Author: Shivaank Rana

Microsoft To Appoint CEO By Early 2014

Microsoft has stated that they will not be naming a new CEO in 2013, defying speculation that the board wanted to make the announcement before the end of the year. The announcement came via a post on the official Microsoft blog by John W. Thompson, a member of Microsoft’s board of directors.

John Thompson said that the company has filtered its list of candidates from 100 to 20 to a smaller, though unspecified, number.

According to the Guardian, Thompson further said that as the list of potential successors has been narrowed and they have done deeper research, which is expected to be completed in the early part of 2014.

The frontrunners in the CEO race include ex-Nokia chief Stephen Elop, Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Microsoft’s cloud computing head Satya Nadella among others.

After spending 13 years running Microsoft, Steve Ballmer might be turning in his key to the men’s room for a coach’s whistle as there is talk he might coach his son’s high school basketball team. While he will be missed, there are those who would like to see a replacement named quickly. Certainly, the new CEO will have a lot to work with considering Microsoft’s huge variety of product offerings.

December 18, 2013
Windows Phone and Windows RT May Soon Be Free Of License Fees

The Verge is reporting that sources close to Microsoft have indicated the company is seriously considering making Windows Phone and Windows RT available to device manufacturers free of charge. Microsoft would most likely move to a free licensing model with the upcoming “Threshold” update, the next major Windows update rumoured to bring back the Start menu.

The majority of Windows revenue currently comes from licensing Windows 8 and Windows RT to OEMs. However, Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Nokia’s handset division virtually eliminated any significant Windows Phone licensing revenue, as the Finnish manufacturer was responsible for 80% of all Windows Phone shipments.

It is expected that Microsoft will try to make up for the revenue loss through apps and services, the company has experimented with running ads in Windows 8 apps so something along the same lines can be implemented in those operating systems as well. The aim is to combat Android, but it remains to be seen if free versions of its mobile operating systems will entice OEMs to develop more Windows Phone and Windows RT powered devices.

December 12, 2013
Official FIFA iOS And Android Apps Launch

Football’s international governing body FIFA has released a free app for iOS and Android that lets you follow your favorite teams and keep up to date with FIFA news and events.

Users can also access match schedules, scores, destination guides and team profiles, as well as personalise their World Match Centre with national teams, competitions, and clubs.

“Download the most comprehensive football app on the planet and unlock the world of football,” says FIFA. “Hundreds of competitions, thousands of goals and over a million minutes of football every single week.”

In addition, football fans can see video from the FIFA TV Studio and FIFA archive. The free app is compatible with iPhones using iOS 5.1 or higher, the iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets using version 2.3 and up.

November 30, 2013
Google Will Ban Windows Chrome Extensions Which Don’t Belong to Web Store

Google will block third-party browser extensions that aren’t hosted in the Chrome Web Store, in order to battle malware.

“We’re announcing a stronger measure to protect Windows users: starting in January on the Windows stable and beta channels, we’ll require all extensions to be hosted in the Chrome Web Store”, states Erik Kay, Engineering Director at Google.

Usually, Chrome will ask for permission before installing extensions on a user’s browser. But scammers have figured out how to silently install extensions without a user knowing.

These extensions can “override browser settings and alter the user experience in undesired ways, such as replacing the New Tab Page without approval,” Google said in a blog post. “In fact, this is a leading cause of complaints from our Windows users.”

Google recommends that developers who have extensions hosted outside the Chrome Web Store migrate them “as soon as possible.” If developers don’t make the change, their users will not be able to install their extensions nor will they be able to keep using extensions that have already been installed.

“Protecting our users is a key priority, and we believe this change will help those whose browser has been compromised by unwanted extensions.”

The news comes shortly after Google said it will add automatic malware blocking to Chrome and the option to reset browser settings.

November 8, 2013
Microsoft’s Office 365 Updates Aimed To Help Compete With Google

Today, Microsoft revealed a number of updates on Office 365 related products, including some new options to share Office 365 Home Premium with others.

The latest Office Web App updates will go live shortly for anyone who signs in at Office.com with a free Microsoft account or a paid Office 365 account. These are significant improvements, enhancing collaborative capabilities and making the free online versions credible alternatives to the paid Office 2013 and Office 365 products.

