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Friday 31 October 2014
N3 Smartphone Android 4.2 MTK6582 Quad Core
Google Android 5 Lollipop review - faster, prettier and better battery life
Cellcom Montreal
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The latest version of Android brings a completely new design, battery-saving features and native multi-user support for phones and tablets.
Google’s new version of its tablet and smartphone operating system “Lollipop” is the fifth version of Android, introducing new features and tweaks that collectively give the user the feeling that quite a lot has been improved.
Unveiled as “L” at Google’s developer conference I/O in June to replaceAndroid 4.4 “KitKat, Android 5 Lollipop was revealed alongside Google’s new design ethos called “Material”.
Material Design is a new consistent look for Google’s apps, products and services, which stretches beyond Android to Google’s Chrome browser and Chrome OS software for low-cost laptops. The basic premise is a bolder, more colourful and flat look to icons, notifications and other interface elements.
For Lollipop that means the use of much brighter, fuller colours than the previous version of Android and a more consistent look. Menu bars are one solid block of colour, icons are highly stylised and flat, while interface “cards” first introduced with Google Now are used throughout, floating and sliding over the top of each other adding depth.
Every bit of the interface looks different, including the background which now changes colour depending on the time of day in some apps, and some slick new sliding animations which add motion to many of Android’s responses.
The lockscreen smoothly slides up and down, with button taps pulsing with white circles. Apps now slide up from the bottom, while the notification shade is pulled down in two stages, one for notifications and a second for quick settings. The second stage has a particularly pleasing animation that reveals battery and settings icons, sliding out from the user profile icon.
All the animations are fast and fluid, giving Android a sense of urgency and stopping them from getting in the way of getting things done.
Beyond the obvious colourful difference, Lollipop introduces a couple of important features into the core Android experience.
The first is multiple user accounts on one device. Some Android tablets have had support for more than one user, but smartphones and other devices have been limited to a single user account.
Now multiple user accounts can be set up straight from the quick settings screen, including temporary guest accounts, making sharing a device within a family much easier. The user accounts are very basic at the moment – there are no parental control settings beyond restricted accounts that can limit for instance – but each user will have their own accounts and data inside their profile, which can be password protected.
Setting up a new device is now a lot easier for owners of older Android smartphones and tablets. Simply tapping another Android device on the back will transfer settings, apps and accounts as long as both support near field communication (NFC), which almost every Android device will.
It is a one-touch procedure, which works well and takeaway much of the headache of swapping to a new smartphone or tablet.
Multitasking has also been enhanced with a new card system. Each app can show more than one card allowing users to switch to an open message or back to the inbox, for example – not just to one view in the app.
Notifications from any number of apps can now be filtered by priority on an app-by-app basis. Instead of letting any notification through, users can choose to let only important messages from favourite contacts to show or prevent any notifications from showing.
Users can set up quiet periods through the day or week, or activate the feature on an ad hoc basis – not something that is new to Android devices, but the first time it has been integrated into the core Android experience.
Lollipop also promises to help prolong smartphone and tablet battery life by being more efficient and tougher on battery-draining apps. It uses a new version of the underlying software called Art that powers apps, which is both faster and lighter on resources.
A pre-release version of Lollipop installed on a Nexus 5 smartphone made the battery last around a quarter longer, with others finding even longer gains of over 35% or two hours in tests. Users should see their smartphones and tablets lasting significantly longer after being updated.
A built-in “battery saver” mode aims to help the device last as long as possible by reducing processor performance and disabling use of data in the background; email and messaging apps will still update when opened, but may not while not active. It can be enabled manually or automatically at 15% battery remaining.
Battery saving modes are not new, as many smartphone manufacturers including Samsung, Sony and LG have built their own systems for reducing battery consumption, but now it is baked directly into the unmodified Android experience.
