Here’s why you can’t get Facebook’s latest photo app in Europe
Facebook has a sparkly new photo-sharing app called Moments, but you can’t download it anywhere in Europe. At least, not without employing a sneaky workaround. The reason for its omission in the App Store and Google Play is tied to politics; back in 2012, Facebook was pressured by European data authorities to remove its “tag suggest” facial recognition feature from the social network. Since then it’s never been fully restored and regulators haven’t changed their stance. This causes problems for Moments, because the app works by scanning your camera roll and picking out the faces of your Facebook friends.
In Moments, other users with the app will receive a notification and can choose to sync your tagged photos with their personal library. These shared collections then produce albums tied to locations and events. So of course, without Facebook’s facial recognition software, the app is pretty useless. Richard Allan, Facebook’s head of policy in Europe, told the Wall Street Journal that the app could only be introduced if the company reaches a new deal with Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner. “Regulators have told us we have to offer an opt-in choice to people to do this,” he says. “We don’t have an opt-in mechanism so it is turned off until we develop one.” Facebook says it doesn’t have a timeline for implementing such a feature, so who knows when, if ever, Moments will make its European debut.
Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Mobile, Facebook
Source: Wall Street Journal
Amazon’s Marvel deal puts 12,000 comics in the Kindle store
Amazon has a virtual monopoly on digital Marvel comics, but it’s just opened up another way to get them. Kindle owners can now purchase single issues through Amazon’s store without needing the Comixology app as before. You can still get Marvel comics through Comixology, but of course Amazon acquired it last year, so the money goes to Jeff Bezos either way. All told, you’ll be able to purchase up to 12,000 back issues of titles like Guardians of the Galaxy, Daredevil and The Amazing Spiderman at the Kindle Store. Moreover, all titles will be available the same day they arrive in regular stores.
The only other place to find the e-comics is via Marvel’s own $10 monthly subscription service, but it only stocks issues more than six months old. Given the popularity of Marvel titles and Amazon’s lockdown on distribution, you may not be shocked to hear that Comixology is the top-grossing book app on iOS. On Google Play, meanwhile, it’s merely the top-grossing comic app. Hopefully Amazon will remember that with great power, comes… eh, probably not.
Via: The Verge
Source: Marvel
VR stock photos are coming to Oculus Rift
If virtual reality takes off like its backers hope, it’ll create a whole new market for panoramic content — 2D photos and video aren’t going to cut it. That’s why Getty has just launched 360° View for the Oculus Platform to offer an “engaging virtual reality experience of enchanting creative stills.” Rather than smiling people doing ridiculous things, Getty said it’s new library is about “transporting viewers to… the world’s glitziest events, sports’ major games and exotic locations around the world.” Images now available in the Oculus Store include scenes from the Cannes Film Festival and 2014 World Cup.
Once you load up the scenes, you’ll be able to pan and scan them in any direction. Getty didn’t specify exactly which tech it’s using to create the 360 degree images, but said it’s been doing it since 2012. Judging by the photo above, it looks like it’s projecting spherical scenes made up from multiple photos onto a single flat image. When the image is loaded into special VR software on a headset like the Rift, the user can view the scene from any angle and even zoom in.
Getty’s not the only company working on panoramic images, of course. Facebook has promised 360 degree videos for its Oculus platform, and third-party players like NextVR are also creating high-end video content. Samsung has also stocked its own store with 360 degree videos from various sources for the Gear VR headset. In fact, Getty’s 360° View service is now online and working with the Gear VR, and the stock photo outfit said it would also run on the Oculus Rift once it arrives for consumers early next year.
[Image credit: Getty Images]
Filed under: Wearables
Source: Getty Images
Cuba’s getting island-wide WiFi hotspots next month
Cuba’s making it easier and cheaper for its citizens to get online by building out an island-wide network of WiFi hotspots. According to local paper Juventud Rebelde, the nation’s state-run telecommunications company will open up internet access in 35 locations that should be available from the start of July. The move will also cut the price of getting online in half, with an hour of connection pegged to cost $2 per hour. According to Cuba’s director of telecommunications, Luis Manuel Diaz, however, that’s still too high a figure for the island’s citizens to be paying — true given that the cost of a Netflix subscription in the country is the third of the average monthly wage.
