Alphabet posts revenue of $26 billion as hardware unit gains momentum

Alphabet’s Other Bets are starting to pay off.

Google’s parent company Alphabet posted Q4 2016 earnings of $26 billion, an increase of 22% from the $21.3 billion it netted during the same period in 2015. Profits also saw a healthy increase to $5.3 billion, up $300 million from last quarter.

With $22.4 billion coming in from advertising, search and YouTube ads continue to be the main driver for Alphabet. As usual, Google led the way with overall revenue of $25.8 billion and profits of $7.8 billion. What’s particularly interesting is the revenue from Google’s non-advertising business — Google Play, Google Cloud, and the hardware unit, which exceeded $3.4 billion. Google didn’t provide a breakdown of how each individual business unit performed, but it’s clear that the company’s hardware and cloud push is gaining momentum.

Without revealing sales figures, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said that the company was “thrilled” with the performance of the Pixel. The phone has certainly exceeded expectations, with Google struggling to meet demand three months after launch.

Alphabet’s Other Bets are also starting to bear fruit. Revenue from its moonshots increased to $262 million, up from $150 million in Q4 2015. Operating loss also came down by 10% to $1.09 billion.

Is sideloading APK files considered piracy?

Is sideloading an Android app considered piracy? Yes. No. Maybe. It depends.

Recently, we got a question from someone new to Android about sideloading apps. For the most part, this isn’t something you do (or can do) on iOS and seeing people in the comments of articles here and elsewhere about getting APK files online and sideloading them was a little confusing. Along with some confirmation about the hows and the whys, the meat of the question centered around piracy.

Let’s start by explaining what an APK is for the people who aren’t quite sure. Technonerd jargon aside, an APK file holds the contents of an Android app; inside it is everything needed to install and use the app as long as it’s built with support for your phone. This APK file is stand-alone and can be downloaded to your phone’s storage. Clicking on it will install it once you’ve given permission to install apps from Unknown sources (downloaded from somewhere that’s not the Play Store). You’ll find APK files hosted in plenty of places on the web. The act of installing an app using this APK method is called ‘sideloading’.

Sideloading doesn’t mean stealing. There are plenty of legitimate reasons to get an app that’s not from Google’s Play Store.

Finding them and installing them is simple. And there are plenty of good reasons to do things this way — using an alternative app store like Amazon or F-Droid, or even MiKandi (NSFW) comes to mind. There are also plenty of not-so-good reasons to do it, like pirating paid apps and games. The more difficult part is the grey area that emerges when you want a free app that is regularly distributed through the Play Store, but rolls out slowly.

Without getting into a discussion about software piracy and morality, it’s safe to say that using any app without a license to do so is definitely piracy. But that’s not the entire picture. When the newest Google Something app is released that does something new and everyone wants it, the APK file for it gets spread around liberally. You’ll find people here talking about it and where to get it, and the same goes for most any other Android blog or social space where Android users talk to each other.

It’s pretty obvious that Google isn’t concerned about it or they would find a way to shut down the distribution of such files. They push updates for their apps out slowly so they can monitor for bugs with a manageable sample size. It’s easier to stop things and fix them for a few users than it is for a billion users. The want everyone on the planet to be using that app in the long run. Technically, though, it’s piracy because you only have a license to use the app if you downloaded it from Google Play on that device.

And wait forever to get to try it unless you sideload it

Things get even murkier. Every developer who uploads an app into Google Play is doing so under Google’s rules. Those rules go both ways and one of them says Google will allow a developer to decide which devices can install his or her app and Google will only let those devices download and install it.

Someone downloading an app then pulling it from their phone to share with others is the complete opposite of that. A developer might care. I know some do because they have told me. Not because they don’t want everyone to have a copy of their app but because sometimes an app runs poorly on a particular brand of Android phones or a particular model. So yes, this is technically piracy, too.

The answer to the piracy question is up to the developer and the publisher. That means it’s confusing.

The simple answer to this one — is sideloading an app considered piracy? — is yes, if you didn’t pay for it and should have, or it wasn’t approved for use where you are or on your phone, or is only supposed to be available through Google Play.

A better question (that gives the answer we’re looking for) is, How much does it matter for free apps that I would have downloaded anyway once available?

That one’s between you and the people who developed it. As for what I think? I do it. I don’t just grab an app from someone I don’t know or a site that anyone can upload to because of security concerns, but I’ll install the latest Google gotta-have-it app for my Pixel if someone gets it first. I know Google isn’t going to mind if another nerd installs an app that turns out bad. I don’t do it for apps from another developer, though. I respect whatever reason they have to not let me install it the “right” way and move on to a different app.