As ZDNet reports, he most visible improvements in the new Office Web Apps allow anyone to create documents in the three online programs—Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—and share them with anyone else for real-time collaboration. Effective with this release, online users of the Word Web App can stop hovering over the Save button. It’s gone, as that app now joins its Office-mates in the capability to automatically save changes to files while multiple users work on them simultaneously. Any changes your co-workers make show up in the document virtually instantaneously.

Word also adds the ability to find and replace text in a document, a capability that is sorely missed in the previous Office Web Apps release.

Other features for Excel that have been introduced include the ability to load workbooks that contain Sheet Protection, reorder sheets, drag and drop cells, and rename your workbook.

Business users of Office 365 will now see a new integration of the company’s Yammer division. Starting now, all business Office 365 plans come with Yammer Enterprise, and current customers can now get Yammer Enterprise licenses. Also, Office 365 business users won’t have to purchase individual new licenses for external users within their external company networks.

November 7, 2013
Facebook Teams Up With Microsoft, Offers Bounty For Bugs

Microsoft has recently announced an extension for its Windows 8.1 bug bounty program, but it turns out that it also wants to make the Internet safer with help from its rivals.

Facebook and Microsoft joined forces for a new project called Internet Bug Bounty, which encourages hackers and security researchers to submit bugs for cash rewards.

The Internet Bug Bounty program will pay a minimum for $5,000 for flaws in sandboxed applications or for bugs in fundamental internet technologies such as DNS and SSL. Lower payouts are offered for spotting problems in Ruby, Python, PHP, Apache, Perl, and other software.

“Our collective safety is only possible when public security research is allowed to flourish. Some of the most critical vulnerabilities in the internet’s history have been resolved thanks to efforts of researchers fueled entirely by curiosity and altruism,” the Facebook and Microsoft said on the bounty program’s website.

“We owe these individuals an enormous debt and believe it is our duty to do everything in our power to cultivate a safe, rewarding environment for past, present, and future researchers.”

To qualify, flaws must found in code that is in widespread use, of serious or critical severity, or be an unusual or novel hack that no one has thought of as yet. Once reported and verified, software providers will have 180 days to fix the problem before any announcement is made of money paid out.

The 10-person judging panel is dominated by Microsoft and Facebook staff, but there will be input from Google’s security researcher Chris Evans, director of security engineering at Etsy Zane Lackey, and penetration tester from iSec Jesse Burns.

The contest is open to anyone in the world, except those countries under US trade embargo. There’s no age limit, but if you’re not yet a teenager then a parent or guardian will have to claim the money for you.

November 7, 2013
Windows 8.1 Doubles Its Marketshare

The percentage of PC users running Windows 8.1 doubled in a month’s time, according to the latest October data compiled by metrics firm Net Applications.

The Windows 8.1 OS rose from 0.87% market share to 1.72%, for a 0.85% gain. The trend is expected to continue in November and beyond as Microsoft herds its customers away from its previous operating systems and towards 8.1.

Windows 8 fell 0.49 percentage points (from 8.02 percent to 7.49 percent), its first loss ever.

At the same time, Windows 7 grabbed 0.03 percentage points (from 46.39 percent to 46.42 percent). Last month, Windows 7 gained more share than Windows 8 for the first time, but in October it remained flat.

Notably, Windows XP dropped only slightly, from 31.42% to 31.24%–not a very big fall, considering Microsoft wants to move everyone off that OS before it cuts off all support for it in a few months.

Linux dropped from 1.65% market share to 1.61%, remaining a well kept secret as ever–or well avoided bogey, depending on your perspective.

We expect Windows 8.1’s share to be much higher next month.

November 2, 2013
Samsung Introduces W2014 Flip Phone Powered By Snapdragon 800

Samsung has launched yet another flip phone for the Chinese market, this time powered by the beastly Snapdragon 800 processor. The W2014 has been officially revealed today after leaking last month.

As GSMArena reports, the W2014 has a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor under the hood, along with 2GB RAM, 32GB internal memory (with microSD card slot), 13 megapixel rear camera, 2 megapixel front camera, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, 1900mAh battery and Android 4.3.

The W2014 has dual displays, just like the Galaxy Golden, with a 3.7-inch 800×480 resolution Super AMOLED panel on either side of the flip.

There’s a slim chance that a few more Asian countries might get it as well.

