Getting a Galaxy S6 today? You won’t need Kies to transfer your data
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge don’t work with Kies, Samsung’s well known phone management software, according to a report from Sam Mobile.
Instead of Kies, which Samsung users have known for years as the PC application required for data transfers and software updates, Samsung is now offering a set of utilities called Smart Switch.
Available for PCs and Macs, Samsung Smart Switch offers roughly the same functions as Kies, in a more user friendly package. You will need to plug in your old device and then the new Galaxy S6 via USB cable to your PC, and the software will automatically sync contacts, call history, preferences, and more. You can also back up and restore your device, sync contact data, and check for software updates manually.
Smart Switch Mobile, available through the Play Store or through Galaxy Apps, lets you transfer your data even easier. Just install it on both devices, and on the old device tap Start and then Connect, and choose the content you want to carry over. You can pick from contacts, music, photos, calendar, text messages, device settings and more.
Smart Switch Mobile and its PC equivalent have been around for a while, but they are still worth mentioning for people who are used to Kies (or even not syncing their devices at all).
The Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are shipping starting today in 20 countries from around the world. For more on the devices, check out our reviews (S6 and S6 Edge) and stay tuned for more.
Watch Xiaomi President Bin Lin talk about the company’s plans
Xiaomi has quickly risen to a major player in the Asian smartphone market, besting Apple, Samsung and Huawei for the top spot in China last year. But there’s a lot more going on at the company than just low cost smartphones. Speaking with Re/code’s Walt Mossberg at the Connector event back in mid-March, Xiaomi president Bin Lin discusses everything Xiaomi and gives a few hints about what the company has planned for the future.
Plenty of topics are covered in the talk, from Xiaomi’s interest-paying wallet program to its ever extending product portfolio, all the way through to the company’s low cost business model and the changing nature of the Chinese smartphone market. The issue of why Xiaomi is keen on India and not so eager to leap into the US market is also addressed, it’s quite interesting stuff.
You can watch the full interview in the two videos below:
http://player.theplatform.com/p/PhfuRC/vNP4WUiQeJFa/embed/select/OcXqtoJYYkpL?autoPlay=true&t=1
http://player.theplatform.com/p/PhfuRC/vNP4WUiQeJFa/embed/select/7DudjTs0GNNU?autoPlay=true
Xiaomi is certainly trying something different with its business model, but do you think that the company can continue its sharp rise all the way to the top? Or will something halt its progress?
Apple Watch Out-of-Warranty Service Fees Range From $229 to $2,800
Apple has disclosed that it will charge an out-of-warranty service fee of $229, $329 and $2,800 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively for repairs not covered by Apple’s limited one-year warranty or AppleCare+ extended coverage plans. Out-of-warranty battery service is also available for $79 plus an applicable $6.95 shipping charge if required for all Apple Watch models.
The prices listed are based on official service through Apple in the United States, with pricing and terms varying for service through an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple will not repair an Apple Watch under certain circumstances, such as if the device is broken into multiple pieces, and did not provide pricing information for other accessories or peripherals.
Apple will be providing out-of-warranty service for the Apple Watch in all nine first wave launch countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan and United Kingdom. Service charges vary based on local currencies, with out-of-warranty fees costing, for example, a higher $299, $419 and $3,599 for the Sport, Watch and Edition models respectively in Canada.
Apple will also be offering Express Replacement service for the Apple Watch for customers that purchase an AppleCare+ for Apple Watch plan. When requested, Apple will send you packaging to return an Apple Watch in for repair or service, and ship out a replacement unit approximately two to three business days. Apple ensures that the replacement will be the same model you originally bought and new or equivalent in performance and reliability.
Express Replacement service pricing for the Apple Watch costs $300 to $350 for the Apple Watch Sport, $500 to $600 for the stainless steel Apple Watch and $8000 to $10,000 for Apple Watch Edition based on 38mm or 42mm case sizing. Apple will charge a late or non-return fee of $35.50 to $60.50 (Sport), $85.50 to $135.50 (Watch) or $2,600 to $3,600 (Edition) if Apple does not receive your original Apple Watch after more than 10 business days, with some exceptions.
New Retina MacBook Now Available to Order on Apple’s Online Store
Along with accepting pre-orders for the Apple Watch, Apple has also begun accepting orders for the new 12-inch Retina MacBook through its online store. Orders are available through the website and through the Apple Store app.
