Apple Shifting Security Team From Contractors to Full-Time Employees
Apple has decided to hire the majority of its day-to-day security staff in Silicon valley as full-time employees, a company spokeswoman confirmed to the San Jose Mercury News. Many of the security guards that Apple has hired in the past as contractors will become part of the company’s expanded in-house security team and receive the same benefits as other employees, including full health insurance, retirement contributions and a leave of absence for new parents.
Apple security guard in dispute with photographer at iPad event (via The Australian)
Apple will continue using contractors as security guards for special events, such as the upcoming “Spring Forward” media event at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on March 9th. Apple is believed to have begun constructing an extension on the Yerba Buena Center over the weekend, possibly as an Apple Watch demo area, and security guards wearing “Apple Security” shirts were spotted monitoring the premises.
“We will be hiring a large number of full-time people to handle our day-to-day security needs,” the spokeswoman told the San Jose Mercury News. “We hope that virtually all of these positions will be filled by employees from our current security vendor and we’re working closely with them on this process.”
Apple has faced increasing pressure to provide individuals who cook, clean and monitor security for the company with the same benefits as other employees. Local union United Service Workers West staged a protest on Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California in December over complaints that its security contractor Security Industry Specialists treated workers poorly and that many positions were part-time.
Other service workers in Silicon Valley are also fighting for better wages and benefits. The Wall Street Journal reported that a group of 158 bus drivers working for Compass Transportation, which provides shuttle service for Apple, eBay, Genentech, Yahoo and Zynga, voted on Friday to be represented by local union Teamsters Local 853 in negotiations with Compass over fair working conditions.
Android Wear watches are reportedly getting iPhone support
If you carry an iPhone but would rather accessorize it with a Moto 360 than an Apple Watch, you might just get that choice without resorting to unofficial tricks. Sources for French outlet 01net claim that Google is “preparing to launch” an iOS version of its Android Wear app. There aren’t any other details, although it’s safe to say that third-party app support would require additional effort — it wouldn’t be an Android-to-Android connection any more, after all. This is very much a rumor and may not pan out, so don’t assume that you’ll be strapping on a Huawei Watch any time soon. With that said, Google isn’t strictly denying that something is afoot. The folks in Mountain View say they “don’t have anything to share at this time,” so hope springs eternal.
Filed under: Wearables, Mobile, Google
Via: iPhon.fr (translated), MacRumors, SlashGear
Source: 01net (translated)
YotaPhone 2 will launch in the US this Spring via Indiegogo
Ever since the YotaPhone 2 launched last December, the phone had many eager consumers wondering when it would make its way to the US market. The two-faced phone originally launched in over 20 countries including Europe, the CIS and the Middle East, though the promise of a US launch wasn’t slated until “late 2015″. In January, we reported that the phone would make its way to T-Mobile this Spring, and it seems as though we now have a bit more information on the YotaPhone 2’s US availability.
According to spokesperson Mike Kelley, the smartphone will make its way to the US this Spring through an Indiegogo campaign. It will also be compatible with both AT&T and T-Mobile networks, including a number of LTE bands. As for the crowdfunding campaign, the phone will be available for approximately $600, and there will be extra incentives if you’re willing to pay more. There’s no word on those extra incentives quite yet, but rumor has it that Yota may offer a bumper case or an accessory to go along with the device. If the Indiegogo launch goes well, Yota plans to expand the phone’s availability to third party US retailers like Best Buy. For right now, the phone is running Android 4.4 KitKat, though Yota hopes to have the upgrade to Android 5.0 Lollipop rolling out by the time it launches.
For those unfamiliar with the YotaPhone 2, it’s a dual-screened smartphone with a 1080p LCD panel on the front and an e-paper display on the back. The e-paper display can be used as a normal smartphone screen to save on battery life, as well as offer up a great way to read books or magazines while you’re on the go. We reviewed the YotaPhone 2, and you can check out our full comprehensive review here.
If the phone launches on Indiegogo in the Spring for $600, will you pick one up? Why or why not?
Gear VR owners can now access paid apps from the Oculus Store
The Oculus Store is now accessible for owners of the Samsung Gear VR. This means that customers can finally look outside Samsung’s limited collection of apps and download some worthy games and applications.
These will cost you money though as they’re games built from the ground up. We’ve seen demos of these games on the Gear VR, so it will be familiar to users of the wearable.
