Apple: Your Data Is Safe With Us, China

People wait outside an Apple store all night prior to the mainland release of iPhone 4S on January 12, 2012 in Beijing, China.   ChinaFotoPress—Getty Images

Apple insisted Saturday that it does not pass on data collected from Chinese iPhone users to U.S. intelligence services

Apple on Saturday denied claims made on Chinese state media that its iPhone presents a security risk to customers by compromising location data.

“Apple does not track users’ locations – Apple has never done so and has no plans to ever do so,” Apple said on Saturday, the Financial Times reports.

A Friday report on CCTV, the widely influential Chinese state-owned broadcaster, warned that the iPhone could track users using its positioning technology, and “view the user’s home address, unit information and whereabouts.” The report also claimed that information could be passed to U.S. intelligence services.

In an explanation published on its homepage in China, Apple said it has “never worked with any government agency from any country to create a backdoor in any of our products or services,” the Financial Times reports.

Apple also said that users location services can only be accessed by the device’s owner when they enter their passcode

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The Russian Android-Powered, Dual-Screen YotaPhone Launched

Published on 4 Dec 2013 | YotaPhone Unboxing - We unbox the new YotaPhone. The dual-display smartphone will be available before Christmas in Germany. The YotaPhone has a dual-core SoC from Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 with 1.7 GHz, 2GB RAM, 32GB memory.





a Read up : The Android-Powered, Dual-Screen YotaPhone Launches In Russia And Beyond For €499

Introducing Apple IPhone 5C - Official Video

Published on 10 Sep 2013

Transparent Rear Panels for the iPhone 4 and 4S

iFixitYourself

How Can Your Phone Be Tracked?

Most of us are aware that our phones contain a GPS (Global Positioning System) chips, but how much can they really track our phones?

The NSA assembled a team called Geolocation Cell or Geo Cell, with analysts and technicians from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency with the intent of tracking people geographically in real time.

Geo Cell communicates with the CIA and US military around the world, the motto “We Track ’Em, You Whack ’Em.” quickly caught on at Geo Cell as they tracked the cell phones of al-Qaeda and other ‘terror suspects’ around the world.

Joint Special Operations Command(JSOC) called the technology “The Find” and it is reported that the technology developed could track phones even when they were turned off. This is probably due to “feature phones” that may not fully turn off.

For example, Graham said many old “feature phones,” even when they were switched off, would have a baseband processor power up every 10 minutes or so to retrieve SMS messages, but not phone calls. “The moral of this is that just because you define the phone as ‘off’ doesn’t mean that it’s 100% completely ‘off’ all the time,” he said. - Is That Phone Really Off? – InformationWeek

The simplest way tracking is done is by remotely installing a hidden app(application) on the phone which transmits the devices GPS location over the internet or even by SMS text messaging, all without the user knowing. The FBI used a similar technique called a “roving bug”, remotely turning on the microphones to listen in on people. There are publicly available apps like this for tracking your children or in case you lose your phone, or it gets stolen.

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Apple Introducing iOS 7 - Official Video

Published on 10 Jun 2013
Introducing iOS 7 - Official Video
Subtítulos: Español
For iPad (2nd, 3th and 4th generation, and Mini),
iPhone (4, 4S, 5) and iPod Touch (4th and 5th generation)

Samsung Galaxy S4 Review

Published on 23 Apr 2013 : A review of the Samsung Galaxy S4, which features a 1080p Super AMOLED display, 1.9GHz Snapdragon 600 quad-core processor, and new software features like AirView, Air Gesture, and Smart Scroll. For more, check out our full review.

BlackBerry Unveils Two New Smartphones

Published on 30 Jan 2013 : Canadian smartphone maker Research In Motion (RIM), which makes the BlackBerry, says it's back. The company is trying to reclaim a market it once dominated by introducing two new devices. The last few years have been a painful time for the company as customers deserted its platform in favor of newer, more popular devices. As Mil Arcega reports, this may be the company's last chance to remain a vital player in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Why the New BlackBerry Is Worth a Look

Flickr photo courtesy of the Office of the Maryland Governor

Remember the BlackBerry? RIM is hoping a new operating system will help get the brand back into your hands.

 

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By many accounts, the BlackBerry is dead in the water--and it has been for some time. Yet, for all the hype surrounding Samsung's domination in the smartphone wars, and the simple fact that the iPhone 5 is still the top dog for usability and app selection, it is possible that Research in Motion (maker of the BlackBerry) might actually rebound.

Here's the most compelling reason why: The BlackBerry 10 operating system might be worth the wait. Few have had a chance to try out the new OS, which is rumored to debut within the next 60 days. And, it's unclear whether phones running the new OS will be able to compete with high-end models like the Samsung Galaxy SIII. Yet, some of the new BlackBerry 10 features do look impressive, especially for business users.