Shipping estimates for most pre-configured MacBook models are currently at one to three days, while custom configurations will ship in three to four weeks. Shipping estimates for the high-end gold MacBook have slipped to three to four weeks.
The 12-inch Retina MacBook features Apple’s latest technology, with an ultra thin chassis that’s 0.31mm thick (a half-inch), a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad that enables a range of new gestures, a thinner keyboard with larger keys stabilized by a new butterfly design, a single USB-C port, and a low-power Core M processor that lets it operate without a fan for silent performance.
Reviews of the new MacBook came out on Thursday morning and are worth a read before purchasing the new MacBook. Many reviewers have compared it to the first-generation MacBook Air, praising its cutting-edge design while highlighting some of the performance compromises compared to the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro.
The machine’s Core M processor lags behind the more powerful Intel-based processors available in Apple’s other notebooks, but it runs all modern apps (including those like Photoshop and Final Cut Pro). It is, however, noticeably slower, which may be a concern for users who use system intensive tasks on a regular basis. For day to day use, many reviewers found it more than adequate, but there was a general consensus suggesting that it’s somewhat impractical in its current incarnation, given the price to performance ratio.
The Retina MacBook is available in three colors: Silver, Gold, and Space Gray. It’s available in two configurations at two price points. The entry-level model ships with a 1.1GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 256GB of flash storage for $1,299. The higher-end model includes a 1.2GHz processor, 8GB of memory, Intel Graphics 5300 HD, and 512GB of flash storage for $1,599.
Both models offer an optional processor upgrade, boosting the 1.1GHz processor to 1.2 or 1.3GHz, and boosting the 1.2GHz processor to 1.3GHz.
Chainfire publishes preview of FlashFire, the successor to Mobile Odin
If you’ve ever rooted, flashed a custom rom, kernel or mod on a Samsung smartphone or tablet, there’s a good chance that you’ve used a tool developed by Chainfire at some point. You can count the SuperSu app, Triangle Away and 500 Firepaper apps among his many creations, and now we have a new app called FlashFire which is currently in Beta status. Chainfire says the new app is the spiritual successor to Mobile Odin.
Mobile Odin is a tool for flashing Roms, OTA’s, kernels and other mods without having to install a custom recovery on your device. Flashfire continues that tradition, and has so far been used to update various Samsung devices from Android 4.xx to 5.xx as well as block-level OTA’s on Nexus devices. It should be noted that the FlashFire app is currently in Beta status, and as such is in its testing phase. The only way to gain access to the app is by joining the Google Plus community, after which you will be able to download the app from the Google Play Store. Unless you feel you can help with testing and feedback though, you should probably wait until the full release.
If you have Mobile Odin Pro installed on your device, then the Pro version of FlashFire will be unlocked. As yet though there are no Pro features available, so it’s a placebo effect for the moment. That said, it’s nice to see a developer reward his loyal supporters. It should go without saying that the FlashFire app is not a game or something to be played with. If you aren’t sure what all the jargon means or what exactly the app does, its probably best to wait until Chainfire makes it available to the general public with a full description and detailed instructions. You can read more about its functions as well as post feedback and questions about the app here.
Source: XDA
Come comment on this article: Chainfire publishes preview of FlashFire, the successor to Mobile Odin
Join in the Samsung Galaxy S6 UK hunt today to win one for yourself!
Samsung is currently running a promotion across the UK to celebrate the launch of the Galaxy S6. The company has hidden 8 devices in 8 UK cities. All you have to do is find ‘em.
Here’s where you can get the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 edge in the UK
The Samsung Galaxy S6 is now available in select markets, including the UK. Should you be considering the purchase, here are some sources where you’ll be able to buy the new smartphones.
Should we be worried about Android app permissions?
If you’re really honest, do you actually read the permissions that Android apps are asking for before you install them? If you do, then there’s little doubt that you’re in the minority. Most of us treat them like terms and conditions, blindly clicking, or tapping, our way through. Is this something we should be taking more seriously? What are we actually giving away here?
Developers are well aware that most people don’t pay much attention to permissions and a lot of them have been surreptitiously adding more and more permissions to the list. Take a look at this chart of permissions for some of the most popular apps and games around.
http://embed.chartblocks.com/1.0/?c=55264ee8c9a61d2a0b597bc3&t=37e1d6874d7281a
Do these apps really need all these permissions? If you dig into the list, which you can find via the View details link under Permissions on the Play Store page for each app, then you’ll find some pretty puzzling requests.
