Google CEO Sundar Pichai assigns Hiroshi Lockheimer as head of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast
Google’s new business model was sure to result in plenty of changes around the company’s headquarters. While plenty of Google subsidiaries are breaking up to become their own projects (Alphabet), Google will continue thriving under the leadership of new CEO Sundar Pichai. The dust is starting to settle and it’s time to assign chores around the house, and that is exactly what Pichai has done.
The Search Giant’s Chief Executive Officer has promoted a few of vice presidents to higher roles. Neal Mohan is now Senior Vice President of Display and Video Advertising. Phillip Schindler is also taking on a new role as SVP of Global Sales and Operations.
More importantly (to us, at least) is the new position Hiroshi Lockheimer is taking on. He was just assigned to look over our favorite mobile OS, as well as a couple other projects. Surely, jotting down “SVP of Android, Chrome OS and Chromecast” on a resume is no small feat. And it just so happens to be a position Sundar Pichai is very close to, as he used to be SVP of Android, Chrome and Apps.
Moving forward, we are all but guaranteed to be hearing a lot from Hiroshi, a person most of you probably don’t know much about just yet. He is no small timer at Google, though. Lockheimer has been int he company since 2006, and has been acting as VP of Android until this promotion. Lockheimer is a key player in dealing with falling profits and expanding onto new platforms (automotive, wearables, IoT, etc.).
Some new faces are about to start showing up at announcements, guys! It’s pretty exciting, but more exciting is thinking about the changes this new leadership can bring. We are sure Sundar made smart choices here, so we are excited to see what comes out of this, as well as Alphabet.
Kanye West hates in-app purchases in kids games as much as you do
In-app purchases are every parent’s nightmare. You don’t want to hand a smartphone or tablet to your kids and later find out the little monsters made a hellish amount of unwanted acquisitions. Google has actually gotten in trouble for this in the past, which is likely why they are so much about allowing users to authenticate all purchases.
Things get even more frustrating when you realize some games made for kids have in-app purchases! Why would any developer do that, right? Who is to be held accountable is a debate for another day, but the idea of an app which was designed for minors having in-app purchases makes any parent cringe.
Kanye West happens to feel your pain, and he is very vocal about it!
Fuck any game company that puts in-app purchases on kids games!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
That makes no sense!!! We give the iPad to our child and every 5 minutes there’s a new purchase!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
If a game is made for a 2 year old, just allow them to have fun and give the parents a break for Christ sake. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
Now, we have to assume Kanye is using an iPad, as he mentions the specific device in one of his tweets. There are certainly ways to block in-app purchases on iOS devices, but of course, we won’t talk about that here. Instead, we will tell Kanye and every parent out there what to do to make sure kids don’t make unwanted purchases on Android! You know, just in case our fellow Android enthusiasts need some help with this!
By the way, Mr. West, you may want to consider switching to Android! Not only is it super easy to control in-app purchases, but each and every single app designed for kids 12 and under requires authentication with all in-app purchases.
Also read:
How to turn on authentication on your Android smartphone or tablet!
This process is as simple as pie. Just head over to the Google Play Store and pull out the hamburger (three lines) menu. Tap on Settings and select “Require authentication for purchases”. You will be presented with 3 options: the first requires authentication for all purchases, the second requests it after 30 minutes of inactivity and the third option turns off authentication for purchases.
Conclusion
That was easy, right? It sure would be simpler if kids games didn’t have in-app purchases, but the sad part is that these are going nowhere, as we told you some years ago. At least Google allows us to keep control over purchases, though (not that that would stop all kids). http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
Windows 10 didn’t stop PC sales from dropping this summer
Windows 10 may have breathed new life into your PC, but it didn’t do anything to juice PC sales this summer. Both Gartner and IDC estimate that computer sales dropped several points year-over-year (between 7.7 and 10.8 percent) in the third quarter, right when the new Windows arrived. That’s one of the steeper drops in recent memory, in fact. Not that it comes as a complete surprise. As the analyst firms explain, Microsoft’s fast-tracked release left many PC makers shipping existing systems with Windows 10, which weren’t going to drive demand as much as brand new models. You’re not going to buy a months-old laptop just because it’s running new software, are you? The big question is whether or not the wave of new Windows 10 PCs launching this fall will make a difference — if there’s still a sharp decline, the industry is really in trouble.
The new platform wasn’t the only factor at work, of course. The researchers blame the downturn on a combination of a stronger US dollar (which hiked PC prices in many other countries) and a transition away from old Windows 8 PCs. Some vendors fared better than others, though. As a rule, big-name brands like Apple, Dell, HP and Lenovo (the market leader) have emerged relatively unscathed — it’s the smaller, more vulnerable companies that are shedding legions of customers. Even Acer and ASUS saw sales plunge by over 10 percent. It’s too soon to say if Windows 10 will stop the bleeding, but the days of booming computer businesses appear to be long gone.
