South Korea rules smartphone users can delete Android bloatware
In a move that we can only hope inspires other mobile regulators, the South Korean government has struck a major blow against Android bloatware. Yonhap News reports that Korea’s Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (MISP) is bringing the hammer down on preinstalled Android apps, introducing new guidelines that will enable users to delete them. Carriers won’t be forced to make apps related to Wi-Fi, user settings, NFC or app store removable, but even with core services excluded, it puts almost 60 apps installed by the country’s three biggest providers at risk. Samsung and LG won’t escape the judgement either, with more than half of their 40 default apps facing a less than certain future.
The ministry said preinstalled apps are an “inconvenience” to users and cause “unfair competition” between operators and carriers, so it asked them to offer detailed information to users on how much storage their preinstalled apps take up. It also intends to apply the same rules to Google’s suite of apps and services, which includes Gmail and Hangouts, although the regulator is still in talks with the search giant. Samsung, LG, SK Telecom and others have until April before the rules come into effect, which could mean Korean users will be able to tweak apps installed on their new Galaxy S5, should the device launch in the coming months.
Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless, Internet, Software, Mobile, Google
Via: ZDNet
Source: MSIP
Google patents ads that offer a free ride to your next shopping spree
Having items shipped to our door when we order them — or even before — is nice, but a new Google patent flips things around and offers potential buyers an immediate trip to the store. Apparently, Mountain View’s toying with the idea of arranging transportation for customers who want to visit its advertisers’ stores. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean everyone can get a limo ride: Google will look at people’s information (location, job, purchasing history, etc.) to determine what kind of transportation to offer.
Since the businesses will shell out cash for the arrangement, high-profile customers likely to spend more will get the VIP treatment and might even be driven around in one of Google’s self-driving autos. As for the rest of us, well, we’ll just have to make do with discounted tickets or reduced taxi fares. The company has quite the patent collection, so we might never see this happen, but those intrigued by the idea can check out the full filing at the USPTO website.
Filed under: Misc
Via: Slashdot
Source: USPTO
Daily Roundup: Maingear Pulse 17 review, DJI’s photography-oriented drone and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Google tours the Top Gear test track
Google sent one of its former street view cars out for a tour of Top Gear’s test track. Lucky for us, a Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG (with a bit of attitude) joined the party at the starting line. Click on through for the video.
Uber-rare NES game lands on eBay
Back in the 1990′s, the Nintendo World Championship toured the US with 116 custom game cartridges containing special levels from Super Mario Bros., Rad Racer and Tetris. If owning a gem like that makes you flutter on the inside, now might be your chance! Click the link for details.
Maingear Pulse 17 review
Maingear’s latest gaming laptop, the Pulse 17, packs a 2.4GHz Intel Core i7, 16GB of DDR3 RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 765M GPU. But does this incredibly thin machine have enough bite to justify its $2,100 price tag? Click through for our review and find out.
DJI Phantom 2 Vision hands-on
DJI’s Phantom 2 Vision might look like your average drone, but it’s capable of more than just entertainment. Thanks to cutting edge maneuverability and camera mount features, this $1,200 copter gives prosumers a surprisingly stable birds eye view of the world streamed live to their smartphone. Follow the link for our hands-on.
Google’s ready to give away over $2.7 million to folks that hack Chrome OS successfully
But not if you hack from the comfort of your own home. Instead, you’ll have to travel to the CanSecWest security conference in Vancouver this March to showcase your skills at Google’s Pwnium 4 competition. For those who aren’t familiar, Google’s been holding these Pwnium contests for years as a means to crowdsource the finding of security bugs in both the Chrome browser and Chrome OS.
This year, like last year, Google’s offering $110,000 for each “browser or system-level compromise in guest mode or as a logged-in user, delivered via a web page,” and $150k to anyone who can “compromise with device persistence: guest to guest with interim reboot, delivered via a web page.” We don’t understand exactly what that means, but we feel certain that with so many dollars at stake, there will be no shortage of interested parties who do. Plus, there are “significant” bonuses available for “particulary impressive or surprising” exploits — so feel free to get creative, folks. Would-be winners should also know that the offers are good for hacks performed on the ARM-based HP Chromebook 11 or the Intel-packing Acer C720, and you’ve gotta register by 5PM Pacific Time on March 10th to compete. No time like the present, y’all.
