Sunday, September 29, 2013

Java favorite target platform for Hacker this Year


Java was the most targeted development platform for exploit attacks during the first half of the year, and attacks have increasingly shifted to zero-day vulnerabilities, according to F-Secure's new threat report.

"Of the top five most targeted vulnerabilities, four are found in the Java development, either the Runtime Environment (JRE) or the browser plug-in," according to the report, based on information about attacks detected through F-Secure's sensors and telemetry systems. The company notes that it's not surprising Java is an appealing target since "next to the Windows operating system (also a popular target for exploits), Java is probably the second most ubiquitous program in an organization's IT setup."

Analysis of attacks shows the top five exploited vulnerabilities accounting for 95 percent of all attacks, with the U.S. the geographic location most targeted. F-Secure estimates 78 out of every 1000 users in the U.S. saw a detection identifying an exploit of a specific vulnerability in the last six months. Germany also saw a fairly high number of attacks with about 60 out of 1000 users hit within the same time frame.

"Unfortunately, removing either the runtime or plug-in may not be a feasible option for companies that use Java in business-critical instances," the F-Secure report points out. Defense and mitigation strategies might involve something more complicated than uninstalling a program, such as "some combination of tweaking Java's security settings, configuring web browser settings to minimize unwanted applet execution (or installing other third-party plug-ins to do so) and monitoring network traffic."

F-Secure says 70 percent of the exploit-related attacks are carried out by means of five kits: BlackHole, SweetOrange, Crimeboss, Styx, and Cool. All of these remain under active development.

Another security threat to be reckoned with in the first half of 2013: Mac malware. F-Secure reports it saw the "first Mac malware signed with a valid Apple Developer ID," an ominous event because this allowed the malware to bypass Apple's first line of defense. After independent researcher Jacob Appelbaum identified the malware, Apple was swift in revoking the misused developer ID attributed to "Rajinder Kumar" (hence this malware has been dubbed "Kumar in the Mac").

While this is noteworthy, malware targeting Android continued to dominate mobile threats in the first half of the year, according to the report. Of interest is the discovery of Android malware dubbed Stels, which is designed for distribution via spam e-mails and a bot that uses Twitter to update its command-and-control server addresses.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Microsoft plan to combine Windows and Windows Phone Store in a Single App



Microsoft is planning to combine its Windows Phone Store and Windows Store into a single app store. Sources familiar with the company's plans have revealed to The Verge that Terry Myerson, head of the operating systems group, confirmed the move in an internal company meeting today attended by thousands of Microsoft employees. We're told that Myerson committed to the "next releases" of Windows and Windows Phone, which we understand to be Windows Phone 8.1 and a special update planned for Windows 8.1. Both are due to be ready in spring 2014.

Myerson didn't reveal how the single Windows Store would work, nor whether Windows Phone apps will run on Windows in the new model. The Windows head previously publicly commented that he sees the future of Windows RT in phones and small tablets. "Windows RT was our first ARM tablet. And as phones extend into tablets, expect us to see many more ARM tablets, Windows ARM tablets in the future," said Myerson during a recent analysts meeting.

It's possible that Microsoft may take an approach that's similar to Apple's App Store, where tablet specific apps don't run on the phone, but phone apps scale to run on a tablet. Microsoft has long promised a "common app platform" between the two operating systems and Myerson said previously that "all of the apps we bring to end users should be available on all of our devices." If Microsoft is planning to make Windows Phone apps available on Windows 8.1 or Windows RT 8.1 devices then it's well positioned to have them run in a Snap View alongside tablet optimized apps. We'll know more with the "next releases" of Windows and Windows Phone.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Play Station 4 Reviews, Specs, Release Date

The PS4 itself was shown off for the first time at E3 and it's black, just like the Xbox One. However, it has an angular design and appears to be constructed of a similar plastic to the original PS3 Slim machine. It looks as though it's slimmer than the Xbox One but we're not totally blown away by the design.


- AMD's technology is coursing through this new system's veins, and Sony recently told us that it believes the PS4 to be the most powerful gaming device every conceived. Sony revealed the system runs on a single-chip custom processor and utilizes eight x86-64 AMD Jaguar CPU cores, with a next-gen AMD Radeon based graphics engine powering the way.

- The Highly Enhanced PC GPU is another AMD part - something along the lines of a Radeon 7850 card and packs 18 GCN units. That may sound a like a lot of techy mumbo jumbo but what it essentially means is that the GPU packs 18 processing clusters, each packing up to 64 cores. That provides a lot of parallel processing power, and will thus handle the majority of the PS4's grunt work. It hits 1.84 TFLOPS of processing power, a good chunk more than the Xbox One.