The popular game Cut the Rope, for example, requests permission for your Location and yet the Privacy Policy from developer, ZeptoLab, specifically states “Geo-Location Data. ZeptoLab does not ask you for, access, or track any location based information at any time while downloading or using ZeptoLab’s mobile applications or services.”
I emailed and asked about it and here’s what Community Manager, Olga Antsiferova told me,
“Location data is needed for advertising SDKs to show people the ads which are relevant to their country. It is also used in both free and paid version of our games to identify countries with COPPA law. Finally, it is used in analytics, but it is important to understand that we gather only general, not personified info (i.e. “today we received 10k downloads from UK”) and we do not track individual devices.”
I’m not singling Cut the Rope out for any particular reason, by the way. You could pick an app at random and probably find a permission that’s puzzling at first glance.
What’s the problem?
A spotlight, or flashlight, was thrown on the issue a while back when popular free app Brightest Flashlight turned out to be selling location data and device ID information to third party advertisers. It transpired that it was far from the only app engaging in a fire sale of our personal data. A lot of flashlight apps are asking for permissions they absolutely do not need to function. It’s not a phenomenon that’s restricted to flashlight apps.
In all likelihood what we’re talking about here is the sale of anonymized data to advertisers, so that developers can generate a little extra cash. Some of you might be okay with that. But you’re actually putting a lot of trust in these developers. It’s one thing to trust that Google isn’t going to do anything untoward with your personal data (and some people struggle with that idea), but how much do you know about the publishers and developers behind the apps you’re using, or the third-party advertising networks that they work with?
Is there a worse scenario? Are you giving them the permission to do things like upload all your personal photos to a web server or sell your contacts list? While it may be technically possible in some instances, it’s extremely unlikely that they’re actually doing that, it’s illegal and they wouldn’t get away with it for long. The most likely explanation is generally innocuous — an app might want access to your photos to allow you to upload an image directly in the app without having to jump through hoops or quit the app and start up the gallery app.
The problem is that most people don’t really know what the permissions mean, they aren’t willing to research it, and they don’t want to have to. What they really want is to be able to trust that someone else is looking out for them.
Google does have your back, up to a point
The Play Store is pretty secure. Google does a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that the apps on offer are safe. Most of the scaremongering about malware on Android is designed to sell security apps. If you only ever download apps from the Play Store with high numbers of downloads and a good review score, and you don’t tick the Unknown sources box in Settings > Security then you realistically have nothing serious to worry about.
The trouble kicks in if you’re concerned about privacy. If you don’t like the idea of giving strangers potential access to a lot of personal data. If you don’t like the idea of them collecting information about your habits. There’s a gray area of acceptability there that Google isn’t policing.
Your only real option if you don’t like the permissions that an app is requesting is to not install it. But, why is that the case?
Puzzling changes
Google simplified app permissions last summer (some people will say dumbed down) and things are grouped into sections now. This was supposed to make it easier for people, but it actually makes it tougher to see what specific permissions you are granting. It also means that an app can request a new permission in an update and if you’ve already granted a permission in that section it’s automatically granted without your say-so.
We need better control over permissions
There are a lot of other ways this could work. You could be asked for a permission when an app actually needs to use it, but this could arguably impair the user experience. You could also have a clear menu where you can go in and deny specific permissions, or tell the app to ask when it needs that permission. Something like App Ops which Google rolled out and then retracted.
Google brought App Ops out in Android 4.3, though it was never advertised. It was quietly removed in Android 4.4.2. It allowed you to revoke specific permissions for apps. Officially Google claimed it was only ever intended for developers. It’s possible part of the reason it was removed was to prevent stability issues for apps if users started revoking permissions all over the place, but realistically it probably had a lot more to do with advertising revenue. If you could use free apps and easily block permissions that generate ads (and revenue for the developers) then you probably would, right? That could make Android app development unprofitable for many.
What can you do?
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The bottom line is that most developers are asking for permissions because of some function or feature in the app and the request is legitimate. There’s another tier of apps that are trying to turn a profit by selling anonymized data. Unfortunately it’s not always easy for the average person to tell the difference. If you’re concerned, then make sure you read the permissions and the privacy policy. There’s no substitute for doing a little digging to see what you can uncover. If you routinely download apps from outside the Play Store then you really can’t afford to ignore permissions.