What about you?

Now I’m curious. Not counting apps from Google, what do you do? Shout out in the comments and tell us what you think. No judging. Just looking for honest feedback.

Got a question for AC? Ask Jerry in the forums!

A budget Blackberry could be on the way, but with a catch

Blackberry’s new flagship, currently codenamed Mercury, is set for a full unveiling at Mobile World Congress, following a preview at CES back in January. But if a leak from Twitter user @rquant is to be believed, the company will have a budget phone in tow as well, but before you get your hopes up, there could be a slight caveat.

• Blackberry Mercury preview: Fingerprint scanner and QWERTY keyboard for BB’s next flagship

The mysterious phone is currently codenamed BBC100-1 and features specs that firmly place it in the low-end category.

For starters there’s said to be a 5.5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 425 processor with 4GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Battery life could be quite good though, since there’s expected to be a 3,000mAh battery, along with dual-SIM support, 13-megapixel and 8MP rear- and front-facing cameras respectively.

But, about that catch we mentioned. This potentially budget device is thought to Blackberry’s joint BB Merah Putih venture. This venture, according to Venture Beat, has been set up in Indonesia and is said to be lead by PT Tiphone, which is an affiliate of Telkomsel, one of Indonesia’s biggest mobile networks. 

BB Merah Putih will “source, distribute and market Blackberry devices in Indonesia”. It will also have access to Blackberry’s software and produce new devices locally in Indonesia. It’s therefore possible that this new device, if real, will be reserved for Indonesia only.

• Mobile World Congress 2017: Nokia, Sony, Huawei smartphones and more

With any luck we’ll hear more information about the device at Mobile World Congress at the end of February.

What is Bluetooth 5 and what does it offer?

Bluetooth is found in all manner of devices as a means of communicating with each other. Think smartphone connecting to smartwatch, music player connecting to wireless headphones and even Internet of Things and smarthome devices.

• Internet of Things explained: What is it, and can it really change the world?

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has now adopted a new Bluetooth 5 format that will introduce a raft of improvements over the current 4-series standard. And because the Bluetooth SIG has set out the specification for Bluetooth 5, manufacturers can now implement it in their devices, the SIG says within the next 2 to 6 months, so we can expect it to feature in the new wave of 2017 smartphones.

But what improvements will Bluetooth 5 offer? Allow us to tell all.

What is Bluetooth 5?

Bluetooth 5 claims to have four times the range of the current standard, v4.2, so while at the moment you may put a pair of wireless headphones on at home and want to move around the house, or connect to some Bluetooth speakers, the signal will likely drop out if you move too far away. With Bluetooth 5 that should no longer be the case. 

The new standard will also transfer data at double the speed of v4.2, from 1Mbps to 2Mbps and the capacity of data broadcasts will increase 800 per cent. The Bluetooth SIG says the increase in data will allow for “improved and more context relevant solutions”.

But, there is a slight catch, in that you won’t be able to get increased range and increased speed at the same time. The Bluetooth SIG explains it as being like a lever, where you can choose one or the other, depending on the application. A firmware update for example will benefit from increased speed, whereas smart home devices will benefit from an increased range so they can talk to each other. 

How will Bluetooth 5 change the Internet of Things?

And the Internet of Things is a market that will heavily benefit from the new format. 

The increased range means Bluetooth 5 will be able to connect an entire home, flat or even small buildings. Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG said: “Bluetooth is revolutionising how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilising the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience”.

When Powell refers to beacons, he is talking about indoor navigation in areas such as shopping centres. Some shopping centres already offer this service, but with Bluetooth 5, tracking your location inside will be more accurate than before. 

With the extra range on offer with Bluetooth 5, devices around the home will be able to talk to each other a lot more easily than before. Mark Powell sees this as a crucial time to introduce Bluetooth 5, as the technology is expected to be in one-third of all IoT devices by 2020. The Bluetooth SIG estimates there will be 13.9 billion wireless product shipments in the same time frame.

He even sees commercial, outdoor and industrial uses being ideal markets for the new protocol.

When will I be able to use Bluetooth 5?

With any luck, very soon. Device manufacturers are being encouraged to implement the new standard in their products already, so hopefully we will see it rolled out with the new wave of smartphones, possibly at Mobile World Congress as well as new smart home products.

You don’t need to worry about replacing your current Bluetooth devices though, as Bluetooth 5 is backwards compatible. The low-energy version of the format will work with any Bluetooth device running version 4.0 – 4.2 and that also has a low-energy option. However to take full advantage of the new services Bluetooth 5 provides, you will need to make sure your kit is up to date.