The PS4 will ship packing 8GB of GDDR5 memory. That's some super-fast stuff right there and should enable lightning fast performance


Play Station 4 - Specification:

CPU: low power x86-64 AMD "Jaguar", 8 cores
GPU: 1.84 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon™ Graphics Core Next engine
Memory: GDDR5 8GB
Hard Disk Drive: Built-in
Optical Drive (Read only): BD 6xCAV, DVD 8xCAV
I/O: Super-Speed USB (USB 3.0), AUX
Communication: Ethernet, IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® 2.1 (EDR)
AV output: HDMI, Analog-AV out, Digital Output (optical)


Joy Stick Specs:
External Dimensions: Approx. 162mm x 52mm x 98mm
Weight: Approx. 210gm (tentative)
Buttons: PS button, SHARE button, OPTIONS button, Directional buttons (Up/Down/Left/Right), Action   buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square), R1/L1/R2/L2/R3/L3, Right stick, Left stick, Touch Pad Button,  Touch Pad 2 Point Touch Pad, Click Mechanism, Capacitive Type
Other Features: Light Bar, Vibration, Built-in Mono Speaker
Ports: USB (Micro B), Extention Port, Stereo Headset Jack
Wireless communication: Bluetooth® Ver2.1+EDR


Camera Specs:

• External Dimension: Approx. 186mm x 27mm x 27mm
• Weight: Approx. 183gm
• Video Pixel: (Maximum) 1280 x 800 pixel x 2
• Video Frame Rate: 1280x800 pixel @ 60fps, 640x400 pixel @ 120fps, 320x192 pixel @ 240fps
• Video Format: RAW, YUV (uncompressed)
• Lens: Dual Lenses, F value/F2.0 fixed focus
• Field-of-View: 85 degrees
• Microphone: 4 Channel Microphone Array
• Connection Type: PS4 dedicated connector (AUX connector)
• Cable Length: Approx. 2m (tentative)


Price:

Sony announced the PS4 price at E3 - it'll cost $399 in the US, £349 in the UK and €399 in Europe when it goes on sale in November. That's a whole $100 cheaper than the Xbox One.

That price, it must be said, does not include the PlayStation Camera, whereas the Xbox One will ship with the second version of Kinect.


Release Date:

The official PS4 release date was announced at Gamescom 2013. The PS4 will go on sale on 15 Nov 2013 in the U.S., followed by the U.K. on 29 Nov 2013. Australia will also see the console then, while Canada too shares the U.S.'s 15 Nov 2013 launch date.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Microsoft Surface 2 Pro Review + Specs


Microsoft has announced the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. Both the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 are primarily iterative hardware upgrades, bringing improved performance, battery life, and sharper displays. The tablets themselves, except for a beautiful 1080p display on the Surface 2, introduce almost no new features. Instead, new functionality is provided by a variety of new attachments, such as the Power Cover, which will increase battery life by around 50%, and a Docking Station, which makes it much easier to use your Surface Pro 2 as a desktop replacement.


Surface 2 / Surface 2 Pro - Video Review (Hands on):



Surface 2 Pro - Specification:

Surface Pro 2
Surface 2
Size274.5 x 173 x 13.5 (mm)   274 x 171 x 8.9 (mm)
Weight907g   680g
Screen10.6-inch ClearType HD   10.6-inch ClearType Full HD
Resolution1920×1080 pixels   1920×1080 pixels
OSWindows 8.1 Pro   Windows RT 8.1
Storage64, 128, 256, or 512GB   32 or 64GB
SD Card SlotYes   Yes 
Other PortsUSB 3.0, mini DisplayPort   USB 3.0, HD video out 
ProcessorIntel Core i5 (Haswell)    Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4
RAM4 or 8GB   2GB
ConnectivityWi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)   Wi-Fi (802.11a/b/g/n)
CameraFront 1.2MP, Rear 1.2MP   Front 3.5MP, Rear 5MP
BluetoothYes, version 4.0   Yes, version 4.0
Battery7-8 hours of use   10 hours of use
ChargerMicro USB   Micro USB
MarketplaceWindows Store   Windows Store 
Price$900+   $450+


The Surface 2 is really the sweet spot in Microsoft’s tablet offerings. Since the company is keeping the Surface RT around at a cheaper price point, the Surface 2 should become the go-to for students or people who may do some work from home and want a tablet capable of providing a little computing power without a huge investment. With a $450 starting point, Surface 2 owners will get a device built with the impressive Quad-core Nvidia Tegra 4 processor and a full HD, 1080p display. They will also get added goodies like 200GB of SkyDrive storage for wo years, Office 2013 RT apps from the jump, and free Wi-Fi and international Skype calls for a year.

The Surface Pro 2 is all business. It’s a full blown computer shoved into the casing of a laptop. Its RAM offerings start at 4GB and go up to 8GB and its hard drive ranges from 64-512GB. Add the new Intel Core i5 Haswell processor to that and you’ve got a device with internals that can handle anything you decide to throw at it. This is one of the rare tablets that could absolutely become a laptop replacement. Of course it’s priced as one as well, starting at $900. The top-tier unit costs $1800. The Surface Pro 2 also has the distinction of running Windows 8.1 Pro rather than the 8.1 RT OS on the Surface 2. This means the Pro can run Windows desktop applications, while the standard Surface 2 cannot.

Monday, September 23, 2013

iphone 5S and 5C selling hits Nine million in one Week

Apple sold nine million iPhone 5C and iPhone 5S smartphones last weekend and pushed iOS 7 onto 200 million devices.


The colourful new iPhones went on sale on Friday, and we popped in and had a look at the queue. It is now Monday. In the time between then and now nine million iPhones went into people's hands and up to their ears. This might mean that some people are disappointed, as according to Apple's CEO, hardware is already selling out.

"This is our best iPhone launch yet - more than nine million new iPhones sold-a new record for first weekend sales," said Apple CEO Tim Cook.