The Features

One useful feature is that the new OS has two modes, one for work and one for personal use. That's a nod to the reality of business today--we tend to buy our own phones and then use them at work, rather than use a company-issued phone. With a quick flick from work to personal, you'll see a different array of apps. You might have apps for work related to projects, managing your staff, and keeping up on business news. Then, you can switch to a view that only shows Pandora, a few games, and your personal Facebook account.

Another perk is that RIM seems to be serious about improving the mobile browser. We'll have to wait and see what the actual test results look like for speed, but there's an interesting feature for sharing what you find online. BlackBerry 10 can learn that you normally share by email or on Facebook, and then make that the default option automatically. I like how RIM is embracing adaptability to do some of the thinking for consumers.

The screen captures of the new software keyboard make me think RIM might finally have a winner in terms of replacing the thumbpad. It looks crisp and well-designed, with large enough keys for fast typing. Once again, the OS adapts to your typing to guess words on the fly and correct your common typos.

Will It Be Enough?

Clearly, RIM has a lot of work to do. Companies of all sizes are switching to more modern phones. Yet, there is a legion of BlackBerry fans out there. (I know, because I get the emails from them on a weekly basis.) Many companies have locked into contracts for BlackBerry Enterprise Server and are biding their time until a new model comes out that actually makes sense for deployment. RIM has a good track record in terms of rock-solid business security and lightning-fast push email delivery.

What could get in the way? Usability problems and lack of apps in the BlackBerry store could be lethal. If BlackBerry 10 ships with a plethora of user interface problems and bugs (say, apps that crash or cause confusion), and without the main headliners like Skype and Evernote, then this new OS could just be another whimper from RIM's corner. Stay tuned. 

Huge Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Published on Oct 24, 2012 by CNETTV : Big, beautiful, and bursting with features, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2's stylus brings Android to higher level. Just not one that everyone will love.

more here  >>>

Samsung to unveil 4-inch 'mini' Galaxy S III on October 11th

10 Oct 2012  |  JK Shin, head of Samsung Mobile Communications, confirmed today that his company will be releasing a four-inch version of the Galaxy S III on October 11th in Germany. Shin announced the news during a meeting with Korean press on Wednesday.

Shin didn't reveal many details about the device, though he said it was spurred by increasing demand for 4-inch devices in Europe. He also noted that it won't be an entry-level handset, telling reporters it will have "full form factor." This would make it an unusual addition to the Android landscape, where high-end devices tend to be 4.5 inches or larger.

"We'll be launching a 4-inch Galaxy S III on the 11th in Germany," Shin said. "There's a lot of demand for a 4-inch screen device in Europe. Some call it an entry-level device, but we call it 'mini.'"

Shin's confirmation comes just ahead of Apple's rumored iPad mini announcement.

Update: Samsung has confirmed to The Verge that it will hold an event on October 11th. "Galaxy S III mini will come with 4-inch display and we are going to unveil the product tomorrow (Oct 11th)."

Hyunhu Jang contributed to this report | Original here  >>

YC-Alum Lockitron Is Back With A New Kit That Allows Smartphones To Control Dumb Deadbolts

Locks are a necessary evil. They keep the bad guys out while allowing good guys in. The Lockitron aims to make the point of entry as safe as possible, but also as convenient as possible. Plus, it’s packed full of features including remote management, proximity entry through Bluetooth, and, even more fun, a vibration sensor that will notify the owner when someone is knocking on the door.

The original Lockitron Deadbolt was a hit. A graduate from Y Combinator’s 2009 summer class, the company sold $100k worth of units of the novel $299 kit since launching it in 2011. Put simply, it was a deadbolt that could be controlled by a smartphone. But it still had its downfalls. For one, it was a deadbolt replacement, requiring the hassle of installation including re-keying. And at $299 and up, it was rather expensive. But the company has a fantastic new solution. But they need your help (i.e. pre-orders).

Now just called Lockitron, the product piggybacks on top of existing deadbolts, awarding them all the features and more of the original model. This route allows the kit to retrofit nearly any deadbolt on the market including ones that are already installed on doors.

The company’s founders, Cameron Robertson and Paul Gerhardt, tell me installation is simple. Simply loosen the two bolts on existing deadbolt, slip on the Lockitron’s backplate and place the front cover over top of the deadbolt, tightening the Lockitron’s large knob to pair it to the deadbolt. That’s it. There’s no need to tear apart the door or re-key a lock. Once installed, the real magic begins.

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Get your iphone - while stocks last?

Apple supplier closes China plant after riot.