Toyota GT86 (2017) review: Coupe a load of that

It’s -15C. Yep, minus fifteen degrees centigrade. And we’re stood staring at the brand new Toyota GT86 – which positively radiates its warm blood red coat of paint against the snowy Finnish backdrop – wondering what on earth could possibly go wrong when drifting a rear-wheel drive car around an ice and snow track. Nothing, right? Right?

As it turns out, with a helping hand of expert supervision, this proposed mad spectacle turns into a theme park fun-ride and shows off just what a degree of control the GT86 offers in such unequivocally tricky conditions. A bit of snow might shut down the rail network, but it’s not going to shut us down.

The GT86 is far from the first rear-wheel car we’ve ever driven, of course, having sampled both the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 124 Spider (which is built on the same chassis). These alternatives might seem like slightly alien competitors, given they’re soft-tops, but they’re similar-sized and similar-priced.

Point being there’s a lot of choice on the market – not to mention hot hatches and cars like the Audi TT vying for space – so can the Toyota GT86 facelift still cut it in 2017’s affordable sports car landscape?

Toyota GT86 2017 review: What’s new?

With red and black body work sat stark against white snow it’s immediately clear which facelift design features are apparent for the 2017 model: the front grille is larger and sportier; the rear houses a revised and more aerodynamic spoiler; new alloy wheels are a sizeable 17-inches; while all the headlamps now feature LED arrangements, including the indicators.

Pocket-lint

The whole car is a snarling, sporty Japanese vision – and we’re glad it’s stuck to this design language and not delved headfirst into the more, let’s say, “unusual” experimental aesthetics of the Toyota Mirai or new Prius. Nope, the GT86 is sticking with its heritage and pushing things forward. It’s one good-looking beast.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: Standard or Pro trim?

Step inside – which we do as quickly as possible, given the outside temperature – and the GT86 is a lovely place to sit. Well, it is for two passengers as, despite its 2+2 arrangement, the rear seats are really just a place to chuck bags or tiny people.

There are two models, the standard and Pro trim, the latter adding black leather and Alcantara upholstery, buckskin-pattern dashboard and door trims, leather trim to the driver’s armrest, and heated front seats. That lot adds an extra £1,150 to the price.

Pocket-lint

Otherwise the GT86 and GT86 Pro are one and the same car: built around a four-cylinder 2-litre engine, delivering 197bhp at the peak 7,000rpm point. There’s no nonsense, no turbos, just good old fashioned fun. On ice, but of course.

However a four-cylinder isn’t the most exciting sounding thrum you’ll get from a sports car. It’s fairly static in its sound delivery, so don’t expect the ultimate aural pleasure.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: How does it drive?

Like a drifter’s dream. Anyone who ever talks about a Mazda MX-5 always goes on about “getting the back end out”. It’s just the same with the GT86 – it can slip and slide around like a front-wheel drive simply can’t – without it feeling as though imminent death is about to come knocking.

Pocket-lint

Not that we’re endorsing driving like an unmitigated maniac, of course. Herein lies the benefits of Toyota’s traction control. The GT86’s on-board computer works really hard to keep you safe, so you’ll frequently hear a shuddering-like sound as the car controls the wheels to stop you sliding out of control. There’s a track mode that allows some leeway, or switch everything off entirely at your peril – hugely fun peril if you’re on a private track and can afford a few snow bank plants or 360-degree spins.

Off the track and on the road that four-cylinder engine might not be the best sounding in the world, but it’s got ample pep, with a top speed of 140mph. Just go easy on the lower gears, as it’s all about swift quick changes for get greatest control. The six-speed manual box is a little sticky when trying to quick-shift between gears, but does the job. An auto model will also be available.

Pocket-lint

Even with the frost lashing away at the bodywork, the GT86 is a cosy, cosseting place to sit – and the heated seats of the Pro model certainly come in handy over our full day with the car. This is as low-slung as Toyota seats get; the way the 86’s headlamps can be seen peering over the bonnet like watchful eyes and the easy-to-view driver’s dials all feel perfectly placed, while the dinky steering wheel is race-car small.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: Bolted-on bolstered tech

The facelift GT86 also comes with a new multimedia setup, with a 6.1-inch touchscreen sat pride of place to the centre dash. It’s just about reachable for driver and passenger, even if it does demand the occasional lean forward to get at it. This is the hub for media and satnav.

Pocket-lint

Other controls are good ol’ switches, buttons and knobs: the air conditioning utilises most of the dash options, which are arranged like you might find in a fighter jet.