This makes the Gear VR a near consumer product as it was touted to be a developer only offering until now. The device still has the Innovator Edition moniker attached to it, which doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Here’s the full list of paid apps already available in the Oculus Store:
- Bandit Six (WWII flying game) – US$3
- Darknet (cyber-puzzler, previously free) – $10
- Dreadhalls (first-person horror) – $5
- Esper (puzzler) – $5
- Gunner (space shooter) – $4
- Protocol Zero (first-person stealth) – $5
- Proton Pulse (brick-braking arcade) – $3
- Nighttime Terror (arcade defense) – $4
- Romans from Mars (arcade defense) – $3
Via: Gizmag
Come comment on this article: Gear VR owners can now access paid apps from the Oculus Store
SXSW updates iPhone app for 2015, festival will once again use iBeacons
The South By Southwest (SXSW) festival will once again be using iBeacons during the popular event in Austin, Texas, Attendees will be able to interact with the iBeacons through the newly updated and official SXSW Go app.
SXSW used iBeacons for the 2014 festival and this year will see over 1,000 of them deployed during the event. The Next Web says:
When an attendee checks in with the app, the beacons will let them know what’s happening nearby and who else has arrived recently. The idea is make to networking at the massive event that little bit easier.
The app also features attendee matching to hook up like-minded visitors, the ability to connect to Facebook to find friends who are attending, and Session Live – which also uses the iBeacon deployment to show who else is at sessions and let you have discussions with them.
SXSW starts on Friday, March 13 and runs through March 22.
- Free – Download now
Source: The Next Web
Surface Pro 3 wins Best Mobile Tablet at Global Mobile awards during MWC 2015
GSMA, the group behind this week’s Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona, Spain, has handed out their Global Mobile awards for the 2015 show. Microsoft claimed one of them for Best Mobile Tablet thanks to the Surface Pro 3.
GSMA splits Best Smartphone award between iPhone 6, LG G3 at MWC 2015
GSMA, the group behind Mobile World Congress, has handed out their Global Mobile awards for the 2015 show. Winners this year include Apple, LG, Motorola, and Microsoft.
The award for Best Smartphone this year was split, taken home both by the iPhone 6 and the LG G3 both beating out last year’s winner, HTC. The iPhone 6 was praised for its larger size over past models, as well as its improvements in design and specifications. From the judges:
“With all round improvements, from designs, to specs, to functionality yet remaining true to the core this proposition offers unparalleled performance and unmatched consumer success”.
Other winners included Motorola, which won for Best Low Cost Smartphone with the Moto E, as well as Best Wearable Mobile Technology for their Moto 360 smartwatch. Microsoft took home the award for Best Mobile Tablet for their Surface Pro 3.
You can check out GSMA’s full list of winners at the link below.
Source: GSMA
Samsung Galaxy S6 edge gallery
Samsung on Sunday announced the first dual-edge display variant of its flagship Galaxy S6 line of smartphones with the Galaxy S6 edge. Slated to arrive in April, we’re giving you a look at the device from a number of angles and in a handful of color options.
The post Samsung Galaxy S6 edge gallery appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Waze is now part of Google Mobiles services, could be pre-installed in your next device
Back in 2013 Google acquired navigation app Waze, keeping it separate from Google Maps, though it utilized some of Waze’s tech to help improve the Map experience. Waze remains an excellent service today, one that Google would do well to further promote. After all, the more people using Waze, the more information users (and Google) have about traffic hazards, blocked roads and other traffic-related data.
With all this in mind, it seems that Waze could see itself pushed onto many more devices right out of the box, as Google has now officially announced that the app is part of Google Mobile Services. That means it is one of the optional apps that OEMs and carriers can choose to include with their devices. However, keep in mind this isn’t one of the Google apps that OEMs using Google Play services are required to include.
Any Waze users out there? What do you think of this news? Is this a good way to improve the service, or do you feel we already deal with enough pre-installed bloat as it is?
Engadget giveaway: win a set of wireless sport headphones courtesy of SMS Audio!
Workouts and wired headphones can be a dicey business, so finding a wireless option to fit your regimen should be a top priority — a mid-run tangle on a treadmill could end up flinging you and your phone to the ground. You’ll probably be sweating buckets, too, if you’re doing it right. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson’s very own SMS Audio checked all those boxes for its Wireless Sport series of on-ear and in-ear headphones, so you won’t have to worry about those things if you’re on the court, at the gym or out in the wild. Both pairs are IPX4 rated to deal with the waterworks and with 8-10 hours on a charge, you may run out of juice before they do. Both units also have easy to reach controls so you can manage that playlist or take ditch those important calls while burning some calories. This week, we have two bundles including one of each style, so that two lucky Engadget readers can keep the vibe alive and push on into the zone. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget for up to three chances at scoring one of these SMS Audio Wireless Sports headphone packages.
- Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
- Contest is open to all residents of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
- Winners will be chosen randomly. Two (2) winners will each one (1) pair of SMS Audio In-Ear Wireless Sport headphones and one (1) pair of On-Ear Wireless Sport headphones.
- If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email or Facebook login. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
- This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. SMS Audio and Engadget / AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
- The full list of rules, in all its legalese glory, can be found here.
- Entries can be submitted until March 4th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!
Filed under: Announcements
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