AVG profits from user data, says privacy policy update
There are quite a few free anti-virus options out there for those who want a little extra protection on their Android devices. AVG is one of the most popular choices, but some customers may be reconsidering their options following an update to the company’s user data privacy policy.
Changes to AVG’s privacy policy now states that the company can collect and sell non-personal data, including information about your device, the apps you use, cookies, and your internet search traffic, to name just a few. The company claims that its latest policy is simply intended to be more transparent. It’s certainly better to inform customers about the type of data being collection about them, but this also suggests that similar tracking has been going on for a while without users fully in the know.
AVG states that users will be able to turn most of the tracking options off, without any features of the software being shut down. AVG is also keen to express that the data it collects is anonymous and cannot be linked back to any individual.
While data tracking in exchange for a free service is now very common, the fact that AVG operates with elevated privileges and is often used by customers to help prevent this type of tracking makes the exercise far more questionable. The company says that it may also look at subscriptions, advertisements and other data based models in order to fund its software in the future. It is also worth noting that AVG is not the only anti-virus provider to sell user data, Avast’s privacy policy also explains that it collects non-personal information and sells it to advertisers.
The new privacy policy comes into effect on October 15th and continuing to use the software after that date means that customers agree to the data collection, unless they specifically opt-out.
How to safely clean your Android smartphones and tablets
Is it any news that our smartphones are as dirty as anything can get? We man-handle these gadgets all day, smear grease all over them, take them to the toilet and put them through unimaginable germ exposure. In fact, a recent Mashable video (as well as studies) tells us our phones contain about 25,000 germs per square inch. That would be much dirtier than doorknobs, checkout screens and even toilets. Yes, you heard that right… most smartphones are dirtier than toilets!
Needless to say, you want to make sure you clean your device from time to time, but you have to do it the right way too. Remember these expensive tech gadgets could easily get damaged. And very few of us are lucky enough to have those waterproof devices you can probably just wash in the sink. Let’s give you some tips on how to clean your technology both properly and safely, shall we?
Do not use chemicals!
Wile the image above is urging us to pull out the bleach, glass cleaner or anything that can kill every single thing on that phone, this is something we must really resist. Yeah, we want to keep our devices as clean as possible, but keep in mind most phones don’t do well when put against strong chemicals. These can stain the materials and remove the protective coating manufacturers put on devices.
In other words, don’t do what the lady in the featured image of this article is doing! If you really must clean your device with some form of liquid, try to only use distilled water, and use very, very little. And turn your phone off when you do – this will increase the chances of the phone not getting water damage if your hand slips and you get the phone overly wet. We will go into further detail later on in the post, though.
Use a microfiber cloth for the overall body
We have a tendency to simply grab any paper towel and clean our smartphones superficially. While this generally works, it’s not the best way to wipe a smartphone down and really get rid of all the dirties. This is because most paper napkins and towels release lint, fibers and other particles. These can then make their way in between buttons, gaps and other parts that will later be hard to clean. Not to mention, paper and regular fabric can be harsh and scratch your devices!
You can buy microfiber anywhere, really. They are usually in pharmacies and eyeglass stores, but you can also score some neat deals on Amazon. For example, here’s a 6-pack of microfiber cloths for only $9.95. There’s also some cool mini stickers from Clean Screen Wizard I really happen to like. These little accessories also have a microfiber surface on one side, which works like a charm. The other side contains a sticker, which can be used to keep the sticker in place, save it somewhere in the phone or even use it for removing particles that may be stuck to your device.
Once you have a microfiber cloth, simply wipe the screen and the rest of the phone in straight lines until all the noticeable residue comes off. If you are having trouble removing a tough stain or smudge, spray a bit of distilled water into the cloth and wipe again. Then use a dry area of the microfiber towel to dry it as much as you can.
Dig into those hard-to-reach spots with cotton swabs
Cleaning the overall surface of your smartphone is easy, but those pesky germs and annoying particles always go and get between buttons and tiny gaps. You can use a cotton swab for this. The concept is the same as with the wipes; don’t get the swabs wet unless you feel it’s absolutely necessary. If you do need some liquid, try to keep it to a minimum. Don’t just soak the cotton swab and go at it.
Blow it all away with a compressed air can
Better yet, you can just use a compressed air can. These are among the most useful cleaning tools for the office. They can blast away dirt from keyboards, computer towers, laptops, mice and any other tech gadget, including smartphones and tablets. If there’s a really tough piece of dirt you just can’t get out, chances are a compressed air can will do the trick. The Read Right OfficeDuster has worked great for me.