You can find a bunch of permission managers in the Play Store, many confusingly called App Ops or some variant. If you’re rooted then check out X Privacy Installer for smart protection that won’t make the apps fail.
Tell us what you think. Do you read app permissions before every install? Are you worried about leaking personal info? Do you care about anonymized data for advertisers? Is Google doing enough to protect our privacy?
Should we be worried about Android app permissions?
If you’re really honest, do you actually read the permissions that Android apps are asking for before you install them? If you do, then there’s little doubt that you’re in the minority. Most of us treat them like terms and conditions, blindly clicking, or tapping, our way through. Is this something we should be taking more seriously? What are we actually giving away here?
Developers are well aware that most people don’t pay much attention to permissions and a lot of them have been surreptitiously adding more and more permissions to the list. Take a look at this chart of permissions for some of the most popular apps and games around.
http://embed.chartblocks.com/1.0/?c=55264ee8c9a61d2a0b597bc3&t=37e1d6874d7281a
Do these apps really need all these permissions? If you dig into the list, which you can find via the View details link under Permissions on the Play Store page for each app, then you’ll find some pretty puzzling requests.
The popular game Cut the Rope, for example, requests permission for your Location and yet the Privacy Policy from developer, ZeptoLab, specifically states “Geo-Location Data. ZeptoLab does not ask you for, access, or track any location based information at any time while downloading or using ZeptoLab’s mobile applications or services.”
I emailed and asked about it and here’s what Community Manager, Olga Antsiferova told me,
“Location data is needed for advertising SDKs to show people the ads which are relevant to their country. It is also used in both free and paid version of our games to identify countries with COPPA law. Finally, it is used in analytics, but it is important to understand that we gather only general, not personified info (i.e. “today we received 10k downloads from UK”) and we do not track individual devices.”
I’m not singling Cut the Rope out for any particular reason, by the way. You could pick an app at random and probably find a permission that’s puzzling at first glance.
What’s the problem?
A spotlight, or flashlight, was thrown on the issue a while back when popular free app Brightest Flashlight turned out to be selling location data and device ID information to third party advertisers. It transpired that it was far from the only app engaging in a fire sale of our personal data. A lot of flashlight apps are asking for permissions they absolutely do not need to function. It’s not a phenomenon that’s restricted to flashlight apps.
In all likelihood what we’re talking about here is the sale of anonymized data to advertisers, so that developers can generate a little extra cash. Some of you might be okay with that. But you’re actually putting a lot of trust in these developers. It’s one thing to trust that Google isn’t going to do anything untoward with your personal data (and some people struggle with that idea), but how much do you know about the publishers and developers behind the apps you’re using, or the third-party advertising networks that they work with?
Is there a worse scenario? Are you giving them the permission to do things like upload all your personal photos to a web server or sell your contacts list? While it may be technically possible in some instances, it’s extremely unlikely that they’re actually doing that, it’s illegal and they wouldn’t get away with it for long. The most likely explanation is generally innocuous — an app might want access to your photos to allow you to upload an image directly in the app without having to jump through hoops or quit the app and start up the gallery app.
The problem is that most people don’t really know what the permissions mean, they aren’t willing to research it, and they don’t want to have to. What they really want is to be able to trust that someone else is looking out for them.
Google does have your back, up to a point
The Play Store is pretty secure. Google does a lot of work behind the scenes to make sure that the apps on offer are safe. Most of the scaremongering about malware on Android is designed to sell security apps. If you only ever download apps from the Play Store with high numbers of downloads and a good review score, and you don’t tick the Unknown sources box in Settings > Security then you realistically have nothing serious to worry about.
The trouble kicks in if you’re concerned about privacy. If you don’t like the idea of giving strangers potential access to a lot of personal data. If you don’t like the idea of them collecting information about your habits. There’s a gray area of acceptability there that Google isn’t policing.
Your only real option if you don’t like the permissions that an app is requesting is to not install it. But, why is that the case?
Puzzling changes
Google simplified app permissions last summer (some people will say dumbed down) and things are grouped into sections now. This was supposed to make it easier for people, but it actually makes it tougher to see what specific permissions you are granting. It also means that an app can request a new permission in an update and if you’ve already granted a permission in that section it’s automatically granted without your say-so.