[Image credit: AP Photo/Jeff Chiu]
HTC One A9 dummy leaks in super clear images
The HTC One A9 continues to be the most rumored device coming from the Taiwanese manufacturer. Though we were all hoping for a September 29th unveiling, that day was all about the HTC One M9+ Supreme Camera edition and the Butterfly 3. And so our quest for the hottest One A9 rumors continues; today we have a pretty neat leak for you, so let’s dig right in.
Rumor celebrity @OnLeaks has come across some super clear images of an HTC One A9 dummy. These may not be ground-breaking in terms of new information or design elements, but it sure is the best glimpse of the device we have ever encountered.
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This specific version bears the AT&T logo, which suggests an obvious relation to the carrier. Everything else looks as expected. The HTC One A9 adopts a sleek design that is now iconic of the manufacturer’s handsets. There’s a fingerprint reader below the screen and an SD card slot for those who have been begging for the standard’s revival.
The most recent rumored specs come from Evan Blass, who claims the phone will feature a Snapdragon 617 processor, a 5-inch 1080p display, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of internal storage, a 13 MP rear camera, a 4 UltraPixel front shooter and a 2150 mAh battery. We are not quite sure about those details, though, as previous rumors also suggested this phone would be much more powerful. As always, these continue to be rumors, so don’t hold your breath on any of these details.
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Regardless, more information should be coming soon enough, whenever the phone is announced. For now, all we can do is enjoy today’s leaked images.
What do you guys think about the phone’s looks? This seems like it will be a great mid-end smartphone for those who want a good looking device, without having to worry about the price that comes attached to high-end gadgets.
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The Archos ans SIKUR GranitePhone is the latest secure smartphone to hit the airwaves
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Security is the name of the game these days and there quite a few devices popping up in the rather niche industry of super-secure smartphones – the Blackphone and Turing Phone immediately come to mind. There is now a new challenger in this space from a rather unlikely manufacturer – Archos. The French manufacturer has had some interesting ideas over the years, but nothing has really stuck – we guess a secure smartphone was the logical next step. Teaming up with SIKUR (get it? secure), who specializes in secure corporate communication apps, Archos have created the GranitePhone, but will it rock your world? (I couldn’t help myself)
While the operating system is technically Android, it’s been completely repackaged as Granite OS and offers a number of secure features which will keep the security-savvy happy. As for specifications, the GranitePhone will run a Snapdragon 615, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage with a 5-inch 1080p display and a 2,700mAh. It’s not exactly anything to write home about, that battery looks positively pedestrian by current standards and when you couple in the $850 USD asking price, you get a device that doesn’t really seem worth its while – then again, the assurance of security is priceless for some.
What do you think about the GranitePhone? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: GranitePhone via Android Police
The post The Archos ans SIKUR GranitePhone is the latest secure smartphone to hit the airwaves appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Unity Engine working to keep years of browser games alive
One of the big factors to game engine Unity’s success is that for awhile it ran on basically any platform be it Oculus, PS Vita or home consoles like the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. But according to the developer, recent moves by the likes of Google, Microsoft and Mozilla are going to put an end to that. The latest version of Chrome doesn’t have support for a specific plugin (NPAPI, specifically) that the Unity Web Player relies on, and Unity says that Firefox’s support for plugins is going the way of the buffalo while Edge isn’t supporting them at all. Most everything is moving toward WebGL these days.
So what’s that mean for the countless number of browser-based games that rely on Unity Web Player to function? For now you’re going to have to use an older version of your favorite browser that still plays nicely with NPAPI. Unity for its part says that it’s working to figure out “alternative technical solutions” to keep the games running. “Unity deeply understands the importance and historical relevance of Web Player powered games, and keeping this back catalogue of games playable is something we care about,” company blogger Jonas Echterhoff writes.
The game industry still hasn’t come up with a way to preserve its history properly — an HD remake of a quirky browser game likely isn’t going to happen — so it’s refreshing to see Unity take proactive steps to keep the wealth of games floating around the web up and running. It’s the exact opposite of what Adobe is doing in the face of killing off Flash and its bevy of titles, and honestly, Unity should be commended for it. After all, we shouldn’t accept the first game by John Carmack’s son disappearing forever. On a related note, Kotaku has a great piece on the impending doom of Flash-based games and you should definitely check it out.
Via: Gamasutra
Source: Unity
There is now an unofficial way to get Android Marshmallow on the Nexus 4
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When it was announced the that Nexus 4 wasn’t going to get Android Marshmallow, many users hanging onto their aging Nexus phone were understandably disappointed, but given the community support that Nexus devices generally have, it’s not like it was ever going to miss out. Case in point, one Dmitry Grinberg has released a guide on how to get Android Marshmallow on the Nexus 4 – note though that it’s not the standard straightforward method of flashing an images; it does require some basic Android modding know-how. If in doubt, just take a look at the guide and see whether or not the instructions make sense.
As far as we can tell, the method detailed by Grinberg appears to be very stable and has had standard functionality tested, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, cellular and the camera, all apparently working. However, as with all modding activity, there’s a very real chance that things will still be buggy and thing will go wrong, so don’t expect the three-year-old Nexus 4 to run everything perfectly.
What do you think about this method to get Android Marshmallow on the Nexus 4? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Dmitry Grinberg via Phones Arena
The post There is now an unofficial way to get Android Marshmallow on the Nexus 4 appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Huawei and NTT DOCOMO reach 3.6 Gbps data speeds in first large-scale 5G trials
4G speeds have changed everything for mobile users. LTE is often faster than your average home connection, something that continues to impress most people. The industry sure isn’t stopping there, though. We are moving fast and Japan aims to bring 5G speeds to its citizens soon. What does 5G exactly entail, though?
While we think we are happy enough with our 4G LTE blazing data, what 5G is set to offer is really something we can’t quite grasp yet. We may think – sure, higher data speeds… but those who have been keeping up with the development of 5G technology will know the improvement between 4G and 5G will be colossal.
Huawei and NTT DOCOMO have recently partnered to test 5G wireless data at a large scale, using sub-6GHz bands. It’s a very special occurrence, given that the whole test was done in a public place, unlike previous experiments, which are usually conducted in a lab.
After putting advanced 5G technology to work and running all the trials, Huawei and Japan’s largest carrier managed to reach peak speeds of 3.6 Gbps. To put that into perspective, Open Signal’s data shows that the fastest average 4G LTE speeds come from Spain at 18 Mbps. This would make these 5G speeds about 200 faster than current networks can handle!
Also worth noting is that currently one of the best options for home (not wireless) internet is Google Fiber, which offers 1 Gbps. And those are speeds we are already impressed by. Now multiply that by 3.6 and make it wireless – the future looks very promising!
Huawei is really pushing 5G and aims start launching its first network pilots by 2018. Interoperability testing would continue in 2019, with a commercial launch coming in 2020. I don’t know about you guys, but I am definitely waiting for my share of 5G.
The only question left is – what would we do with so much data availability? While services keep evolving, I doubt they can transform quick enough to really warrant a need for 3.6 Gbps on a smartphone. Maybe if you want to download 4K content in a jiffy. Hit the comments and let us know how a 3.6 Gbps would benefit you!
Twitter’s returning CEO is reportedly planning layoffs
Twitter’s ‘new’ permanent CEO only took the reins five days ago, but he already appears bent on cleaning house. Sources for both the New York Times and Recode understand that Jack Dorsey is planning layoffs that could start as soon as October 13th. While it’s unclear how many people will lose their jobs, Recode understands that this is part of an attempt to streamline an engineering team that has become “bloated.” Tipsters had already claimed that Twitter was freezing the expansion of its San Francisco headquarters, but Dorsey would be taking that cost-cutting to a new level.
The company isn’t commenting on the rumors. However, job cuts wouldn’t come as a surprise. Although Twitter is improving its bottom line, there’s purportedly a sense among insiders that the firm’s programming team is bigger than it should be given the company’s growth. Twitter has doubled its headcount in the past two years, but has ‘only’ added 50 percent more users — it’s not getting a great return on its investment. Whatever the reasons, the layoffs would be consistent with Dorsey’s very public desire for greater focus at a company that’s seemingly willing to try anything and everything in the name of making money.
[Image credit: Justin Tallis/AFP Photo/Getty Images]
Via: Wall Street Journal
Source: Recode, New York Times
Kanye West has had it with in-app purchases
Ever been glancing through your bank statement and notice charges for in-app purchases you don’t recall making, only to find out that it was the child you gave your phone or tablet to? Kanye West was a victim of this last night, and took to Twitter to let out his grievances.
Suffice to say, Kanye West has had it with in-app purchases.
That makes no sense!!! We give the iPad to our child and every 5 minutes there’s a new purchase!!!
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
Kanye West’s daughter, North, just wanted to upgrade her game with a few in-app purchases, but West questions the theory behind such extra purchases in games designed for children.
If a game is made for a 2 year old, just allow them to have fun and give the parents a break for Christ sake.
— KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) October 10, 2015
While the incident happened on an iPad, issues like these are just as common to Android. Luckily both Android and iOS have security measures users can put in place to block any purchasing without a password. Maybe Kanye should consider looking into some of those settings before North strikes again.
Have you ever had a horrible incident with in-app purchases?
source: Kanye West (Twitter), (2)
via: Re/Code
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