EU antitrust regulators are no longer looking into Qualcomm’s patent licensing deals
According to an online publication called Reuters, the European Union antitrust regulators have decided to discontinue its investigation into U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm’s patent licensing deals.
It’s believed that the European Commission has been “looking into rebates and financial incentives offered by Qualcomm since 2010 to check if it was using these in breach of EU rules to discourage customers from switching to rivals.”
However, the EU have opted not to delve deeper into Qualcomm’s patent application as it hasn’t found any evidence of possible abuse regarding the licensing of standard essential patents.
If you’d like to read the full report over at Reuters, then hit the source link below.
Source: Reuters
Come comment on this article: EU antitrust regulators are no longer looking into Qualcomm’s patent licensing deals
HTC One M8s now available exclusively on Vodafone
HTC has quietly released an exclusive device for UK-based carrier Vodafone, the One M8s. Sure, the One M8 was last year’s device, but HTC’s One M8s has a bit more to offer. Take a look and see for yourself.
Here’s what the device is packing:
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 64-bit CPU with eight-core.
- 5-inch HD 1080p display.
- 13-megapixel rear-facing camera
- Bluetooth 4.1
- a larger, 2,840mAh battery
- 2GB of RAM
- 16GB of storage, with microSD memory options
- Android 5.0 Lollipop
It’s quite a change, compared to the One M8’s specs, however, there are still some similarities, such as the 2GB of RAM, 16GB storage, and etc. The good news is that it’s not just exclusive on Vodafone, as it’s also available in select European countries.
While the One M8s seems like a great offering, will HTC offer a One M9s in the future? Will they run into the same problems they had a few years ago by offering way too many smartphones to consumers? Let us know what you think.
source: Vodafone
via: Ausdroid
Come comment on this article: HTC One M8s now available exclusively on Vodafone
Dell starts pushing out Android 5.0.2 update for the Venue 8 7840
Dell is now rolling out the Lollipop update to all Wi-Fi variants of the Venue 8 7840 located in Brazil. In terms of added functionality, this upgrade transports the latest build of Lollipop to the slate, in addition to a truckload of bug fixes and stability improvements.
All the changes you’d expect to see are bundled into this upgrade, including support for multiple accounts, improved notifications, a smoother multitasking experience and the recently-announced Material Design guidelines.
As is customary with all manufacturer updates, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your tablet, you can search for the update manually.
Via: AndroidPolice
Come comment on this article: Dell starts pushing out Android 5.0.2 update for the Venue 8 7840
Three now rolling out Lollipop OTA for the Galaxy S5 in Austria
Three is currently rolling out the Android 5.0.2 update to all its carrier-branded variants of the Galaxy S5 in Austria. This upgrade brings the latest build of Lollipop, in addition to a plethora of bug fixes and stability improvements to the handset.
Hit the break for the full changelog.
- Material Design: You will quickly notice a whole new colorful look and feel to your device – from fluid animations to new application and system themes, colors and widgets.
- Notifications UI & Priorities: In order to alert you to the mosttimely and relevant information, the format and behavior of notifications have evolved:
- notifications will appear on the lock screen and are intelligently ranked by type and who sent them.
- you double-tap to open one, swipe left or right to clear one, or clear all notifications from the bottom of the list.
- you can set the priority and privacy of notifications for each application.
- very high priority notifications will pop up briefly over other applications so that you can take action.
- when you dismiss a notification on one device it will be dismissed on your other Android devices, if they are connected to the Internet.
- you can further tailor how notifications behave with the new Downtime and Ambient Display settings (see below).
- New Interruptions & Downtime Settings: You can tailor how interruptions behave, choosing to allow all, none, or only priority interruptions. You can personalize what counts as a priority interruption (reminders, events, calls, messages) and even tailor them to be from only contacts you specify. The Downtime setting will allow only priority interruptions during the times and days that you specify. e.g. allow only priority interruptions on the weekend.