November 2, 2013
Android Jelly Bean Now On 52.1% Of Active Devices

According to Google’s monthly Android OS distribution chart — which tracks devices that actively visit Google Play Store — Jelly Bean (OS 4.1 to 4.3) now makes up for 52.1%of all devices, up from 48.6% last month. Every other OS dropped in usage, most notedly Android Gingerbread by 2.2% to run on 26.3% of Android device . This is still a huge number as the OS was introduced almost 3-years ago (December of 2010).

Next month will be interesting as we’ll see the uptake on the new 4.4 KitKat, plus those stats might also give a peek into early Nexus 5 sales.

November 2, 2013
Report : Sony PocketStation To Make A Comeback, Announcement Set For Nov. 5

Sony has released a very odd trailer for its discontinued PocketStation device. It was a companion device for PSOne that boasted an LCD screen and worked in tandem with a variety of titles.

The PSP-precursor was only ever released in Japan. What it was, was a memory card that you could play games on, similar to the VMU you’d find on the Dreamcast. The device supported multiplayer functionality via its infrared capabilities, which also allowed users to transfer data such as game saves between devices. In 2002, Sony announced that it discontinued production of the peripheral.

Sony seems to be teasing something related to its resurgence. According to a teaser site, whatever Sony is cooking up is “something that will shake the gaming industry”

It is unclear how Sony plans to revive PocketStation, and whether a possible relaunch will coincide with the PlayStation 4 launch. Whether the peripheral will emerge in all territories, if re-released at all, is not known.

We think that there could be some form of PocketStation mobile app on the way. What do you think?

November 1, 2013
Report: Samsung Galaxy Nexus Will Not Get Android 4.4 KitKat

Shortly after announcing the upcoming availability of the first smartphone to ship with Android 4.4 KitKat operating system out of the box, the Nexus 4, Google updated its FAQs for various devices.

Among them, Samsung Galaxy Nexus stands out due to the fact that it’s one of the few Galaxy devices that doesn’t get the Android 4.4 KitKat updates.

According to Google, “Samsung Galaxy Nexus, which first launched two years ago, falls outside of the 18-month update window when Google and others traditionally update devices.”

Android 4.4 KitKat has been designed to run smoothly even on devices with 512 MB of RAM confirms so it’s obviously not about the hardware. The end of the update cycle for the Galaxy Nexus seems to be all about Google saving a few bucks on development costs.

Keep in mind that the Samsung Galaxy Nexus runs a Texas Instruments OMAP processor, and TI isn’t really in the mobile game anymore. Can be difficult to support a device when the chipset manufacturer isn’t really around. This is tough news to swallow for many of you, but the phone is now two years old.

Nevertheless, the Galaxy Nexus was a breakthrough device for Android, heralding in the “Ice Cream Sandwich” age with a strong focus on design.

Google has confirmed that Nexus 4, Nexus 7, Nexus 10, Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One Developer Editions will receive an Android 4.4 KitKat update in the coming weeks.

November 1, 2013
Samsung Tops J.D. Power Tablet Customer Satisfaction Survey, Beats Apple

J.D. Power and Associates is an American-based marketing information services firm that’s highly regarded for its research on customer satisfaction. Apple loves to quote their surveys, and does so at media events and on earnings calls.

But this is one report Tim Cook and company are probably not going to be mentioning. In J.D. Power’s latest tablet customer satisfaction survey, Apple was bested by Samsung on overall satisfaction and in particular areas like device cost.

“Samsung showed particularly strong improvement in the cost factor (25-point increase),” the firm said in a statement. “Apple ranks second scoring 833 and performs particularly well in performance and ease of operation.”

Apple scored 5 out of 5 stars for Overall Satisfaction, Performance, Ease of Use, Physical Design, and Tablet Features, as shown in the chart below. For Cost, apple scored 2 out of 5. In comparison, Samsung scored a 5, 3, 3, 5, 4, and 4 in those same categories, losing to Apple on four of categories, tying in one, and winning on the sixth, Cost.

Samsung tablets received 835 points on a 1,000 scale, with Apple (833), Amazon (826) and Asus (821) right behind it. This is commendable, seeing as in its April study, J.D. Power’s survey ranked Samsung under the study average, with a score of 822, while Apple took the top spot with 836. The surveyors from the marketing firm also note that Samsung is the only manufacturer to have improved in all five areas that are being examined since the last study. These include performance, ease of operation, styling and design, features and cost.