Via: The Next Web
Source: The Chromium Blog, Pwnium 4 Official Rules
Google’s voice search could soon be baked into Chrome, no extension required
Back in November, the folks in Mountain View trotted out the beta version of a Chrome extension that brought “OK Google”-enabled voice search to the desktop, no clicks required. That’s all fine and dandy, but what if it said control was a standard option on the desktop, capable of being toggled on or off with a click? Well, the Chromium folks are working on just that, with options for the browser to stop listening after five minutes and working incognito. Items like this that pop up in Chromium have a tendency to turn into standard Chrome features at some point. There’s no telling when we’ll be able to use spoken word as a standard search tool, but there’s always the beta add-on for sorting hands-free queries in the meantime.
Filed under: Internet, Software, Google
Source: Francois Beaufort (Google+)
Huawei pays off Apple and Microsoft-led consortium in Android patent spat
While Google does all it can to avoid the Android patent headache brought on by the “Rockstar” patent group, another of the consortium’s targets has decided it wants out. FOSSPatents reports that Huawei, one of seven Android OEMs sued alongside the search giant, filed a joint motion with Rockstar and its subsidiary to dismiss claims that it infringed on numerous networking and UI patents. The move suggests that the Chinese company chose the less costly option of settling instead of embarking on an expensive legal battle. Bear in mind that the Rockstar consortium counts Apple, Microsoft, BlackBerry, Sony and Ericsson as members, which closed the purchase of thousands of patents previously owned by Nortel for $4.5 billion. With a deal seemingly worked out, Huawei is free to use Rockstar’s patents without fear of future reprisals, leaving Samsung, LG, ASUS, HTC, Pantech, ZTE and Google firmly in Rockstar’s crosshairs. Huawei’s settlement prove decisive, however, as it demonstrates the group’s patent claims have merit, which could motivate the remaining phone makers to broker their own deals.
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Microsoft, Google
Source: FOSSPatents
Google offers Fiber to more Provo residents, to expand coverage area throughout 2014
Provo residents who took advantage of Google Fiber’s early registration can no longer claim to be the chosen few. The company has started accepting sign-ups from more folks, so long as they live in select areas along the former iProvo network. Registration is only open in three areas for now, but Google plans to offer the service to a widening pool of eligible residents throughout the year. Not sure if you qualify? Check out Google Fiber’s website to see if registration’s already open in your area or to submit an application if it is. Unfortunate souls living outside of the planned coverage area, however, will have to settle for a consolation prize: Google is giving away mugs to locals who sign up for the Provo mailing list.
Source: Google Fiber
Google’s reasonably priced Street View car tours Top Gear’s test track
Like swerving bends and screaming “powerrr!” as much as you dislike electric vehicles? Imagine your delight, then, when you learn that Google and the BBC have teamed up to send one of the former’s street view cars around Dunsfold Aerodrome — more famously known as Top Gear’s test track. As you zoom around the lap, you’ll notice a Mercedes Benz SLS AMG popping up by your side, ably driven by the show’s tame racing driver. Some say he’s a clone of Justin Bieber gone right, and that he prefers to think of Dunsfold Aerodrome as the place where they shot the Miami Airport sequence of Casino Royale. All we know, is that he’s called The Stig.
Via: BBC
Source: Google Maps
Android Push Notifications Infringe on SimpleAir Patent
Push notifications are a feature that we often hear, and don’t think twice about. If you happen to be not familiar on what push notifications are, its just those notifications you get on your device as they come in right as they arrive to whatever service you are using. If it weren’t for push notifications, the apps on your device would have to check to see if you have message or what not, has come in an interval that you would have to decide. Some apps still don’t run on push notifications due to battery drains, but Google apps have always ran on the push notification way. Now it looks like Google is going to have to pay for it.
The infringement of push notifications happen to infringe on a patent set in motion by SimpleAir. SimpleAir is seeking a $125 million payment from Google in this case, which Google asked for a mistrial. Sadly, the court determined that 5 claims found Google guilty of infringement, and will have to pay SimpleAir. The court described it as “system and method for transmission of data”, so bad luck for Google. The dollar amount that Google will have to pay SimpleAir is still yet to be determined, but we can all shake our heads in disappoint on how stupid it is. Let us know your thoughts about this.
Source: Phandroid
Quick Video Shows 8 Different Color Options for the Nexus 5
Looks like Google might take the Moto X approach to the Nexus 5, by giving customers the option to choose their colors in a Moto Maker type manner. A quick video showed up today, showing someone’s computer screen where they could pick between 8 different colors for the Nexus 5. It is pretty similar to the Moto Maker, but you only get to choose the back plate color and that is about it.
So possibly we might be getting an announcement from Google about this, if this video is legit. It is super quick, but check it out, and let us know your thoughts about it.
Source: Talk Android
Original Video– More videos at TinyPic
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