It’s not the most luxe looking tech suite compared to the trim of the interior – the screen looks like it’s been bolted on separately, rather than all considered as an integrated arrangement of tech. We like the trio of classic light-up dials beyond the driver’s wheel though and there’s a certain old skool charm about it all, just as we said of the Mazda MX-5.

First Impressions

In the world of the Mazda MX-5 the Toyota’s £26,410 might sound like a fair few grand more than its Japanese competitor, but by the time you’ve specced the Mazda up with all the necessaries (even basics like air con) it’ll be touching the £25,000 mark anyway. Besides, we prefer the Toyota’s refined looks and comfort.

The 2017 Toyota GT86 is a hugely enticing and affordable sports car prospect, if you’re comfortable with the 2+2 arrangement which, realistically, will only seat driver and passenger comfortably. If you’re looking to cart extra bodies around then something more practical and, daresay, more boring like a Golf GTi might fit the bill.

We might’ve driven the facelift GT86 in -15C temperatures, but even with its snarling looks it warmed our hearts. As rear-wheel drive sports cars go we might’ve just fallen in love.

The Morning After: Friday, January 27 2017

Welcome to Friday! In the last 24 hours you might have missed Pokemon cheaters getting punished, even more Facebook security if you need it, and for some reason, the first ever viable human-pig embryo.

Why do I have to put in $5 to spend $1?
PlayStation is still getting away with ‘minimum funding’ charges

After Microsoft and even Nintendo have done away with consumer-hostile payment strategies, PlayStation Network is clinging to its wallet. To buy even a relatively cheap piece of DLC or a discounted game, there’s still a minimum $5 charge to face, which grinds Sean Buckley’s gears.

That’s awkward.
Trump signs executive order stripping non-citizens of privacy rights

Since taking office, Donald Trump has kept the executive orders flowing, but at least one of them has a teeny-tiny issue. Titled “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” it excludes non-US citizens from the protections of the Privacy Act. That’s in opposition to a recently implemented US-EU Data Shield agreement that means European customer data remains under EU rules, even if it’s on a server in the US. Invalidating that with the Executive Order could open the US up to sanctions, or cause the Europeans to suspend the agreement entirely, placing US companies that serve foreign customers in a tricky position.

Developers, assemble!
Square Enix is making an ‘Avengers’ game for Marvel

The two companies have revealed a multi-game partnership that will kick off with The Avengers Project. A teaser trailer shows a pair of cracked glasses, Thor’s hammer and an Iron Man gauntlet lying in the dirt, discarded. A somber voiceover explains that “the world will always need heroes.” The gaming company’s western studios, Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal, will work on the title, but no word yet on when we’ll eventually see it.

You’ll have to wait a bit.Samsung’s Galaxy S8 will likely appear on March 29th

Samsung won’t be attending the world’s biggest smartphone show with its Galaxy S8, but it’ll apparently have it ready for the following month. Reports suggest the big reveal will be on March 29. You can wait, right?

No more security codes
Now Facebook lets you use a physical key to log in

Setting up unique passwords for each account you have and using two-factor authentication is good, but managing the codes can be a pain. One way around that is by using a U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) compatible key that plugs into your USB port and logs into accounts with the press of a button. Google, Dropbox and others already support the encrypted keys, and now Facebook does too.

Cheaters never prosper
The Pokémon Company caught almost 6,000 ‘Sun’ and ‘Moon’ cheaters

Cheating in online games is pretty shitty, creating an uneven playing field against those who do play by the rules and those who do not. The Pokémon Company is putting its foot down, pointing out 5,954 folks that are using modified save files, according to a translated post from the Company. As a result, their entries into online tournaments, rating battles and game sync in the Global Link multiplayer portion have been “limited.”

Charter just acquired Time Warner Cable
Is Verizon going to try to buy a cable company?

A couple of weeks ago, the NY Post reported Verizon is eyeing an acquisition of Charter or Comcast, and now the Wall Street Journal reports Charter is the potential target. CNBC threw some water on the rumor by saying there are “no significant talks” under way, but the possibility of a megadeal combining all those wireless and cable customers is too big to ignore.