It may be 2015 but that doesn’t mean that Cubans are going to enjoy Google Fiber-style speeds straight off the bat. In fact, users will have their speed capped to “1MB per user,” which we’re taking to mean 1Mbps, although that could just be an issue with the translation. There’s also going to be come issues with congestion, since the infrastructure can only cope with 50-100 users at a time.
The New York Times believes that could be an issue since there’s a growing number of younger citizens who own smartphones. In fact, Havana’s one existing hotspot, based in the workshop of a local artist, is described as being “constantly packed.” Then again, it’s a step in the right direction as the world’s biggest tech companies see the island as a rich seam of untapped potential.
[Image Credit: AFP/Getty]
Filed under: Internet
Via: NYT
Source: Juventud Rebelde
5G network speed defined as 20 Gbps by the ITU
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has agreed on the preliminary definitions for the future 5G standard for mobile networking. A conference in San Diego to decide on the future of the standard was held from June 10th to 18th, where a 12 member delegation sat to draw up the specifications.
In terms of data speeds, the group decided that 5G compliant networks will have to provide data speeds of up to 20Gbps (Gigabits per second), 20 times faster than the 1Gbps specification for 4G. In terms of what this means for actual user speeds, customers should receive speeds in the region of 100 to 1000 Mbps, depending on a number of factors. This is anywhere from a 10 to 100 fold increase over typical 4G speed of 10Mbps.
This big increase in data speeds and bandwidth is expected to open up access to higher resolution 4K video content and holographic technology via mobile networks.
The specification also caters for future internet-of-things technologies. 5G will have to be able to provide more than 100 Mbps average data transmission to over 1 million IoT device within a 1 square kilometre radius.
As for the formal naming scheme, 5G will be called IMT-2020. IMT-2000 was the name for 3G networks and IMT-Advanced for 4G. The group will begin looking for technologies to use for the standard soon.
Korean telecommunications company KT recently unveiled its own 1.17Gbps network, which aims to bridge the gap between 4G and 5G. Its GiGA LTE network makes use of LTE and WiFi broadband network hotspots to offer faster speeds to consumers and this was an ITU consideration to help nations meet the higher bandwidth requirements of 5G. Korea is leading the way with development of 5G technologies and has had a large input into definiting the standard.
The final details for the 5G standard will be confirmed in October, following approval from the 193 ITU member countries. International spectrum for the 5G network should begin distribution in 2019, with commercialized implementations expected sometime in 2020. Although we will be treated to an early demonstration of 5G technology at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games.
Jaguar adapts NASA tech to monitor drivers’ brainwaves
If you’re wondering how many projects Jaguar Land Rover’s developing in addition to its pothole and cyclist alerts, the answer is “quite a few.” In fact, the company has revealed that it’s working on several technologies, which can monitor your condition to prevent accidents, collectively called “Sixth Sense.” The most intriguing one in the list is “Mind Sense,” which was derived from a NASA tech used to enhanced a pilot’s concentration skills. Mind Sense aims to read your brain waves (amplified and filtered by software) using sensors embedded in the steering wheel. An on-board computer will then assess whether you’re alert enough to commandeer a vehicle weighing thousands of pounds. The steering wheel could be programmed to vibrate or the computer could issue a warning sound, in case you’re daydreaming or starting to fall asleep.
The automaker is also in the midst of putting together medical-grade sensors to embed in the driver’s seat, particularly for the Jaguar XJ luxury sedan. Those sensors will be in charge of making sure you’re fit to drive; it could, for instance, dim the lighting or play some music if it senses stress. In future cars with self-driving capability, it could detect whether you’re having a seizure or a heart attack and automatically take control of the steering wheel.
