California police use these biometric scanners
Police are increasingly turning to biometric tech in the field. It’s supposed to help cops verify the identity of suspects, but there’s a real concern that they could abuse this to get personal details on record — and the Electronic Frontier Foundation wants you to know when this hardware might come into play. The rights group has published a report detailing the biometric scanners in use by California law enforcement, and they’re in more widespread use than you might think. Mobile fingerprint readers are in use at several departments, and face recognition is getting traction. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is using tattoo recognition, and some police departments are looking into iris scanning.
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation
Google Maps for iOS Updated With Spoken Traffic Alerts
Google today updated its Google Maps app to version 4.12, adding spoken traffic alerts in navigation mode as well as the ability to easily add new or missing businesses from the app’s sidebar.
Spoken traffic alerts will tell users about traffic congestion and incidents on a user’s route. Additionally, users will get traffic descriptions summarizing traffic conditions before they set off on their journey. The feature is similar to Google-owned Waze’s notifications, which also verbally points out traffic congestion, incidents and the location of police in the area.
Google Maps is a universal app available for free in the App Store. [Direct Link]
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tvOS 9.1 Code Hints at iOS-Like Folder Support for New Apple TV
Yesterday, Apple seeded the first beta of tvOS 9.1 to developers, the first software update to tvOS 9.0. While the release notes didn’t indicate any big new features, developer Steve Troughton-Smith has explored the code and found that HeadBoard, tvOS’ UI, includes support for folders.
Image via Steve Troughton-Smith
Folders on tvOS currently work in a similar way to iOS, notes Troughton-Smith. A user would just have to drag one app over the other to create a folder. Users would also have the ability to rename folders. Troughton-Smith was able to activate the folders using the LLDB software debugger. The folders appear to use a 3 x 3 layout and sit alongside apps on the Apple TV’s home screen, just like folders do in iOS.
Oh hey. Nailed it. 😎 pic.twitter.com/Be1Oc7SbaU
— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) November 5, 2015
http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
In recent days, Apple has been updating the Apple TV’s new App Store with Top Charts and Categories for better discoverability. However, those updates were server-side updates that didn’t require users to update their software. Folder support would require a software update, but it’s unclear which software update Apple would enable it in. Last year, iOS 8 code pointed to split-screen multitasking, but the feature didn’t become official until iOS 9 almost a year alter.
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Samsung CEO has called for a change in culture at Korean manufacturer
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Yesterday, we heard an analyst predict that Samsung would exit the smartphone business in 5 years because it was suffering from the phenomenon known as “The Innovator’s Dilemma” – it was suggested that Samsung has failed to innovate for future consumer needs, rather than current consumer needs. As it turns out, Samsung is aware of the strife it is in and most recently, Kwon Oh-hyun the Samsung CEO has called for a change in culture at the manufacturer. Kwon said:
“We should adapt ourselves to the new environment instead of sticking to our success in the past. I believe now is the time for us to turn ourselves into a first mover from a fast follower.”
This might just be where the rumours of an extreme downsizing of Samsung’s workforce is coming from as the company is looking to streamline the company and improve efficiency. The previous figure of 30% was also confirmed by Business Korea who originally reported this story, though they are calling it relocation rather than strictly lay-offs. Either way, it looks like Samsung has had enough with all its losses and wants to find a way to take its Android crown for good.
What do you think about Samsung changing its culture? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: Business Korea via Phandroid
The post Samsung CEO has called for a change in culture at Korean manufacturer appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Google Maps for iOS speaks out traffic warnings while you drive
If you’re carrying an iPhone, Google Maps just got much more helpful in those moments when you’re determined to avoid gridlock. As on Android, Maps’ iOS app now speaks out traffic warnings in navigation mode. You’ll get a verbal summary of conditions before you start moving, and alerts for any congestion or crashes while you’re on your way. Is this a simple addition? You bet — but it could mean a lot if it helps you take a detour.
Source: App Store
Sony’s A7 II camera gets a faster and more accurate autofocus
The Sony A7 II is one of the best mirrorless cameras available right now, although it isn’t perfect. After trying it out earlier this year, one of our main issues with the full-frame shooter was its autofocus performance, which was at times slow and unreliable. But Sony has an update coming soon that, along with bringing a new feature, promises to fix some of these woes. In addition to activating the phase detection AF on the A7 II, the company’s also turning on support for uncompressed 14-bit RAW image capture — something that already exists in models such as the A7S II, A7R II and RX1R II. You can grab the refreshed firmware, version 2.0, on November 18th from Sony’s support website.