"The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we've sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone's patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone."

Last year in its first weekend, the Apple iPhone 5 sold five million units.

As well as moving all those phones, Apple also placed its updated mobile operating system iOS 7 on 200 million devices. This is a record for the firm.

In the UK, the iPhone is available from EE, O2, Three, Vodafone, Carphone Warehouse, Phones 4U and assorted other Apple resellers.

The new iPhones are the most colourful ones that Apple has released, and the iPhone 5S comes in gold, silver or space grey hues. The iPhone 5S 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models cost £549, £629 and £709 SIM-free, respectively.

More colourful still is the iPhone 5C, which comes in blue, green, pink, yellow and white colours. There are only 16GB and 32GB sizes on offer for the iPhone 5C, and they cost £469 and £549 SIM-free, respectively.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

How to Reset Your Android Phone


Sometimes, you and your Android phone just don't get along: You want to watch a video and it won't stop pinging you with notifications. You have hundreds of apps installed on your phone and trying to figure out which one is incessantly bothering you would take too much time. In these situations, the scorched-Earth method works best—provided you don't mind losing all your personal data.


To reset your Android phone back to its pristine, fresh-from-the-factory state, simply head on over to your phone's Settings app and look for the Backup and Restore menu. Tap on it, and you should see an option labeled Factory data reset. Selecting this option will pop up a window asking you to confirm your selection.

At this point, note that if you choose to proceed, you'll lose all data on your phone, including your apps, photos, music, and any contacts that aren't backed up to Gmail's servers. If you're okay with starting over, hit the reset phone button and your phone will begin the process of resetting itself.

Resetting your phone can take anywhere between 5 and 10 minutes, depending on how much stuff you had on it. Some phones won't let you reset them unless you have over a certain percentage of battery, so it's best to perform this operation while the phone is plugged in and charging. Once the phone is done purging itself of all your data and apps, you're phone will be just like new—software-wise, anyway—and you'll be prompted to go through the setup process once more.

Friday, September 20, 2013

iOS 7 Lockscreen Bug Dicovered

 Just 72 hours after release the first significant security risk of Lockscreen bug has been discovered in Apple iOS 7.

The bug occurs because, by default, the Control Center functionality is set to be available even when the screen is locked. Although full access is not possible, a thief could take control of the camera including the photo reel and post to linked social networks.

Although the bug only manifests if a very precisely timed sequence of key presses is performed, the fact that this information is now in the public domain means that a patch will be required quickly. In the meantime, users can disable the feature, and the associated security risk, by simply disabling the option for Control Center in their lockscreen.

Mobile security firm Lookout has revealed that it has managed to use the bug to access the timer, calculator and contacts list, though we can't imagine the first two being any huge threat to personal data.

Whilst acknowledging that concern is warranted in the ongoing battle to keep personal information private, we should emphasis that this is a somewhat convoluted security risk, relying as it does on a number of criteria being met.

We do wonder, however, whether Samsung will perhaps want to claim a patent on this lockscreen bug, given that its Android phones were similarly afflicted earlier this year.

Meanwhile, in a separate development, venture capitalist IO Capital has put a bounty of $10,000 for the first hacker who can "reliably and repeatedly" break into an iPhone 5S by lifting fingerprints. Since the prize was announced, the hacking community has been adding its own prizes, including copious amounts of alcohol and bit coins.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

iPhone 5S vs Samsung Galaxy S4 specs comparison



APPLE AND SAMSUNG have been fighting for the number one best-selling smartphone title for years. In the past, Apple's latest iPhone has traditionally won the yearly grudge match. However, since the death of iconic Apple founder Steve Jobs, Apple's lead on Samsung has gradually waned, with each new top-end Galaxy smartphone boasting increasingly higher sales.

For this reason, prior to its unveiling many industry commentators had begun to quietly predict that the iPhone 5S might become the first ever Apple smartphone not to beat Samsung's flagship handset in head to head sales.

Now with the iPhone 5S and its specifications revealed, it's too still early to know the final outcome in 2013's Apple vs Samsung battle, but the two smartphones' specifications suggest that the fight might be the most heated to date.


Measurements and Weight
iPhone 5S: 124x59x7.6mm, 112g
Samsung Galaxy S4: 137x70x7.9mm, 130g

The Apple iPhone 5S design looks pretty much the same as that of the iPhone 5, but it comes with multiple colour options. This means, as before, that the iPhone 5S is significantly lighter and smaller than the Samsung Galaxy S4, so it will likely be a more popular choice for smaller-handed people.


Display

iPhone 5S: 4in 1136x640, 326ppi Retina display
Samsung Galaxy S4: 5in full HD super Amoled 1920x1080 display, 441ppi

The Apple iPhone 5S has a 4in Retina display. Back in the day, when Apple first rolled out the Retina display technology, it was a big selling point for Apple devices, making the screens the sharpest and crispest ever seen on smartphones or tablets.

However a few years on, while still great, Apple's Retina displays are no longer the best on the market and a few smartphones have been released boasting better screens.

Running the Galaxy S4 head to head with the iPhone 5S' predecessor, the iPhone 5, we found Samsung's flagship had a superior screen, with its 441ppi full HD display being one of the best we've ever used.