November 1, 2013
Nokia Is That You? HTC Evo Stops Bullet, Earns Owner A New HTC One

Today’s smartphones are more than just a piece of electronic equipment, they often are an all-in-one tool for business, entertainment and so much more. In rare occasions, they can even prove to be lifesavers.

The now extremely proud owner of an HTC EVO 3D smartphone can happily say the phone may have saved his life, as this week we’ve learned a recent robbery went south after a store clerk was shot. However, the good news is his trusty and aluminum EVO 3D smartphone reportedly stopped the bullet, and saved his life.

The man and a co-worker were threatened at gunpoint during a shift, with the robber demanding the contents of the petrol station’s safe, local news service WESH-TV reports.

When it transpired that the pair were unable to access the safe, the offender fled, firing a parting shot as he ran. The man only realised that he had been shot after the police arrived on the scene.

Complaining of chest pains, he lifted his shirt to find that his HTC EVO 3D has intercepted the bullet and prevented it from entering his body.

Three days after the incident was first reported, HTC tweeted the following :

If anybody deserves a new #HTCOne, it’s this guy: http://t.co/diEDp9Ve5N. Enjoy the “Glad You’re OK” care package. http://t.co/azColVH6jW

— HTC (@htc) October 29, 2013

So HTC send him, not only a brand new HTC One, they also included a “Glad You’re OK” care package that included, among other things, a Car Dock, an “On-The-Go Charging” Battery Bar, and a Hipster Troll Carwash (HTC) Mug .

In the past we’ve heard of Nokia devices saving their owners from stray bullets, and it looks like HTC is stepping up to the party now!

November 1, 2013
Apple iPad Market Share Plunges Below 30%

Just 15 months ago Apple commanded 70% of the global tablet market, but according to the latest figures from research firm IDC, the iPad has slipped to less than 30% market share. The reason is the growing threat from Android tablets from the likes of Samsung, Lenovo and Asus.

Apple’s decision to shift its iPad launches to the fall from earlier in the year appears to have undermined its standing versus rival tablet makers.

Even with that seasonal factor, the numbers don’t look great for Apple because its sales in Q3 2013 are just 100,000 iPads higher than the were in Q2 2013, and that’s with the new and cheaper iPad mini in the market. Also unwelcome is momentum for arch-rival Samsung, which managed to more than double its shipments from 4.3m to 9.7m. Lenovo also did well, pushing 2.3m ‘slabs out the door, up from 0.4m a year back.

Despite the stuttering Apple sales figures, the tablet market as a whole grew by 36% year-on-year and was up 7% compared to the second quarter of 2013.

The tablet market is starting to look like the smartphone market. Apple defines the industry, then watches as a bunch of low cost competitors eat up share. Apple is still the most profitable of the bunch.

Google sees the tablet market as a fresh opportunity to control personal computing. It has no chance of taking desktop computing away from Microsoft, so it’s attacking tablet computing, which eats into Apple’s market share.

October 31, 2013
Apple Looking Towards Solar Energy Charging For Its Devices

As PatentlyApple reports, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals a new power management system that will work with both a power adapter and seamlessly with a portable solar panel accessory for busy people on the go. Apple’s engineers are thinking big with their on-site solar power now creating the energy equivalent to powering 17,600 homes a year.

The experience that Apple’s engineers are gaining with working with solar panels is filtering through to creating a power management system for future Macs and iDevices. Apple has already been granted seven solar power patents thus far and you could review most of them in our Green Technology Archives.

Today’s patent goes one step further than most by introducing us to a solar power panel accessory for mobile devices like a MacBook or iPhone that won’t require a power converter. Apple’s system may be closer to reality than first thought considering that Apple’s senior power design engineer noted as the inventor of this system has been snatched by Samsung within the last year.

Apple’s USPTO patent filing describes a method for supplying power to components in an electronic device comprised of a power management system which accepts power from a solar panel and supplies it to the components without using a converter circuit between the solar panel and the power management system.

The power management system includes a system microcontroller (SMC) and a charger. During operation, the power management system accepts power from at least one of a power adapter and a solar panel.

The solution negates the need for bulky power converters (see the image above) which are engineered to take the varying voltage generated by a solar panel (which varies with the amount of sunlight) to provide the specific voltage required by a device.

The patent does offer hope to all the smartphone and notebook owners who always seem to run out of juice before the day is over.

October 31, 2013