We need better control over permissions
There are a lot of other ways this could work. You could be asked for a permission when an app actually needs to use it, but this could arguably impair the user experience. You could also have a clear menu where you can go in and deny specific permissions, or tell the app to ask when it needs that permission. Something like App Ops which Google rolled out and then retracted.
Google brought App Ops out in Android 4.3, though it was never advertised. It was quietly removed in Android 4.4.2. It allowed you to revoke specific permissions for apps. Officially Google claimed it was only ever intended for developers. It’s possible part of the reason it was removed was to prevent stability issues for apps if users started revoking permissions all over the place, but realistically it probably had a lot more to do with advertising revenue. If you could use free apps and easily block permissions that generate ads (and revenue for the developers) then you probably would, right? That could make Android app development unprofitable for many.
What can you do?
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The bottom line is that most developers are asking for permissions because of some function or feature in the app and the request is legitimate. There’s another tier of apps that are trying to turn a profit by selling anonymized data. Unfortunately it’s not always easy for the average person to tell the difference. If you’re concerned, then make sure you read the permissions and the privacy policy. There’s no substitute for doing a little digging to see what you can uncover. If you routinely download apps from outside the Play Store then you really can’t afford to ignore permissions.
You can find a bunch of permission managers in the Play Store, many confusingly called App Ops or some variant. If you’re rooted then check out X Privacy Installer for smart protection that won’t make the apps fail.
Tell us what you think. Do you read app permissions before every install? Are you worried about leaking personal info? Do you care about anonymized data for advertisers? Is Google doing enough to protect our privacy?
Apple Watch Now Available for Pre-Order Through Apple’s Online Store
Apple has begun accepting online pre-orders for the Apple Watch in the United States and other first wave launch countries, including the U.K, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, and Japan.
Orders can be placed through Apple’s online store or through the Apple Store app on iOS devices. Supplies are expected to be limited, so customers interested in April 24 delivery dates should order as soon as possible.
Shipping estimates for Apple Watch models were as follows at launch, but are slipping rapidly:
– Apple Watch Sport: Delivers 4/24-5/8
– Apple Watch with Sport Band: Delivers 4/24-5/8
– Apple Watch with Classic Buckle: Delivers 4/24-5/8
– Apple Watch with Milanese Loop: Delivers 4/24-5/8
– Apple Watch with Leather Loop: Available to ship 4-6 weeks
– Apple Watch with Modern Buckle: Available to ship 4-6 weeks
– Apple Watch with Link Bracelet: Stainless steel 4-6 weeks, Space Gray June
– Apple Watch Edition: Available to ship May
The Apple Watch will officially launch on April 24, which is the same date that some customers will begin receiving their devices at their homes. Pre-ordering is recommended, as Apple will not be accepting walk-in orders for the Apple Watch during the first weeks following launch. All orders must be placed online.
AppleCare+ is available for the Apple Watch, and is priced at $49 for the Sport models, $69 for the stainless steel models, and $1,500 for the gold Apple Watch Edition models. There’s also a combined AppleCare+ option for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, priced at $149 for Apple Watch Sport, $169 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,600 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. Combined AppleCare+ can be purchased up to six months after an iPhone purchase.
AppleCare+ service fees for accidental damage are priced at $69 for the Apple Watch Sport, $79 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $1,000 for the Apple Watch Edition.
Apple is also selling standalone bands that can be purchased alongside the Apple Watch, and most band orders will ship in May. Modern Buckle bands are unavailable, and Milanese Loop, Link Bracelet, and Leather Loop ship in two to four weeks.
Apple is also accepting try-on appointments in its retail stores beginning today, giving users a chance to see the watch before placing an online pre-order. Appointments for models besides the Apple Watch Edition will last for approximately 15 minutes and will give customers an opportunity to try on multiple devices. We’ve written a post covering what to expect at your try-on appointment, which is worth checking out before you visit an Apple Store. Try-on appointments can be scheduled through Apple’s concierge service, both online and in the Apple Store app. The try-on appointment system is currently experiencing difficulties and may be down for some users.
Apple Watch pricing begins at $349 for the entry-level aluminum Sport model, $549 for the stainless steel Apple Watch, and $10,000 for the gold Apple Watch Edition. All three models can be ordered from the online store beginning now.
AIVAnet 