and iPod touch, the portable media player remains a convenient and affordable option for incorporating into a daily workout routine or similar. The current fourth-generation iPod shuffle with front-facing media controls was introduced in 2010 and has not been updated since outside of a few color changes.
Create your own polygon wallpapers with PolyGen [App of the Day]
App of the Day is back, and this time to feature PolyGen, an app that allows you to create your own beautiful geometric wallpapers. I’ve been using PolyGen myself a lot, and use it to covert almost all of my favorite wallpaper photos I find into a triangulated version of it.
Using the app is fairly simple, with the main menu allowing you to either take a photo, chose a photo from your gallery, or pick colors yourself and take time to create your very own. After choosing your picture, you choose how “polygonized” you want the picture to be, from small, medium and large shapes. Most of the time, I chose large sizes to keep the finished wallpaper minimal and clean, but for more detailed pictures I choose small polygons to preserve the image integrity.
“Polygonized”
Doctor, I’d like to look like this please.
I would’t recommend trying this on your face unless your in for a good laugh, but regardless I found myself going through almost every photo I had to see if I would prefer it going through the filter, and had a lot of fun doing so. Occasionally, however, the app would crash after creating multiple wallpapers with it. Check out the Play Store link below and start making some wallpapers for yourself!
The post Create your own polygon wallpapers with PolyGen [App of the Day] appeared first on AndroidGuys.
AIVAnet 
