WSJ: IBM gives Chinese officials (limited) access to its source code
IBM has reportedly started holding demonstrations to show off an unspecified product’s source code to people outside the company — particularly to officials from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Asian superpower has been asking tech companies for access to their programs’ codes, which are typically closely guarded secrets, for quite some time. Apparently, it wants to make sure the US hasn’t installed backdoors on American-made software as a way to spy on its citizens.
But why has IBM decided to comply with the country’s demands while many other tech corporations (with President Obama’s blessing) continue to refuse? Chinese media has been reporting that it’s because Big Blue needs the government’s support to expand in the market, though that’s yet to be confirmed. An IBM spokesman clarified to Forbes that the company’s far from being the first to give in, claiming that Microsoft also allows Chinese officials to poke into its software. In addition, it was reported earlier this year that Apple gave China permission to look into what makes iOS tick.
To be clear, the company hasn’t given officials a copy of their source code or allowed them to examine it for an extended period of time. Instead, these demos are held inside a secure room with no internet or any other connection to the outside — IBM doesn’t want its technology stolen, after all. Further, officials can only test and examine the source code for limited periods, suggesting that this is really more of a symbolic gesture. This new demo program has also been launched in other countries besides China, though the report didn’t mention what those nations are.
[Image credit: Patrick H~/Flickr]
Via: The Verge
Source: The Wall Street Journal
Apple will fix your MacBook’s worn-out display coating
The Retina display on your MacBook or MacBook Pro is supposed to look gorgeous. However, some owners have encountered just the opposite — the screen’s anti-reflective coating is wearing out quickly due to pressure or stains, leaving them with an unsightly laptop (and in some cases, a repair bill). Relief is in sight, though. MacRumors understands that Apple has quietly launched a program that will replace the screens on Retina-equipped MacBook and MacBook Pro models for free until either October 16th, 2016 or three years from when you bought your system, whichever is longer. You’ll get compensation if you’ve already had to pay for a fix. Apple reportedly won’t advertise this program like it does in other cases, but that’s fine as long as it keeps your premium computer looking pristine.
[Image credit: Cody Yuwapun, Change.org]
Source: MacRumors
All drones in the USA may soon need to be registered
No longer do the skies only belong to the usual flying vehicles like airplanes and helicopters. The average citizen can now take off the ground thanks to the proliferation of affordable drones, of which many can be controlled with basic smartphones. But the spread of these new toys didn’t come without its negative effects. The situation has gotten serious enough that the USA government now feels the need to have all commercial drones registered with the Department of Transportation.
At least that is what a new report from NBC News claims. The company’s sources have it in good faith that the federal government is soon to announce a new plan requiring registration of any new drone purchased in the USA. The new law is rumored to be announced come Monday, while it won’t go into effect until Christmas time.
Why go through all this? Is it about privacy? Surely, we don’t want weirdos stalking our families, but that is not really the main reason why the government is going through this hassle. It seems this is mostly about safety. Airspace safety, to be more specific.
One too many close calls between airplanes and drones have occurred, something the federal government is getting worried about. NBC News mentions a specific event in which a drone and a commercial passenger airplane with 159 people on board flew about 100 feet away from each other. Safe distance is said to be at about 1000 feet, at the closest.
You don’t need to fly that high up to find trouble, though. It has also been reported that firefighters in California have encountered issues with drones trying to capture aerial shots of wild fires. These are an issue for emergency response helicopters and airplanes.
Overall, the government seems to be looking to enforce rules on irresponsible use of drones. Right now it’s very hard to stop drone owners from doing whatever they please. And even if they manage to retrieve a drone, it’s very hard to find out who the owner/operator is! Considering these can also be used for illegal activities (such as crossing drugs over borders), I wouldn’t say it’s a bad idea.
None of us like going to the DMV to register our usual vehicles, though, so this will surely become an annoyance to some. It’s another thing to worry about! But the process will likely be simpler… right?
What do you guys think of this? Is it better for the government to keep tabs of all drones? Are you against this idea? Hit the comments and share your own thoughts on this!
Microsoft’s 1TB Surface Book will cost you a hefty $3,199
Microsoft talked about the Surface Book having up to a 1TB solid-state drive when it announced the laptop/tablet hybrid, but you couldn’t actually buy it on launch — 512GB was as good as it got. Well, that extra-capacious model is now available for pre-order… and to no one’s surprise, it won’t come cheap. This ultimate configuration (which also includes a Core i7, 16GB of RAM and dedicated graphics) will cost you an eye-watering $3,199, which makes the $2,699 512GB model suddenly seem like a bargain. Not that there’s a rush to buy the 1TB version right away. This and most other Surface Book models won’t ship for another 7 to 8 weeks thanks to brisk demand, so you might as well think it over before you drain your bank account.