Reuters

A Foxconn factory in Chengdu, China.

HONG KONG (MarketWatch)—Apple Inc. supplier Foxconn Technology Group ordered one of its Chinese factories closed Monday after a dormitory brawl reportedly escalated into a violent riot that took several hours to bring under control.

Not much is known about the reasons behind the fight, which is being investigated by authorities.

The brawl broke out around 11 p.m. at the facility in Taiyuan in northern China’s Shanxi province, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.

The Associated Press reported that the dormitory was privately run and located near the Foxconn factory.

Apple is the Cupertino, Calif., technology major, maker of the iPhone and iPad.

Between several hundred and several thousand employees are believed to be involved in the riot, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited workers at the plant it contacted over the Internet. Other reports put the figure at 2,000, with about 40 workers hospitalized.

About 5,000 police officers were called in to restore order, eventually dispersing the crowds around 9 a.m., the report said.

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Samsung Galaxy S Relay 4G (T-Mobile)

Published on Sep 21, 2012 by CNETTV : T-Mobile's latest QWERTY smartphone features Android 4.0 and a lovely 4-inch screen.

more here  >>

Queues around the world to buy the iPhone 5

Published on Sep 21, 2012 by itnnews : People queued all around world to be the first to get their hands on Apple's newest smartphone, the iPhone 5. Report by Genelle Aldred.

iPhone 5 full review:

Finally, the iPhone we've always wanted.

The good: The iPhone 5 adds everything we wanted in the iPhone 4S: 4G LTE, a longer, larger screen, and a faster A6 processor. Plus, its top-to-bottom redesign is sharp, slim, and feather-light.

The bad: Sprint and Verizon models can't use voice and data simultaneously. The smaller connector renders current accessories unusable without an adapter. There's no NFC, and the screen size pales in comparison to jumbo Android models.

The bottom line: The iPhone 5 completely rebuilds the iPhone on a framework of new features and design, addressing its major previous shortcomings. It's absolutely the best iPhone to date, and it easily secures its place in the top tier of the smartphone universe.

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The iPhone 5 is the iPhone we've wanted since 2010, adding long-overdue upgrades like a larger screen and faster 4G LTE in a razor-sharp new design. This is the iPhone, rebooted.

The new design is flat-out lovely, both to look at and to hold, and it's hard to find a single part that hasn't been tweaked from the iPhone 4S. The iPhone 5 is at once completely rebuilt and completely familiar.

more from original source  >>>

Apple iPhone 5 Official Trailer - FULL REVIEW AND SEPCS

Published on Sep 12, 2012 by SidechainTV : Apple iPhone 6 Official Commercial

Nokia launches 'last chance' phone

Published on Sep 5, 2012 by Euronews : Nokia is unveiling its most powerful smartphone ever on Wednesday in what may be the struggling Finnish company's last major shot at winning back a market lost to Apple, Samsung and Google.

The stakes are high for both Nokia and Microsoft. The new Lumia runs the latest Windows Phone operating software which Microsoft hopes will rival Apple's iOS and Google's Android which currently dominate the market. If the new phones do not appeal to consumers, it could spell the end for loss-making Nokia and deal a serious blow to Microsoft's attempts to regain its footing in the market.

Nokia has posted more than three billion euros in operating losses in the past 18 months, forcing it to cut 10,000 jobs and pursue asset sales. Its share of the global smartphone market has plunged to less than 10 percent from 50 percent during its heyday, before the iPhone was launched in 2007. Windows phones have only captured 3.7 percent of the global smartphone market, according to Strategy Analytics. Android phones have 68 percent, while Apple has 17 percent.

Samsung sells 20 million Galaxy S3s, adds new colors

Samsung is calling the sales of its most successful smartphone so far "record-setting."

Samsung Galaxy S3 in amber brown. Click to enlarge.

(Credit: Samsung)

Samsung clinched the global impact today of its flagship phone today, announcing that its Samsung Galaxy S3 (S III) has sold 20 million units globally in the 100 days since its May release.

Samsung is calling the sales of its most successful smartphone so far "record-setting."

To put things into perspective, Samsung's Galaxy S II sold 5 million units globally in the first 85 days, and 10 million units after five months, Samsung confirmed with CNET. In 100 days, the Samsung Galaxy S3 has already doubled the sales of its predecessor after five months.

Samsung also announced the addition of four new colors: amber brown, garnet red, sapphire black, and titanium gray.

In the U.S., the red shade has been available exclusively for AT & T this summer, but Samsung will begin distributing the garnet hue, along with the other three shades, more broadly throughout markets around the world.

There are no country-specific announcements or carrier-announcements yet, so sit tight.

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