But wait, there’s more…

• D-Wave has its first customer for a $15 million quantum computer
• MIT finds actual wisdom in the wisdom of crowds
• Gmail will start blocking JavaScript attachments
• The cloud and Office keep Microsoft afloat during PC slump
• Genetically. Modified. Cyborg. Dragonflies.
• Researchers create first viable hybrid human-pig embryo

Classic puzzle adventure ‘Myst’ comes to Android

Myst needs little introduction. The puzzle adventure game was a smash hit when it originally released on the Macintosh in 1993. Now, it’s available on Android too. The latest port, developed by mobile studio Noodlecake, is called realMyst and features a bunch of improvements, including “dynamic environments,” a built in hint guide and “bookmarks” for saving and restoring your progress. You will, of course, have to put up with touchscreen controls, or hook up a Bluetooth gamepad for some analog stick action. Otherwise, it’s classic Myst, with the iconic island and devious puzzles faithfully restored. Can you remember all of the solutions?

Myst has been ported to a range of platforms over the years, including the original PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Nintendo DS. With good reason — up until 2002, it was the best-selling PC game of all time (The Sims, unsurprisingly, supplanted it.) While the game has been on iOS since 2009, this is the first time it’s been available to Android players. It costs $6.99, which might put off some, but at least there are no microtransactions. If nothing else, it should tide you over until Fire Emblem Heroes comes along.

Via: The Verge

Source: realMyst (Android)

Facebook will reward longer videos that people actually watch

Facebook has changed the way it chooses videos to surface on your News Feed, and this new method favors longer clips. The social network explains in its latest blog post that “percent completion” or the percentage of each video you watch helps its algorithm understand what kind of content you enjoy. “If you watch most or all of a video, that tells us that you found the video to be compelling — and we know that completing a longer video is a bigger commitment than completing a shorter one,” the post reads.

Recode says Facebook will continue counting views that last three seconds or less. But going forward, the social network will make percent completion a bigger factor in ranking videos. So, what does that mean for you? If you’re an ordinary user, you’ll likely start seeing more longer things to watch than before. If you have a Facebook Page, it’s worth noting that longer videos “may see a slight increase in distribution on Facebook,” while shorter ones “may see a slight dip.”

An earlier report about a new ad format now makes a lot more sense. According to Recode’s sources, Facebook is looking to start playing ads around 20 seconds into a video, which could compel publishers to create longer ones in a bid to make more money.

Via: Recode

Source: Facebook

‘Firefox Focus’ Private Browser Update Brings Multi-Language Support, Custom Search Engine Option

Mozilla has added more than 20 new languages to Firefox Focus, its privacy-centric browser that automatically blocks all trackers as users navigate around the web.

The latest update to the stripped-down web browser – which features an “Erase” button at the top of the app to erase all browsing history, searches, cookies, and passwords instantly – means users can now browse privately in 27 languages.

The additional support includes Arabic, Azerbaijani, Czech, Welsh, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, among many other tongues.

One of the complaints about the previous version of Focus was that it forced users to use a default search engine. Mozilla says it’s listened to criticism and added a new option that allows users to select an alternative search service, which includes non-tracking engine DuckDuckGo.

When using Focus’s most stringent tracker blocking setting, occasionally some sites visited in the app may fail to display as intended, making viewing content difficult. To compensate for this, Mozilla has also added a new button that allows users to open the web page in Firefox or Safari instead.

The first incarnation of the Focus brand came in 2015 in the form of a content blocker for iOS 9. In November of last year, Mozilla launched Focus as a fully functioning privacy browser.

Firefox Focus is available to download from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Mozilla
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iPhone 7 Ousts Samsung Handset as ‘Device of Choice’ For U.K. Defense Officials

The U.K.’s Ministry of Defense has chosen Apple’s iPhone 7 over Samsung as the “device of choice” for its military personnel, according to a report by TechRepublic this week.

Telecoms company BT is said to be working with the country’s MoD to harden the security of the phone so that military officers can discuss and store sensitive information on the device. Steve Bunn, technical business manager for defense at BT, said the phone would eventually be capable of being switched between different modes depending on which security level was appropriate.

Photo: Harland Quarrington/MOD

“We’ve been working very closely with them to develop what we’ve commonly called a ‘dual-persona device’. Essentially this means you can have voice at official and at secret.”

BT is also working with the MoD to create “secure storage containers” on the device to hold sensitive data, revealed Bunn.

BT is said to have begun using a Samsung Note 4 to develop the bespoke military communications device, but testing quickly revealed that the security of the Android OS wasn’t sufficient and the project was transferred to Apple’s phone.

Despite Apple’s high-profile reputation for upholding iOS security standards, the MoD’s switch to iPhone bucks a trend in the defense industry, which tends to prefer phones running Android because of the ease with which the operating system can be altered.

As noted by TechRepublic, the GSMK CryptoPhone, which runs a heavily stripped-down version of Android, is currently in active use among military and security bodies around the world.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: security
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