- Recent Apps (Multi-tasking): The redesigned Overview space (formerly called Recents) will include both applications and separate activities within those applications. For instance, each open tab in Chrome will also appear here along with recent applications; both your Gmail Inbox and a draft email message will appear as separate cards. This provides a consistent way to switch amongst tasks.
- Flashlight: Lollipop includes a new flashlight option as part of Quick settings (swipe down with two fingers from the status bar to see it).
- Pin a view/app: Screen pinning allows you to keep a specific app or screen in view. For example, you can ‘pin’ a game and your child will not be able to navigate anywhere else on your phone.
- Battery: The Battery settings panel now shows an estimated projection for how much time you have left while discharging or charging. You can also enable a new battery saver mode that will save power by reducing performance and most background data operations to extend your battery life.
- Smarter Internet Connections: With Android Lollipop, your phone will not connect to a Wi-Fi access point unless there is a verified Internet connection. This feature improves hand-offs between Wi-Fi and cellular connections, helping to maintain your video chat or voice-over-IP (VoIP) call as you switch.
- Performance: Your phone now uses the new Android Runtime to help optimize application performance. After upgrading to Lollipop, your applications will undergo a one-time optimization process. Note that the optimization for ART requires more space.
- Security: Encryption can now use a stronger 256-bit key to help protect your data. Note that the stronger key willonly be used after you perform a factory reset on Android Lollipop. Otherwise encryption will continue to use 128-bit key. You can turn on encryption in the Security settings menu.
As is customary with all manufacturer updates, the upgrade is being rolled out in stages, but if you don’t feel like waiting for a notification confirming that it’s ready for your S5, you could always search for the update manually.
Come comment on this article: Three now rolling out Lollipop OTA for the Galaxy S5 in Austria
German automakers on route to buy Nokia Here
A new report has surfaced indicated German automakers Audi, BMW and Daimler have partnered with Chinese search giant Baidu in an effort to buy the Nokia Here business unit from Nokia. The mapping unit appears to be valued at more than €2 billion ($2.2 billion USD) according to the reports, but more importantly will help the automakers stave off Google’s entry into the self-driving car market. At least, that is what the automakers are hoping.
In order to eventually produce self-driving cars, manufacturers will have to secure a solid set of maps to be used by the vehicle’s computers. Google’s digital maps are some of the most widely deployed and used, but Nokia’s Here maps have received praise since their release. Google makes their Maps product free and according to sources, “The greatest threat to the automobile industry would be if Google developed an operating system for self-driving cars and made it available free to everyone.”
The automakers appear to be looking at the history of what Google did with the smartphone market. As companies like Microsoft and Apple appeared to be poised to take over the market in the early days, Google snapped up Android and then released it for free to device makers. The rest, as they say, is history as Google’s Android has gone on to dominate the market with around an 80% share around the world.
Sources indicate the deal could close within two weeks.
source: Business Insider
Come comment on this article: German automakers on route to buy Nokia Here
The best smart thermostat
This post was done in partnership with The Sweethome, a list of the best gear for your home. Read the full article below at TheSweethome.com.
Three years after the Nest Learning Thermostat’s debut, the second-gen Nest continues to offer the best combination of style and substance of any thermostat. Its software and apps are solid and elegant, it learns your routines and the particulars of your house, and it’s easy to change the temperature from your phone or computer so you won’t have to get up from your cozy spot on the couch. It’s (still) the best smart thermostat for most people, though the competition is catching up.
Why a smart thermostat?
The second-generation Nest has a single metal ring with a black glass face.
If you upgrade to any smart thermostat after years with a basic one, the first and most life-changing difference will be the ability to control it from your phone. No more getting up in the middle of the night to turn up the A/C. No dashing back into the house to lower the heat before you go on errands (or vacation). No coming home to a sweltering apartment you just fire up the A/C when your airplane touches down.
The fact is, a cheap plastic thermostat with basic time programmingthe kind we’ve had for two decadeswill do a pretty good job at keeping your house at the right temperature without wasting a lot of money, as long as you put in the effort to program it. But that’s the thing: Most people don’t.
Get a smart thermostat if you’re interested in saving more energy and exerting more control over your home environment. If you like the prospect of turning on your heater when you’re on your way home from work or having your home’s temperature adjust intelligently without having to spend time programming a schedule, these devices will do the job. And if your thermostat is placed in a prominent place in your home, well, these devices just look cooler than those beige plastic rectangles of old.
Our pick: the Nest Learning Thermostat
The Nest Learning Thermostat is the best smart thermostat, thanks to its ease of use, great design, and learning capabilities.
The $250 second-generation Nest Learning Thermostat (introduced in 2012) is the leader of this category for a reason. Its learning mode automatically programs the thermostat based on your home and usage, its industrial design is the best, and it works with many other smart-home devices. The Nest offers the best combination of style and substance, and its software and apps are solid and elegant. It’s expensive, but Nest Labs claims the Nest can pay for itself in energy savings in as little as two years.
The Nest is striking, featuring a metallic ring with a black front and a circular LCD screen in the middle. The on-device interface is elegant, with every setting controlled by either a push on the face or a spin of the ring. The display shows red when heating, blue when cooling.
The Nest’s learning mode puts it above its competitors. It keeps track of how you adjust your thermostat over time, and it has an occupancy sensor that can tell when nobody’s around (in theory). The Nest can learn from your patterns and create its own schedule without any work from you.
The excellent Nest app (for iOS or Android) lets you program specific times and temperatures with a few taps. And Nest’s green leaf icon provides motivation to dial the temperature down just a little bit more in order to save energy. Unfortunately, the Nest doesn’t offer any external sensors to measure temperature in other rooms, and if it’s installed in a part of your house that doesn’t get much traffic, the occupancy sensor won’t be very useful.
Finally, Nest is owned by Google and seems to be the centerpiece of Google’s push into the smart-home ecosystem. If you plan on adding more smart devices to your home, the Works with Nest program means the Nest can integrate with a growing number of smart-home devices. Most of the interactions are gimmicky right now, but that won’t always be the case.
The next best thing (for larger homes)
The Ecobee3 is like a smartphone app that sits on your wall.
If you have a large home with a single HVAC system, or you want to be able to measure the temperature in rooms other than wherever your thermostat happens to be, consider the $250 ecobee 3. It comes with a wireless remote sensor that monitors both temperature and occupancy, so it adjusts its settings to keep occupied rooms comfortable. It’s not as easy to use as the Nest, and its apps aren’t as stable, but it’s a better choice for people who want to be able to monitor the temperature in multiple rooms.
Wrapping it up
Despite its age, the second-generation Nest is still the best smart thermostat for most people. The hardware is excellent, and the software behind it is elegant and smart. And it works with a growing number of other smart-home devices. Competitors are hot on its heels, but for now the product that created this category is still its leader.
This guide may have been updated. To see the current recommendation please go to TheSweethome.com
Filed under: Household
Snowden: Court ruling against NSA surveillance is ‘encouraging’
Surprising no one, NSA whisteblower Edward Snowden is mighty pleased by yesterday’s court decision, which deemed the agency’s widespread surveillance program illegal. Speaking via livestream at the Nordic Media Festival, Snowden noted that the importance of the decision “can’t be overstated,” Forbes reports. “This decision will not affect only the phone metadata program,” he said. “It will affect every other mass surveillance program in the U.S. going forward.” The ruling was, after all, exactly what Snowden was going for when he leaked details about the NSA’s data collection methods to the press. While the courts didn’t call for the NSA to stop its surveillance programs, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
“This being struck down is really a radical sea change in the level of resistance that the United States government has placed thus far,” Snowden said. “So far, courts have said basically, it’s not our place or our role to tell the executive branch of the government how to do their job. It is extraordinarily encouraging to see the court are beginning to change their thinking to say ‘if Congress will not pass reasonable laws, if the executive will not act as a responsible steward of liberty and rights in how they execute the laws, it falls to the courts to say this has gone too far.’”
[Photo credit: Tobias Schwarz/AFP/Getty Images]
Source: Forbes
Tidal will stream Prince’s ‘Rally 4 Peace’ concert for free
You won’t need a ticket to Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore to see Prince perform this Sunday. Heck, you won’t even need to be on the Eastern seaboard. Tidal, Jay Z’s much maligned streaming music service, announced today that it will broadcast the artist’s full 60-minute Rally 4 Peace set completely free of charge. What’s more the show will be “pre-paywall,” meaning that users won’t need a Tidal subscription to access it. Additionally, the streaming service will “match funds” of any donation made through its official website with proceeds going to local youth charities and the Baltimore Justice Fund. Prince is reportedly planning this impromptu concert to bring Baltimore communities together after the death of Freddie Grey in police custody.
[Image Credit: Getty]
Filed under: Internet
Via: Rolling Stones
Source: Tidal PR
Apple Removes eBay From Featured Apple Watch Apps Website [iOS Blog]
Apple has quietly removed the eBay app from the list of featured Apple Watch apps on its website in the United States, exactly two weeks after the launch of the Apple Watch. While eBay was the only app listed on Apple’s page that has yet to be updated with Apple Watch support, it’s unclear whether the removal is simply to avoid confusion by limiting mentions to apps that are available or if issues have arisen recently that will significantly delay eBay’s Apple Watch support.
All other apps listed on the featured Apple Watch apps page are already available on the App Store, so Apple possibly removed eBay temporarily to avoid misleading customers. eBay remains a featured Apple Watch app on Apple’s regional website for Canada in what is likely an oversight that should be addressed shortly.
“The world’s largest marketplace is now closer and more convenient than ever,” the app description read on Apple’s website, before the featured listing was removed today. “eBay for Apple Watch helps you stay on top of the auctions you’re watching. It can send outbid notices and other notifications directly to you, so you can react immediately.”
A few months ago, Apple removed award-winning healthy eating app The Whole Pantry from the App Store and its featured Apple Watch apps page amid allegations that its creator Belle Gibson faked having cancer to benefit her cause, accusations that later proved to be true. Gibson also failed to donate thousands of dollars collected during fundraisers to charities.
MacRumors has reached out to eBay for comment.
MIT gave exploring robots a way to plan underwater missions
Forget those teensy deep-sea submersibles cradling crews of brave scientists — the future of underwater exploration might be led by robots that can do their own thing. MIT engineers, led by professor Brian Williams, cooked up a system that lets autonomous underwater drones figure out and act on the nitty-gritty details of their missions without the need for meticulously laid-out plans.
The usual process involves researchers crafting scripts to define every little movement an autonomous sea rover makes, but drafting those fine-grained plans is a ton of work, especially if these engineers have to coordinate a group of machines navigating the seas in tandem. MIT’s new system instead allows them to set higher-level commands — something like “explore this sunken ship for four hours,” or whatever the code equivalent would be — leaving the rovers to react to things they find along the way and switch up priorities when it takes longer to complete some objectives. That might not sound thrilling at first, but it could mean big, big things for the future of oceanic exploration. Giving smarter machines a shot at exploring the oceans without direct, highly involved human supervision means schools and research institutions could more easily dump these drones into the water and sift through the data they return.
In a way, these researchers are thinking of their deep sea tools as something a little closer to human than before. After all, when you get up to grab a book off a shelf, you’re acting on a high-level directive and not laboriously thinking about standing up, walking x steps to a bookcase, lifting your arm, opening your hand and so on. Turns out, this sort of faith in mechanical cognition might be new to the seas, but it has its roots in the stars — Williams worked on a similar system for NASA which worked just fine when it was baked into a space probe exploring an asteroid. For now, how exactly the system works (beyond “algorithmically”) is still mostly a secret, but MIT plans to show off its inner workings at a conference in June. You’d better get that popcorn ready.
Source: MIT News
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