Processor

iPhone 5S: Apple A7 processor
Samsung Galaxy S4: Quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor

Apple made a big deal about its new A7 processor, claiming that it is the world's first 64-bit mobile chip and will make the iPhone 5S one of the fastest smartphones in the word, offering 40-times better CPU performance than the iPhone 5. However, as always, Apple declined to disclose the speed of its A7 processor, making it difficult to know how it will compare to the quad-core 1.9GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 powered Galaxy S4 in real-world performance.


Battery

iPhone 5S: 10 hours' 3G talk time, unspecified lithium-ion battery
Samsung Galaxy S4: 17 hours' 3G general use, 2,600mAh lithium-ion battery


Battery life is an issue for most smartphones in the present market. This remained true on the Galaxy S4, which, despite being listed as lasting “up to 17 hours” on 3G on one charge, generally needed a top-up after a regular day’s use, with an average life of about six hours when battery was in use. This means that if the unspecified battery used in the iPhone 5S lives up to Apple’s claim of 10-hour 3G talk time it should easily outlast the Galaxy S4. However, we’ll only know this for sure when we’ve had a chance to actually test the battery on the iPhone 5S.


Camera

iPhone 5S: 8MP rear, 1.2MP front
Samsung Galaxy S4: 13MP rear, 2MP front

While the iPhone 5S camera looks lower specified, as any camera expert will tell you, it's not just about the megapixel count. Because of this, while it doesn't capture as many pixels, the Apple iPhone 5S might prove better at taking photos, because it boasts custom technology designed to capture bigger pixels, meaning that, like the HTC One, it should be better than average at taking photos in low light.


Storage

iPhone 5S: 16/32/64GB storage, no microSD card slot, 2GB of RAM 
Samsung Galaxy S4: 16/32/64GB storage, microSD card slot up to 64GB, 2GB of RAM

Both devices are available with multiple storage options, however the Galaxy S4 comes with a microSD card slot, meaning that buyers who can't afford the upfront cost of the 64GB model can add to the phone's storage at a later date.


Overall

On paper both the iPhone 5S and Samsung Galaxy S4 are good smartphones and both have definite enterprise appeal. Once we've had time to thoroughly put the two head to head in an in-depth, hands-on comparison review, we'll make a call on which is the best business smartphone.

* The iPhone 5S is set for release on 20 September.

Apple iOS 7 Review




Introduction:

Depending on where you come from, the iOS 7 may be the bigger, and better, piece of news than the new iPhone duo. Certainly true if you have the iPhone 5 and you intend on holding on to it, unfazed by what looks like a dilemma between a marginal upgrade and a candy-colored downgrade.

It's not about the phones though. Not yet. There's two of them for a change, which means Apple will be keeping us busy with double the usual amount of hardware to review. However, we cannot ignore the fact that we took the first glimpse of the new iOS 7 this summer as a sign - a promise? - of a better, new exterior design to come.

Yes, we liked the iOS 7 and, as it's about to start hitting the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 on September 18, we're taking a closer look at what's the biggest overhaul of the platform since it debuted in 2007. What makes it different this time is that we're not focusing on the new stuff but exploring the OS head to toe.

Let's start with a closer look at the list of features.

Key Features:
 
•Complete UI overhaul with adaptive colors and system-wide Back swipe gesture
•New system icons and folders, animated icons available
•System-wide parallax effect
•Dynamic wallpapers
•Control Center with toggles, multimedia controls and shortcuts
•Updated Notification Center with three tabs
•New adaptive multitasking with new card interface, background refresh of apps and services
•Updated Safari browser with unified search filed
•iTunes online radio service
•AirDrop file sharing
•Inclinometer within the Compass app
•Camera filters with live preview and new square mode
•New Photos app with better photo organization, picture editing
•Weather app with live weather animations
•Updated Maps with Night mode and Turn-by-Turn walking directions
•New Siri interface, new supported commands, new voices
•Contact Blacklist
•FaceTime audio calls
•Activation lock
•Automatic app update
•Cellular data usage breakdown
•Chinese-English, Italian, Korean and Dutch dictionaries
•iOS in the Car coming in 2014 in selected cars


Main Disadvantages:
 
•Heavily iTunes dependent for uploading files and multimedia
•Segregated file system means you often have to duplicate files to access them through various applications
•No widgets
•Air Drop works only between selected iOS 7 or later running devices
•No lockscreen shortcuts (besides those in Control Center)
•Very basic camera UI with limited features and settings
•Limited video codec support for the built-in player
•No Smart dialing in the dialpad
•iTunes radio only works in the US at launch

We know many of our readers are impatient to see what kind of difference the 64-bit A7 chipset is making and excited about the return of the fingerprint scanner to the mobile world. But while we wait for a review iPhone 5s to arrive, let's explore the final version of the iOS 7.

The dynamic wallpapers and parallax view, along with live icons and the agile use of transparency are all part of the new design language but there's more to the iOS 7 than the modern aesthetics.

From a functionality perspective, Apple finally has connectivity toggles organized within the new Control Center, an iTunes radio streaming service, the notification center has been completely redesigned, there is AirDrop for easy sharing between different iOS devices, and an even more capable Siri.