Jaguar wants to make sure its fancy infotainment system doesn’t distract you, as well, so it’s developing an upgraded version that can predict what you want to press before your fingers even reach it. It actually already has a prototype of a mid-air touch screen display that uses cameras to track your hands. In the future, the company plans to add ultrasonic feedback in order to trick your brain into thinking you’ve already touched the screen. Finally, the British company’s working on an accelerator pedal that provides haptic feedback. It could vibrate when you’re going over the speed limit, for example, or as a warning that you’re going to hit another vehicle.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Autoblog
Source: Jaguar Land Rover
Forget stamps, the Post Office now offers pay-as-you-go SIMs
There’s no shortage of mobile networks to choose from in the UK, but that hasn’t stopped the Post Office from throwing its hat in the ring. The iconic mail service is launching a pay-as-you-go SIM that focuses specifically on cheap calls and texts. At 8 pence for almost any domestic landline or mobile, calls are significantly cheaper than the standard rates set by Vodafone, O2 and Virgin Mobile. The new “virtual” mobile network, which is powered by EE’s infrastructure, is also competitive on the SMS front with a flat 10 pence rate. If you’re interested in data, however, you’ll probably need to look elsewhere. The Post Office charges 10 pence per MB and currently doesn’t support 4G connectivity. Even if you’re a light user, one of the company’s 30 day bundles is almost certainly better value.
In such a crowded and fiercely competitive space, it’s going to be hard for the Post Office to stand out. Focusing on a single SIM is therefore a smart move, and its high-street branches scattered across the UK means it should be easy to get the word out.
[Image Credit: Lewis Stickley/PA Archive]
Filed under: Wireless
Via: The Mirror
Source: Post Office Mobile
Vodafone’s most powerful own-brand phone is great value at £125
Own-brand devices appear to be all the rage at the moment, or at least for two of the UK’s major carriers, they are. EE’s recently launched new smartphones, a tablet and a 4G action cam, while Vodafone too is yielding a steady stream of bespoke handsets and slates. And now, just as EE’s dipped its toe into the mid-range with its Harrier smartphone, Vodafone wades into the same waters with the Smart Ultra 6, its “most powerful” own-brander to date. Available from today, the mouthful of a phone is fronted by a 5.5-inch, 1080p display, with a 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 615 humming away inside. For landscapes and selfies you’ve got 13- and 5-megapixel cameras, and in other key specs you’re looking at 2GB of RAM, 16GB of expandable storage, a 3,000mAh battery and Android 5.0 Lollipop running the show. Not too shabby, considering the £125 pay-as-you-go price.
Vodafone’s really stepped up its game since releasing its first own-brand 4G phones. Last year’s Smart 4 Power, for example, was chunky and overpriced, whereas both the new Smart Ultra 6 and smaller Smart Prime 6 are more refined and attractively inexpensive. Now, the Ultra 6 isn’t the prettiest handset I’ve ever come across, but it’s not without its merits. The uniform, grey plastic that dominates the back and sides of the handset doesn’t come off as cheap, and in fact looks well suited to the device. The placement of the main camera lens and companion flash give the rear panel an iPhone 6 vibe, to the Ultra 6’s benefit, and the mirrored Vodafone logo fits nicely with the colour scheme. It’s also better executed than the mirrored logos EE’s coincidentally used on its latest phones. The blue glow emitted by the Android soft keys is also a nice visual touch, and is the calling card of Chinese manufacturer ZTE, which built the Ultra 6 for Vodafone using its own Blade S6 Plus handset as a reference point.
There’s more to be said about the design of the Smart Ultra 6 than its visual attributes. It’s a well-constructed, sturdy device, with a level of build quality that defies its bargain price. With microSD and nano-SIM trays tucked away on either side of the handset, there’s no need for a removable back panel, which means there’s one less seam to croak and warp under pressure. At 154 x 77 x 8.35mm, the Ultra 6 is a little big for my liking, and I find it slightly clumsy to use one-handed. It’s not uncomfortable to wield in general, thanks to its relatively slim profile, and those wanting 5.5 inches of screen real estate won’t feel like there’s an excess of phone ballooning around the large display.
The Smart Ultra 6 runs Android 5.0 Lollipop, and while there’s a handful of Vodafone bloatware apps pre-installed, you’re getting more or less the stock experience. The only real differences from pure Android are the odd rogue app, like the camera, which usurps Google’s version. The device’s 1.5GHz octa-core Snapdragon 615 kicks out as much power as you realistically need. A few laps in Asphalt 8: Airborne and Real Racing 3 with no noticeable performance issues is testament to that, and in general usage, navigating the menus and jumping in and out of apps is just as fluid as on any Lollipop phone I’ve poked at.