Google has added new ways users can login to devices. Face unlock, which uses the front-facing camera of the smartphone or tablet to recognise the users face to unlock the device, has been altered so it runs in the background. As the user looks through notifications on the lockscreen, the device attempts to recognise the face, but if it can’t it will prompt for a pin or password when the user tries to go past the the lock screen.
Bluetooth devices such as headphones, speakers and smartwatches, as well as NFC tags, can be used to unlock the device automatically. When leaving the range of the trusted device the smartphone or tablet will re-lock, requiring a passcode.
Both login methods work well and can alleviate some of the irritations of keeping a device secure.
Thursday 30 October 2014
Virginia judge: Cellphone pass codes protected
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A judge has ruled that a criminal defendant cannot be forced give authorities the pass code to his cellphone.
The Virginian Pilot reports (http://bit.ly/1sJziGv) that Virginia Beach Circuit Judge Steven Frucci issued the ruling this week in the case of David Baust, who is charged with trying to strangle his girlfriend. Prosecutors wanted to search Frucci's cellphone for a possible video of the couple's altercation.
Defense attorney James Broccoletti argued that pass codes are protected by the Fifth Amendment, which shields a defendant from self-incrimination.
Frucci ruled that authorities can gain access if a phone can be opened with a fingerprint, which is akin to a DNA sample, a writing sample or an actual key. But he said a pass code requires the defendant to divulge knowledge, which is protected.
Wednesday 29 October 2014
5 Things We Hate About the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus
Cellcom.ca
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Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have many new features that makes them the best in the series and while they’re no doubt selling like hot cakes all over the world, neither of the two devices are perfect. They’ve already faced numerous backlashes owing to design flaws and buggy software. So if you’re planning to pick up either of the two handsets, you might want to know where exactly they fall short.
1. The whole bendgate fiasco
The bendgate issue is probably the biggest flaw in iPhone history. In case you didn’t know, the 6 Plus model bends quite easily and there were a few customer complaining about the same problem on the smaller handset. And it only takes a little pressure for the device to bend. While there aren’t many cases of this, it’s still a potential problem. Apple has offered to replace affected units after inspection, but doesn’t really acknowledge it as a major issue.And it probably should. Why? You can ask Phillip Lechter that question who got his leg burnt because of a bent iPhone which led to the battery catching on fire after a very minor accident. You can read all about it on his personal blog. And while you’re at it, this hairgate thing also managed to create a lot of buzz online.
2. The protruding camera
And now we introduce to you to the second design flaw. As you know, the new iPhones are slimmer compared to the previous generations. And in order to fit the main camera module, the lens on the rear sticks out, creating a slight bulge. Thanks to this, the device won’t exactly lay flat on a tablet.
Even Apple doesn’t appear to like it and if you head over to its main website (or just see above), you’ll notice that the metal ring has been Photoshopped out of some images which showcase the phone’s slim design. While the protruding camera isn’t a major issue, it can certainly be an annoyance to many.
3. Limited use of NFC
NFC has been a much awaited feature on the iPhone and while we’re happy that Apple included it with the latest models, it’s a huge disappointment that the company is limiting its use. For now, the connectivity attribute is only for making payments with Apple Pay and it could be a long wait before developers get the chance to design their apps to make use of the feature.
4. App scaling:
As we mentioned above, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus have larger displays and Apple has also bumped up the resolution for an optimal viewing experience. iOS 8 is designed for the new screens which means that the UI and pre-loaded apps look great, but un-optimized applications are merely blown up to fit the new resolution and to be frank, they look hideous. It’ll take some time for developers to optimize their apps to scale better for the new displays, so till then you’ll either have to deal with pixilated icons and UIs or avoid them altogether.
5. We really wanted a sapphire display
Remember all those rumors which claimed that Apple was going to use a sapphire displayfor its latest iPhones? Well, it turns out that the company didn’t and instead went for ion-strengthened glass screens. The panels do offer good resistance against scratches and scrapes, but wouldn’t sapphire have been better? It was one of the biggest reasons we got excited about the new iPhones.