Of course, there are still features missing. And those will be duly noted as we go along. This review is based on the Golden Master build, made available to developers ahead of the full-scale release to the general public, and we have it running on an iPhone 5.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Windows Phone Store hits 9 Million Daily Transactions



Microsoft has announced that its Windows Phone Store has surpassed nine million daily transactions, and has delivered some good news for its developer community.

Suggesting that its Windows Phone mobile operating system is finally starting to gain some traction, Microsoft put out a blog post on Friday boasting that it now sees nine million transactions every day at its Windows Phone Store. It is worth noting, however, that this accounts for both app purchases and in-app purchases.

Windows Phone Store GM Todd Brix wrote, "Since my last post we've surpassed nine million transactions per day, and Kantar reports that Windows Phone now accounts for one in 10 smartphones sales in Britain, France, Germany and Mexico."

The post wasn't just self-indulgent ramblings though, as Microsoft also delivered some good news for Windows Phone developers, revealing that it will no longer wait to receive app sales proceeds from mobile operators before issuing payment to developers. This means that developers will no longer have to wait 120 days or more for the money to arrive in their accounts, with Microsoft saying instead that payment should be received within 30 days.

Brix added, "This is an important change as we continue to add carrier billing connections. On average, developers are earning [three] times more revenue per active user in markets where carrier billing is offered. This increases to [six] times more revenue on average in emerging markets where credit card usage is more limited."

Of course, there had to be some bad news thrown in for good measure, too. Microsoft also noted in its post that its advertising team has recently joined forces with several third-party networks to bring additional ads to Windows Phone, which means that the company is going to push more adverts to its mobile operating system users.

Microsoft also said that it will offer targeted ads, but it claimed that users' information will not be shared with ad networks.

Source: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2294850/microsoft-says-its-windows-phone-store-has-hit-nine-million-daily-transactions

Monday, September 16, 2013

GTA 5 launches tonight Worldwide



Once again, Rockstar Games launch a new series of Grand Theft Auto:  GTA 5 !

GTA 5 has a trio of main playable characters. increasing the number of core characters in the game is a great idea, as GTA 4 suffered from having to fit one character to too numerous dramatic roles - you had to believe that Niko Bellic would worry over killing one man, one minute and then go on a killing rampage the next; that he cared about friends and girlfriends, but was also a moody loner.

The series is set in fictional locales heavily modelled on American cities, while an expansion for the original was based in London.

The biggest, most dynamic and most diverse open world ever created, Grand Theft Auto V blends storytelling and game play in new ways as players repeatedly jump in and out of the lives of the game’s three lead characters, playing all sides of the game’s interwoven story.

*Initially Grand Theft Auto V is available worldwide for Xbox 360 and PlayStation-3 user's only.

*Grand Theft Auto V is available in a range of editions. The cheapest of these is priced at about £40 / $65.


Grand Theft Auto 5 - Video Trailer (Official):

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Huawei upcoming Windows Phone 8: Ascend W3 Leaked

Huawei Ascend W3


Huawei introduce its first Windows Phone 8 with a name Ascend W3. Images of the third-generation Ascend W3 smartphone have been leaked confirming the presence with a slim metal design, and which will be available in blue and yellow color variants.

A Leaked photo has recently popped up and it is allegedly that of the Huawei Ascend W3, which as you can see in the photo above, is running on Windows Phone. The handset is expected to be a mid-ranged device but will apparently sport a metal design as well, which we have to say is a nice touch and is reminiscent of the Nokia Lumia 925.

The upcoming Windows Phone booting Huawei smartphone is rumored to sport a 4.5-inch display and measures of 132 x 67 x 10mm. It is also said that there's an 8 megapixel rear shooter at the back, capable of shooting 1080P FullHD (1920 x 1080) videos.

The handset is expected to be shown off at CES 2014 and hit the market in January that year.

Some source reports that the company is also working on a high end Windows Phone which is comparable to the Ascend D2 features, which features a 13 megapixel camera, 5 inch 1080P screen and 32 GB of storage. However no release date for this handset is know yet.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Nokia Windows 8.1 Tablet "Sirius" leak

Nokia: Windows 8.1 Tablet Sirrius


An image of Nokia's rumoured first Windows 8.1 tablet as a code name "Sirius" with 10.1 inch,  HD 1080p screen display has appeared on the internet.

Arguably the most interesting of these is the Nokia 'Sirius', the Finnish phone maker's first tablet. This device has been rumoured for a while, and is expected to launch alongside the Nokia Lumia 1520 tablet on 26 September.

Assuming this leak is accurate, and we have no reason to believe it is not, you won't have to wait until the end of the month to find out what the tablet will offer. It reportedly will run Microsoft's Windows 8.1 RT operating system and will have a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and a 10.1in 1920x1080 full HD display.

Taking tips from Nokia's Lumia phone lineup, the tablet reportedly will also feature a 6.7MP camera with Carl Zeiss optics, built-in LTE support and will be available in red, complete with a "multi-function cover with keyboard".

That's all we know right now, but the Nokia Sirius is likely to make its debut within the next few weeks, priced at around $499.