Via: Windows Central
Source: Microsoft Store
A small number of people are now testing Android Marshmallow on the Moto X Pure Edition
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A few weeks back, Motorola announced what devices would be getting the update to Android Marshmallow, however the question that most Motorola owners have been wondering is when the update is going to start rolling out. Well, if a post on Google+ by Motorola’s David Schuster is anything to go by, it would appear that a small number of people are already testing Android Marshmallow on the Moto X Pure Edition. However, Schuster was careful to clarify that this is not a soak test and that this testing would go for a few weeks before a soak test was started.
“There have been a couple reports of a Marshmallow “soak test” that has started for Moto X 2015 Pure Edition. Just want to make it clear that we have NOT started a formal “soak test”. We have started a small TestDrive for the Marshmallow upgrade on Moto X 2015 Pure Edition. We will be conducting these tests for the next couple of weeks. Pending the feedback during this test cycle will determine the timing of a full soak test.”
While it’s good to have visibility on Motorola’s update strategy, we can’t help but notice that Motorola is a sizeable step behind LG now in terms of update speed with LG announcing that its LG G4 would start being updated to Android Marshmallow by next week. Of course, the Moto X Pure Edition will still complete its update faster than the LG G4 thanks to a lack of carrier versions, but it’s a far cry from the days when Motorola would release its updates a mere few days after Google.
What do you think about Motorola’s update strategy? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Google+ via Droid-life
The post A small number of people are now testing Android Marshmallow on the Moto X Pure Edition appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Report: YouTube to show off originals for its subscription service
YouTube’s gearing up to reveal some of the programming it’s funding on October 21st during an event in Los Angeles, according to Recode. These new programs will reportedly feature a handful of its biggest stars, and Recode’s sources said that at least some of the content will only be accessible to future subscription customers. A new report published by The Wall Street Journal indicates that the service has just welcomed much bigger players, though. If it’s true, then YouTube has been able to convince Time Warner Inc.’s Turner cable unit, 21st Century Fox’s Fox Sports, A+E Networks Inc. and Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal to add some of their shows to the $10-per-month service. It’s also currently negotiating with Walt Disney Co.
Some of the companies apparently weren’t thrilled to sign the deal, as they believe they should get a bigger cut than ordinary YouTubers due to being bigger brands. (The WSJ noted that the creators that signed up to be part of the subscription offering will collectively get 55 percent of the revenue it generates.) However, YouTube allegedly threatened to cut them off entirely, even from the free version of the website, if they don’t participate. A previous Recode report claimed the 2-in-1 subscription option could be launched as soon as late October. That lines up with the upcoming event in LA, though YouTube hasn’t confirmed anything yet.
[Image credit: Rego – d4u.hu/Flickr]
Source: The Wall Street Journal, Recode
Motorola Droid Turbo 2 marketed with shatterproof screen, Moto Maker; MAXX 2 with 48 hour battery
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Yesterday, we allegedly got a look at the yet-to-be-announced Motorola Droid Turbo 2 thanks to case manufacturer Qmadix, and today we’re adding more to the puzzle that will hopefully be unveiled on October 27th. Thanks to some leaked marketing material, we get a look at not only the Droid Turbo 2 again, but also the Droid Maxx 2 and a few of the features that Verizon is going to be marketing for their exclusive handsets. The major feature for the Droid Maxx 2 appears to be 48 hour battery life, whereas for the Droid Turbo 2 it’s being marketed with a shatterproof screen and Moto Maker customization, the same as with Motorola‘s other recently announced handsets, the Moto X Style and Moto X Play.
There’s a note in the material that says that you can trade-in a phone – even if it has a cracked screen – towards the Droid Turbo 2 or Droid Maxx 2 for an amount up to $300. Presumably the newer the device you’re trading in, the more you’ll get for it. There’s also something about being allowed “one design refresh” if you buy the 64GB Droid Turbo 2 – we’re not sure about the logistics of this, but presumably you’ll be allowed to replace the coloured parts of your Droid Turbo 2 if you get tired of how it looks. All-in-all, it sounds like Verizon is working pretty hard to get you to get the Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2 with them – of course, we’ll have to wait till October 27th before all this is confirmed.
What do you think about these marketing materials? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Droid-life
The post Motorola Droid Turbo 2 marketed with shatterproof screen, Moto Maker; MAXX 2 with 48 hour battery appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google buys a panorama startup to bolster Street View
Think that Google Street View could use a fresh coat of paint? Google does, too. The search firm has just snapped up Digisfera, a Portugese startup whose specialty is making the most out of panoramic photos. The newly-acquired company isn’t saying exactly what it’ll do within the Street View team, but its work on some more ambitious projects may be a clue. It produced a giant tagged panorama at the 2014 World Cup, for example, and captured a sweeping view of President Obama’s inauguration.