Needless to say, the Smart Ultra 6 makes a good first impression, and at its price point, I can’t think of another handset that offers the same kind of value for money. EE’s Harrier, for example, is matched or bested by the Ultra 6 in every column on the spec sheet. And yet, the Harrier is £200 on pay-as-you-go, while the Ultra 6 is only £125. Vodafone will also give you a Smart Ultra 6 for free on contracts starting from £17. For comparison, the Harrier is free on contracts from £19 per month, and that plan includes double the amount of 4G data and minutes as Vodafone’s £17 per month tariff. So, there’s not much in it if you’re taking the contract route, but it’s hard to ignore the £75 discrepancy in pay-as-you-go pricing, especially when the Ultra 6 is better on paper in every area. With the Kestrel, EE showed Vodafone how affordable, own-brand phones should be done. This year, though, it’s EE that has some catching up to do.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Vodafone
Nokia will design and license phones in the future, says CEO
Following a series of rumors and refuting statements back in April, it turns out that Nokia will indeed end up designing smartphones again, according to CEO Rajeev Suri. Although exactly who the company will partner up with to manufacture its designs still remains to be seen.
Speaking in a recent interview, Suri stated that Nokia is looking for suitable partners and that the company would simply design a phone and then make the brand name and design available to others through a licensing scheme. This means that Nokia will be the brains behind its future branded smartphone(s), but it will be a third party manufacturer who ends up building and distributing the end product. This is basically what the company did when it launched the N1 Tablet back in November of last year, which was manufactured by Foxconn.
Although no operating systems were mentioned by name, we can probably safely assume that Nokia, and whoever its future hardware partners, would likely opt to use Google’s open-source, license free Android platform. As was the case with the Nokia N1.
“Microsoft makes mobile phones. We would simply design them and then make the brand name available to license … Anybody who can improve the business in the long run is a good buyer.” – Nokia CEO, Rajeev Suri
The reason for the seemingly round-about root for releasing new products is partly due to the company’s contract with Microsoft. Nokia is prohibited from selling phones under its own name until the end of the year and from licensing out its brand for use with phones until Q3 2016. So although this recent news means that Nokia will be back in the picture, it likely won’t be until late next year at the very earliest. Speaking of Microsoft, several analysts expect that the company will write off all or part of the $7.2 billion that it paid for Nokia’s handset unit.
The Nokia N1 tablet.
Despite being temporarily locked out the consumer hardware market, Nokia has continued to do business in the broader telecommunications industry. In April, Nokia acquired Alcatel-Lucent to expand its important network equipment business and the company has been closing patent deals with a number of major players in the smartphone industry.
It will be a difficult climb back into the heart of the smartphone market for Nokia, but a licensing model could end up being the smartest way to get its brand back on the shelves in a relatively short space of time. Are you hopeful about a future Nokia smartphone? What would be on your wish list?
Rumour: Samsung to release the Galaxy Note 5 in August to avoid competing with new iPhone?
It’s the season for Galaxy Note 5 rumours, and along with this year’s handset sporting auto-ejecting S Pens, dual edges as well as a bigger display, we have rumours about the launch date of Samsung’s premier phablet. While the Samsung President, Jong-Kyun Shin, denied that the launch of the Note 5 would be brought forward to July, he never mentioned August, did he?
You can probably guess where today’s rumour is going. Basically, a news report out of Asia has said that the Note 5 will be brought forward to August in an attempt by Samsung to get to market before Apple releases its inevitable iPhone 6S/6S Plus smartphones. This has come about because Samsung is apparently in talks with Taiwanese carriers, allegedly to release the Note 5 in Taiwan earlier than usual in order to offset the impact of the iPhone launch.
The previously denied rumour intimated that the Note would be announced in July, this rumour says August. To be honest, it would be a shock if Samsung was to change the tradition of announcing the new edition of its Note range at the IFA in Berlin in September. A fair question would be, does the Note range have anything to fear from the iPhone?
Do you think that the Note 5 will eschew tradition and be announced earlier in August? I’m pretty sure we’ve seen this sort of rumour almost every time a new Samsung flagship is on the horizon, that it must be launched early or the iPhone 109S Super Plus will steal all of its sales. I would take a huge pinch, nay, a bag of salt with this rumour. I believe Samsung will stick with tradition and announce the new Note handset at the same time and place it does every year, the IFA in Berlin in September. But, I wouldn’t complain if it was released earlier than usual, would you?
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