These include: the 8in Dell Venue tablet which will likely feature an Intel Atom Bay Trail chip and a $299 price tag; the Lenovo 7in and 10.1in Intel Atom Bay Trail tablets, the Miix 8 and Miix 2; and the Microsoft Surface Mini, which will reportedly feature an 8in screen and a Qualcomm processor. We expect to find out more about these tablets over the next few weeks.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Windows 8.1 RTM hits two million downloads in 24 hours


After offering free "WINDOWS 8.1 (RTM)" to its MSDN & TechNet  subscriber From Microsoft. WINDOWS 8.1 release to manufacturers (RTM) build has seen over two million downloads since Microsoft distributed it to Technet and MSDN subscribers on Tuesday, the firm's EVP of marketing Tami Reller has claimed.

The two million download figure suggests two things: that Windows 8 developers see the Windows 8.1 release as a much needed update, and that Microsoft did right to reverse its earlier decision to withhold the RTM build until its general availability later this year

Announcing the news in a keynote at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) on Wednesday, Microsoft's Reller claimed that the firm had seen an "incredible uptake" of the Windows 8.1 build since its release.

The RTM version is the "gold" build that's used by device manufacturers. In past software releases, Microsoft typically had given early access to these bits to its developer MSDN subscribers and IT pro TechNet subscribers, but the company wasn't going to do that this time because of its new faster software release cadence. However, Microsoft has now relented and released the bits anyway. It did so after hearing from developers and IT pros that they needed the time to get ready for the general availability releases, according to the announcement. Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 reached their RTM milestones earlier late last month.

While the RTM versions of the operating systems are feature complete, some of the software will be updated at general availability release. For instance, Microsoft indicated it would have further updates to Windows Server 2012 R2 at that time. The price list for Microsoft's new software will be available on Nov. 1 for those organizations making new software purchases.

Microsoft considers the RTM software to be preview software, so there is no upgrade path to the final general availability version, according to the Microsoft spokesperson. Installing the Windows 8.1 RTM on a test machine is the preferred approach. For instance, even the Windows 8.1 preview came with multiple install caveats to observe.

Microsoft hopes that the updates in Windows 8.1 will help those customers who dislike how different the operating system feels in relation to earlier releases to like it again.

Source : www.theinquirer.net & www.redmondmag.com

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Asus Transformer Book "Trio" combines both Windows 8 & Android



Trio combine the versatility of a keyboard for comfortable typing with the portability of a tablet for quick access, it also combines the power of Windows 8 with the simplicity of Android.

Hardware
Where many hybrid laptops consist of a tablet that attaches to what is effectively a dumb keyboard, the Trio has brains in both parts. So when the 11.6-inch, 1080p screen is detached and you wander off to use it as a tablet, the keyboard can be plugged into a monitor via Mini DisplayPort or Micro-HDMI, and someone else can use it as a desktop computer.

It's powered by a fourth-generation Intel Core processor -- up to i7 -- in the keyboard, with a separate dual-core 1.6GHz Intel Atom Z2760 processor in the screen. The keyboard/PC station packs 4GB of DDR3 RAM with up to a 1TB hard drive, and the tablet/screen boasts 2GB of LP DDR2 RAM with a choice of 16, 32, or 64GB of storage.

The keyboardy bit offers 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and the tablety bit does 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0. There's a separate battery in each half of the Trio, so not only can each part work on its own -- for up to 13 hours as Android and 5 hours as Windows 8 -- but when you bring them together one can provide a life-giving transfusion of power to the other.

Also in the tablet is a 5-megapixel camera with autofocus that shoots 1080p video, and a Webcam facing forward that shoots 720p high-definition video chat.

All this power doesn't come light. The keyboard dock measures 13.4mm thick and weighs 1kg, while the tablet is 9.7mm thick and weighs 700g. Overall it's a hefty package, but then the whole point is that you don't have to carry the whole thing around.

Software
The Trio offers the choice of Windows 8 or Android 4.2 Jelly Bean when docked. The screen only runs Android when it's detached, but when they're together or when the keyboard is plugged into a monitor, it runs Windows 8. To switch between them, press a little button next to the F12 function key on the top row of the keyboard. Switching can be instant, but can take a moment or two to go from one to the other. Even with a briefly blank screen, it's still pretty clever.

Why do you want both types of operating system available? As with the screen and keyboard, it's all about power versus portability. Windows 8 allows you to install almost any software you can think of when you have something intensive to do, while Android offers a simplified touch-screen experience that's easier on the battery, with apps designed to be simple to use when you're out and about.


Another advantage is that if you've invested in plots of Android apps from the Google Play store for your Android phone, you can use them on your Trio, too.

Both types of software are designed to use with a touch screen, so you can use either by tapping, swiping and using several fingers at once on the screen, even when it's docked as a laptop.

Hands on
In person, the Asus Transformer Book Trio is just as impressive as it is on paper. When connected to the dock, it seamlessly switches from Android to Windows 8 with the touch of a button, and responds quickly to swipes and gestures.
As a tablet, it's awkwardly long, but shockingly light. The slate is comfortable to hold -- using both hands of course -- but my outstretched arms made me feel like I was holding a map open instead of a portable electronic device.
The Transformer Book Trio features typical Asus goodies, like its calibration and audio-enhancing software. At full volume the tablet was pretty loud and the audio sounded fuller than most devices.

Performance wise, the Transformer Book Trio was fast as an Android tablet, Android laptop, Windows 8 laptop, and Windows 8 desktop (as an extended monitor). By far its most impressive ability is to seamlessly become three different devices with the choice of two different operating systems.