As with many buyouts, some of Digisfera’s work is going away. Its tagging system (PanoTag) is shutting down on October 31st, and its panorama viewer (Marizpano) is going open source to preserve the underlying technology. However, you might not miss them too much if this deal leads to far more interactive Street View shots.
Via: VentureBeat
Source: Digisfera
Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week – October 17, 2015
As we patiently wait for our new Nexus handsets to arrive, we managed to bring you a number of great reviews, hands-on and unboxing videos this week.
This week, Lanh brought you a detailed comparison of the Moto X Style vs the iPhone 6S Plus, while Josh published his reviews of the Moto 360 (2nd Gen.), Huawei Watch and his impressions on the Moto X Style. Gary also unboxed the Sony Xperia Z5 Compact on Periscope, and you don’t want to miss it! Here are the videos you don’t want to miss this week.
Flagships going head to head
Motorola Moto X Style (Pure Edition) vs iPhone 6s Plus
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Motorola’s Moto X Style (or Pure Edition) is one hell of an Android smartphone. Just how does it compare to the latest large-screened handset from Apple? We find out, in this detailed comparison between the Moto X Style and the iPhone 6s Plus.
Android Wear reviews
Motorola Moto 360 (2nd Gen.) review
Last year when the first-generation Moto 360 launched, it didn’t really have a whole lot of competition in the round smartwatch space. And a year later, we’re taking a look at the brand new Moto 360 (2nd Gen). Does it still stand out from the crowd? Josh finds out.
Huawei Watch review
Huawei’s long-awaited Android Wear smartwatch is finally here! Wondering how it fares against the competition? Take a look at Josh’s full review for more info.
A second opinion
Motorola Moto X Style (Pure Edition) – second opinion
Lanh has already brought you his full review of the Moto X Style (Pure Edition), but what about a second opinion? Josh gives us his thoughts on Motorola’s latest flagship.
Meet our newest team member!
One of the newest members of our video team is Krystal Lora, and she’s here to tell you a little bit about herself.
Live on Periscope
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A few weeks ago we brought you a live unboxing of the Xperia Z5 from Periscope, and now it’s time to take the wraps off the smaller Z5 device. Check out Gary’s detailed unboxing and first impressions of the Xperia Z5 Compact.
Android Apps Weekly
Minion’s Paradise, Waze rates driving, Kanye hates IAPs – you don’t want to miss Joe’s newest episode of Android Apps Weekly!
OnePlus’ upcoming smartphone
OnePlus X – What to expect?
We’ve known about it for some time, and it’s finally starting to leak out. What can we expect from OnePlus’ upcoming smartphone? Jayce speculates.
Motorola Droid Turbo 2 and Maxx 2 features and promotions confirmed in leak
Verizon is gearing up for an October 27th Droid event, but you can bet we won’t have to wait until then to read all the details. Today we are taking a look at a leak of an official Verizon pamphlet. It tells us quite a bit about the new Droid Turbo 2 and Droid Maxx 2 from Motorola, as well as some promotions Big Red will be holding. Shall we dig right in?
Motorola Droid Maxx 2
The carrier is quick to advertise the stunning 48 hours of battery life the Motorola Droid Maxx 2 is supposed to tout. Though that is a hard promise to keep, the Droid Maxx 2 is said to come with a 3630 mAh battery, which is pretty hefty, in and of itself. Now factor in the that this is to be pretty much another version of the Moto X Play with mid-end specs, such as a Snapdragon 615, 2 GB of RAM and a 5.5-inch 1080p display. This resource-friendly device will definitely last a while!
Not convinced by the killer battery life? Verizon is trying to lure customers by offering some sweet deals. In the case of the Droid Maxx 2, you will be able to get up to $300 of credit for trading in your old smartphone.
Also read:
Motorola Droid Turbo 2
Want something a bit stronger? The Motorola Droid Turbo 2 is not only said to come with more powerful specs, it will literally be stronger than your average phone. Motorola claims this phone has the “world’s first shatterproof screen”. Now, that promise will be hard to keep! And it’s still unsure what, exactly, Motorola is doing to accomplish this. For now we will just say we won’t believe it until we see it.
Rumored specs include a powerful Snapdragon 810 SoC, a 5.43-inch QHD display, 3 GB of RAM, 32/64 GB of internal storage and a massive 3760 mAh battery. Sounds familiar, right? Yes, it’s pretty much another version of the Moto X Pure (Style).
And while we are on the topic of shattering screens, Verizon is tying this theme into its promotion. In similar fashion, you can turn in any smartphone to get up to $300 in credit; even one with a cracked screen! To make the deal even sweeter, Motorola and Verizon are offering one design refresh with the purchase of a 64 GB Droid Turbo 2.
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Wrapping up
Pretty sweet stuff, right? Hang tight. The announcement is right around the corner and we will soon know all about this phone due. Meanwhile, hit the comments and let us know which of these two you are going for. Are you liking what you see?
AIVAnet 