Source: Sony
Google is relaxing Android One guidelines to try and capture the Indian market with new phone
Android One was Google’s great idea for capturing emerging markets with cheap smartphones. On paper, it’s a fantastic idea. In reality, it hasn’t really done so well. Google is sticking with it, though, and they’re taking a slightly more hands off approach for their upcoming devices.
Google has partnered with Lava International Ltd. to create a new, cheap device to lead Android One devices in India. We’ve been hearing rumors about a sub-$50 Android One handset on the horizon, and it sounds like this could be that device. This new device will supposedly give a little more freedom to Lava, and subsequently, other Android One OEMs, in an effort to bring a little more variety to the program to give it the shot in the arm it needs to be successful.
Currently, Google mandates many specific requirements on Android One devices, which include forcing manufacturers to buy certain components from limited manufacturers, and that it makes it difficult for some OEMs to differentiate from other devices. Android devices are a dime a dozen all over the world, and they all need some kind of unique feature to really stick out from the competition. This guaranteed a certain level of quality, but it hurt profit margins and slowed down new devices. With Google taking a more hands-off approach here, we’ll likely see tons of new Android One devices trying many different things.
India is a key market for tons of manufacturers, and Google has a personal interest in getting as many people online as possible to use Google services like Gmail and YouTube. We’ve seen tons of growth in India recently, especially in the budget-friendly, large screen sector of the market. This is exactly the kind of market that Android One was created to capture, and with a refreshed take on the program Google stands to gain some ground in India with more Android devices.
source: Wall Street Journal
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LG G4 Marshmallow update arrives to South Korea, global rollout soon?
Historically LG hasn’t always been the best at quick Android updates, but we’ve seen them put a lot more effort into speedier upgrades over the last few years. This is especially true with Marshmallow, which already hit the LG G4 for users in Poland towards the end of last month. Of course, testing out a Marshmallow update in a non-major market is one thing, rolling out to a major region is another. How long before G4 owners will see Android 6.0 on a wider scale? If the update’s arrival to South Korea is any indication, soon.
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The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update has now begun hitting users in Korea, though its arrival in LG’s home country will happen in phases over the next several weeks. Considering South Korea has a much larger number of LG users than Poland, this hopefully indicates that LG was satisfied with the performance of its initial rollout and will (again, hopefully) begin to ramp things up a bit.
While we can’t say who is next for sure, odds are it is only a matter of time before the update makes its way over to a wider range of European and Asian countries. More than likely, the North American market will probably be the last to see the update, likely due to the slowdowns involved with dealing with carriers in the US and Canada.
See also: Android 6.0 Marshmallow – New features explained
As for what’s new in the update? Due to the heavily skinned nature of LG’s UI, we wouldn’t expect much different on the “looks front”. Under the hood, however, Marshmallow brings doze mode for improved battery life, better microSD support, better permissions management, and much more.
For those that have already got the update – in South Korea or Poland, for that matter – what do you think so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Evernote adds sketching and split-screen features on iOS
Sketching has been available in Evernote’s Penultimate app for quite some time, but now the company’s main productivity app is handling your scribbles on its own. With an update for its iOS apps, Evernote now lets you sketch notes with a Jot stylus or Apple Pencil and stores them for safekeeping. What’s more, if your input device of choice supports 3D Touch, you’ll notice the line weight vary based on how much pressure you apply. You can also adjust the line thickness manually between five settings and choose between 10 color options. When you’re done, those drawings sync just like any other Evernote entry and the app’s handwriting recognition makes those scribbles searchable, should the need arise. The new version of the app also delivers split-screen multi-tasking that’s made possible by iOS 9, so long as you’re using it on a iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, or iPad Mini 4. Ready to give it a go? The update is available now from the App Store.
Source: Evernote
Mobile apps share a lot more of your data than you think
You’re probably well aware that many mobile apps want to share your data. They need your email address to set up an account, or your location to tag your photos. However, a research team has discovered that at least some of that software is sharing more than you might be comfortable with. On average, 110 Android and iOS apps sent data to three separate internet domains. That’s not necessarily a problem by itself, but that info sometimes goes to places you’d rather not send it (say, medical search terms sent to marketers). Also, this info sometimes arrives in combinations that could be used to track your behavior, like your name and location.
Via: Ars Technica
Source: Technology Science
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