The Asus Transformer Book Trio is expected to go on sale in October and, according to an Asus representative, it will be "competitively priced." My guess is that the Trio will go on sale for somewhere between $700 to $800.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Google Drive for iOS



The Google Drive for iOS app has been updated with an all-new look that mimics the card-style layout using across Google+ and the Google Drive for Android app.

The good: Google Drive for iOS offers a sleek interface for accessing, moving, and sharing your stored files. Also, the built-in document editors are easy to use and come with a multitude of formatting tools. Real-time collaboration is a nice feature.

The bad: The app doesn't let you create or edit Drawings or Presentations. There are no sorting or filter options to help sift through files. And an extra password-protect feature would be nice.

The bottom line: An elegant blend of Dropbox-like storage and mobile document editing, Google Drive is a must-have app, especially if you're a dedicated Google user.
An impressively powerful mobile productivity solution, Google Drive for iOS mixes Dropbox-style storage with on-the-go document editing. It lets you access and manipulate files in the cloud and do things like create spreadsheets and view presentations, all from its tightly designed interface. The app even lets you collaborate in real-time with other Drive users with whom you share files. As well, it lets you share links to files, so your friends can download items directly from your Drive.

With a recent update, Google Drive for iOS moved closer in line with other Google-made products. It now features a card-based interface like its sibling on Android, and larger thumbnails are available for quick previews of files. Quite frankly, with its sleek look and powerful features, this revamped app should be installed on every Google user's mobile device.

What many Google users may not know is that every Google account comes with 15GB of free storage space. Of course, this space is used for items saved on your Gmail and Google+ Photos accounts, as well as on your Drive, but still, the deal is a good one that's worth knowing about.

Cloud Storage: Thanks to the included space, you can use Drive to store not only your spreadsheets and text documents, but also any other file types you may want accessible from the cloud. From the app, you can upload photos and videos, and they'll immediately appear in your Drive, ready to be accessed from any of your devices.

Reference : Cnet Reviews

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Microsoft relents, gives devs early access to Windows 8.1

Microsoft said Monday that it would provide early access to the release version of Windows 8 today, via its MSDN and TechNet services, reversing a previously-held stance that had angered developers.


Microsoft's decision was revealed Monday in a blog post, together with the disclosure that the Windows 8.1 bits would be accompanied by tools designed to spur app development.  The current Windows 8.1 Enterprise RTM build will be available through MSDN and TechNet for businesses "later this month". Microsoft will make the Windows 8.1, Windows 8.1 Pro, and Window Server 2012 R2 builds available, Microsoft said.



The Visual Studio 2013 Release Candidate is also live, Microsoft said, and can be downloaded from this site.



"We heard from you that our decision to not initially release Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 RTM bits was a big challenge for our developer partners as they’re readying new Windows 8.1 apps and for IT professionals who are preparing for Windows 8.1 deployments," Microsoft chief evangelist Steve Guggenheimer wrote. "We’ve listened, we value your partnership, and we are adjusting based on your feedback. As we refine our delivery schedules for a more rapid release cadence, we are working on the best way to support early releases to the various audiences within our ecosystem.



Microsoft had previously revealed that Windows 8.1 would roll out to consumers on the morning of Oct. 17, with a retail launch a day later. Late in August, Microsoft began shipping the final version of Windows 8.1 to OEM customers. But the release was accompanied by howls of outrage by developers who would have been forced to wait for the October launch date, the same as consumers.


In short, that would have meant almost no time for developers to ensure that their applications ran properly under Windows 8.1. Historically, developers have had weeks or months to perform their testing, a practice Microsoft's release schedule would have broken. “Most of us actually want to support Windows 8.1, a lot of us want to get apps ready for the awesome 8.1 features, but we can’t properly do that unless we get the RTM bits before the public gets the Windows 8.1 update," one developer wrote in comments attached to the original Microsoft announcement.


But Microsoft undoubtedly sat back, examined the relatively small number of Windows apps (about 115,000, according to MetroStore Scanner) and decided that they needed every one.


For those who have subscribed to the TechNet service, the Windows 8.1 bits will be one of its last hurrahs. In July, Microsoft said that it would phase out the $199 service, and replace it with a new TechNet Evaluation Center offering free evaluation software for limited periods of 90 to 180 days.  Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) subscriptions for software developers start at $699 per year.

If you're not a TechNet or MSDN subscriber, you can still try out Windows 8.1, via PCWorld's guide to installing the Windows 8.1 preview, before October rolls around. Microsoft is also releasing new Windows Server 2012 R2, System Center 2012 R2, and the latest update to Windows Intune


Reference: PCWorld

Monday, September 9, 2013

Samsung starting mass production of DDR4 Memory



Samsung announced that it has started mass producing DDR4 memories that it expects will go into enterprise servers in next-generation data centers. Memory DDR4 RAM modules in 16GB and 32GB capacities, following news that 16GB modules were being sampled back in July 2012. Samsung boasts that its modules support up to 2667Mbps transfer speeds and that the 4Gb DDR4 memory chips used by the modules lower power consumption by 30 percent relative to comparable DDR3 chips.