Using alcohol is OK sometimes
Those who really want to kill all the germs will feel the need to use some kind of disinfectant. We urge you not to do this, but if you really must, your best bet is probably to use watered down alcohol… just don’t do it all the time. And don’t forget still keep the liquids light.
In a way, the alcohol helps because it dries away quicker than water. This means the solution won’t stick around for as long, reducing the possibilities of it making it to the innards of the device. I have personally done this, and though it may still affect those coating layers, I have noticed no real damage on any of my units.
In fact, I like using alcohol wipes for those times when I really want to deep clean my gadgets. These are dirt cheap and also happen to leave no lint or particles (at least it hasn’t for me). A pack of 100 wipes from Zeiss is only $10.60 from Amazon. These are made for lenses, computers, glasses and devices, so you should be relatively safe. I would just make sure not to use them when they are too damp. Let the towel dry out for a bit and then get going.
Scotch tape can be your friend
We told you about those Clean Screen Wizard stickers above and mentioned you could also use the sticky side to peel any dirt away. You will be glad to know good old scotch tape works the same way. It can even catch some pieces of dirt in between keys and get rid of fingerprints. It just so happens that it won’t do too much to solve the germ situation.
Enjoy!
Got your phone all cleaned up? Now make sure you keep it pristine by taking advantage of these tips as often as you can. Your devices will look great and be free of disgusting germs. Enjoy your sparkling gadgets!
Kickstarter is legally obliged to give back to society
Crowdfunding platform Kickstarter is reincorporating as a “public benefit corporation” (PBC). What does that mean? Well, it’s a confusing term, and one that’s defined differently depending on which state you’re in. Loosely speaking, it’s supposed to mean that a company operates both for profit and for the betterment of society. As part of the change, the company will be registered in Delaware — which added PBCs into state law two years ago today — rather than its native New York. Kickstarter has been a voluntary B-corp (benefit corporation) since last year, but by becoming a Delaware PBC it’s turning an optional pledge into company law. With the switch comes a new charter, and it’s in there that we see exactly how Kickstarter acts in our best interests.
The charter covers many topics including user privacy (“Kickstarter will never sell user data to third parties”), tax ethics (“Kickstarter will not use loopholes or other esoteric but legal tax management to reduce its tax burden) and environmental impact (“Kickstarter will … invest in green infrastructure, support green commuting methods, and factor environmental impact when choosing vendors.” It’s worth noting that, while many companies strive to achieve such goals, Kickstarter is effectively making this behavior a legal requirement.
One thing that many companies don’t do is hand large portions of their profits to others. Kickstarter says it will “annually donate 5 percent of its after-tax profit” to a pair of causes. 2.5 percent will be “devoted to music programs for children and young adults, with a primary focus on underserved communities in New York City.” The other 2.5 percent will go towards “fighting to end systemic inequality,” with a focus on supporting “organizations fighting to end prejudices against and increase opportunities for people of color, women, and LGBTQ individuals.”
Unlike many startups, Kickstarter is actually profitable. The move to PBC further reinforces its founders’ resistance to floating the company on the stock market. “We don’t ever want to sell or go public,” Kickstarter co-founder and CEO Yancey Stickler tells The New York Times, “That would push the company to make choices that we don’t think are in the best interest of the company.”
The first PBC statement will arrive in February 2017. The statement will highlight if and how the company has achieved the goals laid out in its charter. If you’re interested to see how the company’s doing right now, though, there’s a way. As Kickstarter’s been registered as a voluntary B-Corp, you can view its past performance on the B Lab (the nonprofit that keeps tabs on B-Corp) site. Enjoy!
Source: Kickstarter
Quick Charge 3.0 explained: what you need to know
Fast charging technology is a really helpful feature for the heavy mobile user. Qualcomm recently announced its new Quick Charge 3.0 technology, promising a number of improvements over its previous generation speedy charging circuitry. So let’s break down exactly what’s new.
What is Quick Charge?
If you’re new to the concept of quick charging, the result is in the name: your smartphone charges up faster than it would without Quick Charge technology.
At its most simple level, Quick Charge allows for high levels of current to flow to the battery, in an attempt to maximise its charging efficiency. The latest Quick Charge products also tend to charge their batteries at higher voltages, allowing for a higher rate of power transfer through commonly found cables.
However, both the phone and the charger must be compatible with the same charging voltages and currents. Your phone may support charging at 9V/2A, but if you only have a 1A charger then the process will take longer. Likewise, plugging a 2A charger into a phone that can only accept 0.7A won’t make it charge any faster.
It is also possible to charge a compatible device quickly just by using a similarly high current charger, but non-certified products obviously aren’t guaranteed to work efficiency.
If your battery runs low, Quick Charge can help to juice up your smartphone faster than a lower current charger.
Quick Charge, like similar technologies from other companies, is designed to optimise power transfer in the early stages of charging, allowing users to unplug their devices with a suitable battery capacity after a short amount of time.
Qualcomm boasts that it can charge some devices up to 80 percent in just 35 minutes, but it’s very rare for the company to talk about total charge time, because it is simply less impressive. Power transfer in the latter stages of battery charging is much lower regardless of the charging tech used, hence why Quick Charge can boost your battery to 50 percent or more rather quickly, but will still take over an hour to fully charge your smartphone.
Quick Charge 3.0
Qualcomm boasts a fourfold increase in charging times over conventional chargers with Quick Charge 3.0, up from the 40 percent speed increase offered by its first generation technology. However, one of the interesting things to note is that Qualcomm isn’t touting massive increases in charging times over version 2.0, instead the company is focusing on improved efficiency this time around.
The major new feature with 3.0 is INOV (Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage), which allows for a fined tuned power output and a more optimized charging cycle. Firstly, different batteries require different charging voltages. Version 2.0 supported four modes at varying power levels, 5 volts/2amps, 9V/2A, 12V/1.67A, and a 20 volt option. Quick Charge 3.0’s INOV communicates with the device to request any voltage between 3.2V and 20V at 200mV increments, allowing for a wider selection of voltages.
INOV has the added benefit of being able to dynamically adjust the charging voltage over the battery charging cycle. As a battery charges up, it slowly draws less and less current, which is partly why it takes longer to charge the last 20 percent than the first. Qualcomm states that its new technology allows the phone to request just enough voltage to reach the desired charge current, thereby maximising efficiency.
This is useful as it reduces the amount of energy wasted during charging. Previously, extra power not used to charge the battery would be lost as heat, warming up your phone and reducing the longevity of the battery. By exerting more control over charging efficiency, less power is wasted, resulting in less heat. Qualcomm states that version 3.0 is up to 38 percent more efficiency than 2.0, which is a substantial energy saving.
Energy efficiency is really the major new feature with Quick Charge 3.0, but this is still very important as cooler batteries will last longer than hot ones.
3.0 vs 2.0 vs 1.0
Perhaps the best way to look at this is to compare the charging values between each of Qualcomm’s Quick Charge revisions.
| Quick Charge 3.0 | Quick Charge 2.0 | Quick Charge 1.0 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voltages | 3.2v – 20v dynamic | 5V / 9V/ 12V | 5V |
| Max Power | 18W | 18W | 10W |
| SoCs | Snapdragon 820, 620, 618, 617, and 430 | Snapdragon 200, 400, 410, 615, 800, 801, 805, 808 and 810 | Snapdragon 600 |
Here we can see that the amount of current offered by Quick Charge has remained relatively consistent, but increasing the charging voltage has helped allow for faster charge times. With 3.0, the range of voltages will allow for fast charging and better efficiency.
For smartphones, the actual maximum amount of power available has not really changed from Quick Charge 2.0’s 18W maximum. Newer 9V models will still take the same 18W peak power as before, although lower voltage batteries may receive a power boost, allowing them to charge up a little faster than before. But this all depends on the exact hardware.
Importantly, Qualcomm has retained backwards compatibility with its 2.0 and 1.0 standards. As the power draw is handled on the smartphone side, you will safely receive the maximum amount of power for your device using any of the certified chargers. However, you won’t achieve full charging speeds if you try charging newer phones with older lower power chargers.
Although Qualcomm supports Quick Charge in all of its new SoCs, it is still up to smartphone and tablet manufacturers to implement the specific circuitry required to make full use of the fastest charging speeds available. Keep an eye out for Quick Charge 3.0 devices appearing in early 2016.
Samsung expected to post another disappointing profit in Q3
Samsung has remained subdued about its financial outlook this year, but sources and analysts from South Korea are expected that the company may post another quarter that falls below already reduced expectations. The reason is again said to stem from struggling profits in Samsung’s mobile division.
According to an averaged earnings guidance from 22 brokerage houses, Samsung is expected to have generated 6.61 trillion won (US$5.68 billion) as of September 17th. This figure is down 6.4 percent from the month earlier, when the company was estimated to have produced a result closer to 7.06 trillion won.
Overall for the third quarter, Samsung is expected to bring in around 50.17 trillion won in quarterly sales, resulting in a net profit of 5.4 trillion won. If accurate, this would result in more revenue than Q2 2015, but net profits would be slightly lower than earlier in the year. This comes despite the launch of Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 and S6 Edge+ smartphones, which don’t seem to have helped haul the company back on track.
“Operating profit at Samsung’s mobile business will remain at 2 trillion won, a decrease of 12 percent from earlier expectations,” – Lee Jae-yoon, analyst at Yuanta Securities
Looking particularly at Samsung’s mobile division, the group pulled in a profit of 2.74 trillion won ($2.34 billion) in Q1 and 2.76 trillion won ($2.36 billion) in Q2 2015. Analysts are expecting around 2 trillion won for Q3, which would be a notable decline from the earlier results in the year. Oddly enough, Samsung’s mobile shipment are expected to have increased this quarter.
Some analysts are pinning the problem down to a lack of demand for expensive high-end products, where the margins are better. Instead, Samsung has seen some success in grabbing additional customers at the budget price tiers, but the profits here are much thinner. The company has also seen its market share fall from last year, leaving the company trapped in tight competition with Apple at the high-end and with competitive low cost manufacturers biting into Samsung’s mid-range line-up.
See also: Report: Samsung to focus on profits rather than growth
2015 was expected to be a tough year for Samsung and any return to previous profitability is going to take time. Despite launching some promising high-end products this year, the smartphone market may simply have moved on from the conditions that favoured Samsung just a couple of years ago.
Apple removes malware-infected apps from Chinese App Store
Last week we reported how a number of malware-ridden apps were found on the Chinese version of Apple’s App Store. The iPhone-maker has since confirmed the offending apps have been removed. The malicious apps were reportedly created using a bogus version of Xcode (the developer tool for iOS apps) that snuck hidden, malicious features into genuine apps with a program called “XcodeGhost”. Curiously, a tactic also considered by the CIA at one point. Exactly how many apps were affected is unclear, but popular titles in the country like WeChat, and car-hailing app Didi Kuaidione are reported to be on the list. Security firm Qihoo360 Technology is reporting at least 344 were removed from the store.
What’s less clear is the impact to any users that were unlucky enough to download one of the infected apps while they were available. Palo Alto Networks Director of Threat Intelligence Ryan Olson claims the impact was likely negligible, with no reports data theft, or “other harm.” Olson also points out, perhaps the real concern is that this attack demonstrates that Apple’s App Store, and its famously rigorous approval process are far from immune to vulnerabilities, especially given that developers had no idea this was going on.
Via: The Guardian
Source: Reuters
Huawei Nexus said to feature 128GB of storage space
This year we are expecting to be treated to not one but two new Nexus smartphones, a high end refresh from LG and an even more powerful variant from Huawei. According to the latest leak, the Huawei Nexus will also be the first Nexus smartphone to ship in a 128GB storage variant.
Given that Google doesn’t seem too committed to supporting the much loved microSD card slot these days, it is unlikely that these new Nexus phones will come with expandable storage, despite Android Marshmallow’s friendlier stance on microSD. Larger amounts of internal memory should help to satisfy the heavy media consumers out there, although we will have to accept a moderate mark up on the price tag for the extra storage space. We can probably expect 32GB, 64GB and 128GB options from Huawei.
Read on: Google Nexus 2015 rumor roundup (updated on September 19)
The source doesn’t mention anything about the new LG Nexus’ storage capacities. Given the slightly lower processing power rumor, we can probably expect the more typical 16GB and 32GB memory options here. A 64GB model would be nice too.
The new Nexus phones from Huawei and LG are expected to be unveiled in a little over on weeks’ time, at a Google event taking place on September 29th in San Francisco. Do you need as much storage space as possible in your smartphone?
Mid-range LG Class official, complete with metal body
LG has recently been teasing a new smartphone launch for September 21st and today, the Korean manufacturer has unwrapped its new mid-range LG Class smartphone. Rather than the flagship that many were hoping for, the LG Class is a mid-range device with premium specs and an affordable price that is set to be launched only in Korea.
LG in video:
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Looking at LG’s new device and we can see the Class features a 5-inch 720p IPS display with 1280 x 720 pixels resolution and 293 pixels per inch density. The display is quite interesting as LG have gone for a 2.5D curved glass panel but one thing that’s immediately off-putting about the LG Class is the unsightly bezels. The handset is powered by a quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 SoC clocked at 1.2GHz with an Adreno 306 GPU, 2GB LPDDR3 RAM and 16GB internal storage, which can be expanded up to an incredible 2TB using a microSD card.
Like many of LG’s smartphones, the LG Class comes with the power and volume keys on the back beneath the camera and just to the right of this, is the rather oddly-placed loud speaker. LG say this position doesn’t impact on the speaker quality and promise the 1W (watt) output offers ‘clear sound’. The camera itself is a 13MP premium image sensor as found in the LG G4 while the front camera is an 8MP snapper that comes equipped with a range of software features including Beauty SHot and Gesture Interval Shot. The latter is especially impressive as it lets you capture four images (2 seconds apart) just by holding up your hand and making a fist in front of the camera.
Other notable specs of the LG Class include 4G LTE support, a plethora of connectivity options and a 2,050 mAh battery; the battery especially is an interesting decision as – like some of its rivals – LG has sacrificed the removable battery in favour of an all-metal build and 7.4mm thickness. Is this the start of a trend that will see future LG flagship devices feature non-removable batteries and will LG finally deliver an all-metal flagship smartphone in the near future?
The LG Class is available today from a number of Korean carriers at a price of 399,300 won (approx. $340) and it comes in Blue Black, Silver or Gold colour options. LG has previously confirmed that its smartphone announced today will only be available in Korea which suggests we won’t see this handset released elsewhere but of course, we’ll let you know if we hear otherwise.
See also: LG G4 review: a phone that attempts to do everything
What do you think of the LG Class and do you want LG to release this handset in other markets around the world? Let us know your views in the comments below guys!
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 2: “the new flagship for youth” [Sponsored Post]
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If you haven’t heard about the Chinese smartphone manufacturer called Xiaomi before, you should probably start to pay attention. Xiaomi is the biggest manufacturer of smartphones in China, besting even Apple, most recently taking the top place away from them. One of Xiaomi’s most anticipated devices is its follow up to the original Xiaomi Redmi Note, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2, and that’s now available from a number of outlets – but first, some specs.
With a starting price of $169.75 USD for the 16GB version, you might expect performance similar to a Motorola Moto G – except that you’d be getting a 5.5-inch 1080p display, MediaTek Helio X10 octa-core 2GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and 3,060mAh battery. And for those who care, the battery is removable, there is room for expandable memory, and dual SIM cards. You’ll also get some decent cameras – 5MP on the front and 13MP on the back – and all this will be running on Android 5.0.
We mentioned before that you’ll be able to get the 16GB version for $169.75 USD, and the 32GB version can be had for $192.99 USD – and if you order from GearBest.com, you’ll also get free flat rate shipping too. These prices will only last for another two days, so if you’re intrigued by what you see, be sure to hit the links below:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 16GB, Black – $169.75 USD
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 16GB, White – $169.75 USD
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 32GB, Black – $192.99 USD
Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 32GB, White – $192.99 USD
What do you think about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: GearBest
The post The Xiaomi Redmi Note 2: “the new flagship for youth” [Sponsored Post] appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Citizen Mars, Episode Four: The detachment of attachment
Sue Ann, Mido, Adriana, Shradha and Pietro have made their decision — they want to help establish the first human colony on Mars. They know it’s a mission from which they won’t return, but that doesn’t make it any easier for friends and family to accept.
For some, what’s less difficult is other people. Sue Ann admits she doesn’t want kids. Adriana says she’s a robot. Will the future will be conquered by those with the fewest attachments to human beings?
The Citizen Mars series takes an in-depth look at five of the 100 finalists for the Mars One mission. In each episode we chart the progress of everyday people determined to be the first to colonise the red planet.
Through interviews and extensive vérité that spans Europe, Africa, Asia and the US, discover the obsession with the future, adventure and space that’s propelling them to leave everything — and everyone — behind.
Source: Citizen Mars
AIVAnet 