Ending note:
While the app scaling and NFC woes can be fixed over time, there’s nothing that’s going to stop the iPhone 6 Plus or even the iPhone 6 (if you’re really unlucky) from bending. The only method of prevention is to get a rugged case which will make the slim handsets bulky. And if the phone does bend, we recommend getting it replaced right away or you might land up facing the same problem as Phillip Lechter (see bendgate above).
Tuesday 28 October 2014
Sprint ups the ante, ‘iPhone for Life’ plan now allows for annual upgrades
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When Sprint launched the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus last month, it also introduced the “iPhone for Life” plan. By paying $20 a month on top of the $50 unlimited call, text, and data plan, you can lease either iPhone 6 model. Normally, you would be able to upgrade for the next iPhone in two years, but Sprint has upped the ante by adding a new option.
The new plan now allows for annual upgrades, and it starts at $30 a month. As with the other option, it goes on top of the required $50 unlimited plan. The monthly payment does differ, depending on which iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus you choose. If you don’t want either handset, though, the iPhone 5S is also available for lease, starting at $18 a month.
This new lease plan represents Sprint’s renewed drive to offer cheaper and enticing plans to consumers. Most recently, Sprint pledged to double the data offered by AT&T’s high-end family plans, which start at 30GB for $130 a month. In addition, Sprint now offers a low-end family data plan that offers 1GB of data for $20 a month.
Monday 27 October 2014
Android 5.0 Lollipop OS Download Leak: New Apps of Upcoming Google OS Available Now
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Even before Google releases its latest operating system the Android 5.0 Lollipop sometime in November, fans can download some new features of the apps right now - thanks to the leaked system file dump, which was available via the Android 5.0 Lollipop Developer Preview.
Phandroid shared the leaked files including a number of Google apps like the Messenger app (that was once called Google Messaging), Google Play Music, Google Calendar, Google Fit, Google Keep, Google Books, Google Drive, in addition to Gmail.
Meanwhile, iDigital Times reported that it was possible for users to sideload the leaked apps to any Android device. All they need to do is root and place the apps in the /system/lib folder after they have uninstalled the original apps.
Nevertheless, Phandroid has clarified not all apps will work with the sideloading procedure.
However, two of the leaked apps did work well after they were sideloaded successfully in a Nexus 5 device, which runs on the Android 5.0 Lollipop Developer Preview. These two leaked apps include the Google Play Music and Google Messenger apps.
The Google Messenger app, compared to its predecessor in the previous Android versions, offers a simpler and minimalistic interface in the latest Android 5.0 Lollipop update. In addition, this app comes with a new Material Design look and includes more efficient functions.
Phandroid also pointed out that the new Messenger makes adding attachments in a ongoing conversation simpler and direct. It allows the user to just take a photo using the built-in viewfinder, record a voice message, or choose photos from the gallery and subsequently attach it in the running conversation. In fact, different conversations running simultaneously can be assigned different colors.
There are other reports that say that the Messenger app will also function effectively on the Android 4.4 KitKat version.
On the other hand, the leaks for Google Play Music as well as Google Fit showed that they have a simpler and more contemporary look in the Android 5.0 Lollipop update.
However, users who plan to download these apps will be doing so at their own risk and should make a back-up of their original apps before installing the new updates.
Saturday 25 October 2014
Microsoft discovers long-lost phone division down back of sofa
Cellcom
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Nokia phones generated $2.6bn in revenue for Microsoft as the division arrested its decline. Redmond sold 9.3m Lumia devices in the quarter, the most ever.
In the quarter a year ago, Nokia (then the owner) shifted 8.8m Lumias. In June only 5.8m Lumias moved. The company had failed to refresh its product line as it, and other OEMs, waited for Windows Phone 8.1 to be ready.
The number is dwarfed by the volumes shipped by Apple. But it shows Microsoft is still a significant global player in phone hardware - whether it wants to be or not.
The Microsoft results – more details and good recap here – show healthy income from hardware. But CEO Satya "Cloud-o-bile" Nadella has been less than expansive about it in public statements. Ex-Nokia staff are on the sharp end of Microsoft's biggest-ever redundancies, with over 12,500 out of 18,000 losses. All of which suggests Microsoft's future might be more Cloud than o-bile.
Nevertheless, Redmond presses on. Microsoft gave official confirmation of what has been known for months - that it would drop the Nokia brand from its Lumia smartphones - it just didn't say when. And still hasn't (officially), but it did give a teaser of what they'll look like.
Friday 24 October 2014
Xiaomi Smartphones a Security Threat, says Indian Air Force
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The Indian Air Force (IAF) has now started advising its personnel and their families against using Xiaomi smartphones, according to a report by the Sunday Standard.
According to the IAF's allegations, Xiaomi's smartphones and notebooks have been found to send users' private data to servers in Beijing. However, this claim is odd as Xiaomi does not have laptops in its range of products yet.
The IAF, according to the report, advised its personnel against using Xiaomi's products based oninformation obtained from the Indian Computer Response Team, which has also confirmed that the smartphones send back data to China.
This is not the first time the Chinese company has faced such allegations. In the past, there were claims that Xiaomi phones were pre-loaded with software to spy on its users. However, Xiaomi in turn, assured its users that the information was misleading. To counter these allegations, the company recently shifted out some smartphone data out of China.
According to Hugo Barra's blog post on Google+, data from non-Chinese users will be moved to Amazon servers in the United States, apart from data centres in Singapore.
The Sunday Standard report also mentions F-secure's findings that Xiaomi phones were forwarding information to Beijing. However, it does not take into account a more recent report by F-secure, which notes that these security flaws have been plugged.
Recently, Xiaomi said that its Mi Cloud service was enabled by default and then it made amends by releasing a software update that turned off the service by default, thus making it an opt-in feature that users will have to activate manually.
Thursday 23 October 2014
Jailbreak Released For Apple iOS 8.1: Works On iPhone 6 And 6 Plus
As those familiar with the jailbreaking scene, iOS 8.1 signaled the possible release of a jailbreak for Apple’s new mobile operating system and iPhones. I previously reported on how to jailbreak previous model iPhone on iOS 7, and it was anyone’s guess as to how long it would take for the jailbreaking community to release another.
Many suspected months, however, within a matter of weeks after the iPhone 6 launch, Chinese jailbreaking team Pangu, that was also responsible for the last jailbreak has surprised the community yet again.
The new jailbreak, as per usual, will allow you to install Cydia on your device, which provides access to a host of tweaks and programs that you can often use to modify the otherwise restricted iOS experience. In fact, it can offer similar levels of customization enjoyed by Android users. Jailbreaking is completely legal and won’t break your device or void its warranty.
Best of all is that the current jailbreak not only works on the new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, but it’s untethered too, meaning you don’t have to re-jailbreak your device every time you reboot it.
There are a couple of catches. The first release of the jailbreak resulted in photos on some devices being lost. This appears to have been fixed in a subsequent update but at the moment, the jailbreak is only working with Chinese instructions and is intended for jailbreak app developers to get things ready.
It has also caught the people behind Cydia by surprise. As such, Cydia it’s not currently supported by iOS 8.1 once it’s been jailbroken. However, the Pangu team is expected to release a new updated version of the jailbreak, which will include an up-to-date and working Cydia store.
At the moment, the only way to get the jailbreak working with Cydia is a rather complex and lengthy method, not best-suited to first timers at all. As a result, I’ll hold off doing my own guide as I did for previous versions for a short while until the new version is released – hopefully in the next day or two. By this time things should be much simpler to follow and the jailbreak itself will include Cydia and have been tested a little more rigorously to make sure everything works as it should. It’s not recommended to jailbreak just yet.
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