As we've written before, any speed increases promised by DDR4 won't make their way into servers or PCs until memory controllers begin to support them. Since today's memory controllers are integrated into the CPUs themselves, we'll need to wait for new processors before we can get new memory. Intel's Haswell-E server CPUs, due in 2014, are the company's first announced processors to support DDR4, and there's no word on whether its next-generation "Broadwell" chips for consumer PCs will support the standard. AMD has yet to announce its own plans for DDR4 support.

Samsung's modules use 4Gb (512MB) chips manufactured at 20nm, the same process being used to make its current low-power "green DDR3." Neither 16GB nor 32GB memory modules are unheard of today (especially in server memory), but 32GB modules are rare and much more expensive than their 16GB counterparts. When DDR4 memory does finally hit servers (and in a more distant future consumer PCs, tablets, and phones), it may make these larger capacities more accessible than they are today.

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Upcoming Windows Phone 8 : Nokia Lumia 1520




Nokia is preparing to launch a Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8. We got a brief look at the phone last month thanks to a leaked image. Nokia Lumia 1520 made yet another appearance. This time around, the handset emerged in a slew live photos, showcasing its hardware, and getting sized up against what appears to be a Sony Xperia Z1.

Lumia 1520 allegedly packs a giant giant 6-inch screen, 1080p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of built-in memory, and a microSD card slot. There is no information on the camera of the device but could be a 20 MegaPixel, though, with its pronounced hump, it looks a lot like the snapper of the Nokia Lumia 925.

The rear of the device includes a camera with a hump that's similar to Nokia's Lumia 925, and it also matches a press render that leaked earlier this week. Microsoft's latest Windows Phone 8 update, known as General Distribution 3, can be seen running on the device with an additional column of Live Tiles on the Start Screen for 1080p resolution support.

*Nokia will be announcing its next Lumia smartphone on September 26.


Nokia Lumia 1520 - Photos (Official):


Saturday, September 7, 2013

Microsoft plans to changes Office 365 targeted at SharePoint Online users

Microsoft wants to improve the way they upload and store documents in the cloud collaboration server to prevent SharePoint Online customers from feeling boxed in.
Over the coming weeks, Microsoft will roll out a set of changes to Office 365 targeted at SharePoint Online users, including increasing from 250MB to 2GB the size of files that people can upload to their individual Sky-Drive Pro repositories and to SharePoint Online team site document libraries, the company said on Thursday in a blog post.
The enhancements are in response to companies' increased use of Office 365, according to the blog post's author, Mark Kashman. "Users are uploading more documents to Sky-Drive Pro, teams are building numerous team sites to work with internal teams as well as with external customers and partners, and companies are establishing their corporate intranet sites," he wrote.
In addition to lifting the size limit on individual uploads, Microsoft has expanded the types of files that can be uploaded by adding .exe and .dll files.
Another change will be to increase from 3,000 to 10,000 the number of site collections -- groups of websites organized hierarchically -- that an Office 365 Enterprise customer can create. This improvement will not be applied to Office 365 Small Business and Midsize Business customers.
Microsoft is also prolonging the time that discarded documents remain in SharePoint Online recycle bins from 30 days to 90 days to give users more chance to recover these items. In addition, retaining multiple versions of Office 365 documents will be on by default on newly created SkyDrive Pro libraries.
Thursday's announcement comes shortly after Microsoft increased SkyDrive Pro storage from 7GB to 25GB and doubled the size of Exchange Online mailboxes to 50GB.
Microsoft is in a dogfight with Google, as Office 365 and Google Apps battle for customers large and small that are looking to move their email, calendaring, office apps and other collaboration and productivity tools to a vendor-hosted public cloud service.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (Review + Specs)

Samsung announced its new Galaxy Note 3 at its Unpacked 2013 event at IFA. The firm said that the Galaxy Note 3 will be released 25 September in more than 140 countries.


Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Image (Official):





Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Video Review (Official):




Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Specification (Official):

Network
2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz3G (HSPA+ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market)
Processor
LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor
3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz + A7 1.3 GHz)
The selection of AP will be differed by markets.
Display
5.7inch (144.3mm) Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080)
OS
Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)
Camera
Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization,
LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag
Sub (Front): 2 Mega-pixel BSI sensor with Smart Stabilization,
Full HD recording @30fps
Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call
Recording: UHD 30fps, Smooth motion (FHD 60fps), Slow motion (HD 120fps)
Camera Mode: Drama Shot, Sound & Shot, Animated Photo, Eraser, Best Photo, Best Face, Beauty Face, HDR (High Dynamic Range), Panorama, Sports, Golf, Surround shot, Live effect
Video
Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC
Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (*may differ by market)
Audio
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(*), WAV(*)
(*) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support
S Pen Optimized Features
Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window
S Note, Multi Window, new Easy Clip, Direct Pen Input
Additional Features
Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games
Story Album, S Translator
Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View
Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON
S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health
Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound
Auto adjust touch sensitivity (Glove friendly)
Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring
Safety Assistance, Samsung
Google Mobile Services
Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google+, Maps, Play Books
Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts
Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger
Connectivity
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80)
GPS / GLONASS
NFC, Bluetooth® v 4.0 (LE)
IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0
Sensor
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB
Proximity, Barometer, Temperature & Humidity, Hall Sensor
Memory
32/ 64 GB User memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB)
3GB RAM
Dimension
151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g
Battery
Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh