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AfterDawn: News

Nokia Lumia 1520 to launch with AT&T in November

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Sep 2013 11:50

Nokia Lumia 1520 to launch with AT&T in November According to new reports, the upcoming high-end Nokia Lumia 1520 phablet will be launching on AT&T in November.

The device has a 6-inch screen with 1080p resolution, is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB RAM.

On the back, a 21MP PureView camera will "take a dual shot consisting of a 16MP picture and a 5MP one for playing around with and sharing."

32GB internal storage is standard but there is also a microSD slot.

Additionally, the device will launch with the Windows Phone 8 GDR3 update and a 3400mAh battery for extended battery life.




AfterDawn: News

Best Buy will give you an iPhone 5 for trading in your old smartphone

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 14 Sep 2013 8:59

Best Buy will give you an iPhone 5 for trading in your old smartphone From now until Monday, Best Buy will be giving you an iPhone 5 if you exchange your old smartphone.

The retailer is giving a guaranteed minimum $100 trade-in credit for old smartphones as long as you switch to the iPhone 5 on AT&T, Sprint or Verizon with a two-year activation in the store. The phone costs $99 with contract making the deal a pretty good one if you are willing to take a one-year old device.

After the promotion ends, the iPhone 5 will likely be gone for good from stores, replaced by the plastic iPhone 5C and the new flagship iPhone 5S. The 5C also sells for $99, and the 5S takes the $199 slot.

The deal is great for customers with old, working smartphones, especially devices that would not get you $100 elsewhere, even on Craigslist. The deal is good for Best Buy as it helps clear out inventory in the quickest way possible.




AfterDawn: News

PS4 beating Xbox One performance, says devs

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 11:12

PS4 beating Xbox One performance, says devs Sony's PlayStation 4 (PS4) console is settling better with developers than Microsoft's Xbox One, according to developers who spoke to EDGE about the hardware.

It, of course, is stressed that both Sony and Microsoft are still tinkering with the hardware of both consoles at this time, with Microsoft just recently kicking up the clock speed on its console.

Still, according to the developers, at this point, the performance difference between the two is significant and obvious, with the PS4 touting memory reads at 40-50 percent quicker than the Xbox One. The PS4's ALU was also estimated at 50 percent faster.

It's not all doom and gloom for Microsoft though, with the next generation console finding its own areas where it edges its Japanese rival.

"Let's say you are using procedural generation or raytracing via parametric surfaces – that is, using a lot of memory writes and not much texturing or ALU – Xbox One will be likely be faster," said one developer.

One issue that seemed to affect both consoles was the continued development of drivers for each console, and the desire of Sony and Microsoft for developers to use unique features of their consoles (such as DS4's touchpad and the Kinect sensor), which right now there isn't that much incentive to do.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Nokia had Lumia Android phones: NYT

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 10:53

Nokia had Lumia Android phones: NYT According to a New York Times report, Nokia had Android running on Lumia handsets before it was negotiating a deal to sell its phone and services assets to Microsoft.

The report cites two sources (unnamed) briefed on an internal Nokia project that ported Google's Android operating system to Lumia smartphones, which are sold running Microsoft's Windows Phone software only.

Nokia's Lumia devices were aimed at fighting the company's declining status in the smartphone business. In that regard, they largely failed given that Nokia's share of the smartphone market plunged to 3 percent during the first half of 2013, down from 32.8 percent in 2010.

However, over 80 percent of all devices sold running Windows Phone software are Nokia devices.

The iconic Finnish firm had the option to exit the Windows Phone partnership at the end of next year, and it would appear that releasing smartphones running Android was part of a "plan B".

According the New York Times sources, Microsoft was aware of Nokia's Android project, but that it was not a factor in the negotiations for Microsoft's acquisition of Nokia's phone business.




AfterDawn: News

Google rejects Pirate Bay removal request

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 10:37

Google rejects Pirate Bay removal request Google has decided not to remove the Pirate Bay homepage from its search results after the URL was included among thousands in a DMCA notice.

The search giant receives requests to remove millions of URLs from its search results from content providers/trade groups looking to lighten the exposure that illegal sources of content have online. Google typically complies with requests as the URLs do usually point to infringing content or outright host it.

However, in a request sent to Google from the BPI with 2,056 URLs included, Google took no action on just one URL: thepiratebay.sx

The fact is, the Pirate Bay homepage does not link to any infringing content directly at all, and therefore Google likely finds that its removal is not warranted.

Google did temporarily block the Pirate Bay in the past following a request allegedly from "Remove Your Content," and later restored it admitting it was in error.




AfterDawn: News

Europe to scrap mobile roaming charges

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 10:24

Europe to scrap mobile roaming charges The European Commission is plotting the death of mobile roaming charges through the 28-nation bloc by 2016.

Reforming the telecoms market across the European Union is high on the agenda of the European Commission as it seeks to stop the region from falling behind other parts of the world.

There are 28 members of the European Union (Croatia became the 28th member in July) and as things stand, there are 28 different telecoms markets too. Anyone who has travelled between countries in the EU has had the unpleasant experience of an inconsistent telecoms market, with price hikes being the norm as you go "roaming."

The European Union has made moves in the past to reduce the cost of roaming charges, but they are still considerably higher than mobile communications costs for customers in most EU countries. By 2016, the European Commission would like roaming charges to be consigned to history.

Killing off roaming charges is just one part of an ambitious plan to combine all 28 telecoms markets into one EU-wide telecoms market. Regulations would be harmonized across the union, which the commission argues will be of benefit to providers and customers alike.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Police plot crackdown on pirates

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 10:10

Police plot crackdown on pirates Police in the United Kingdom are to take on the issue of intellectual property violation in a renewed effort against criminals who profit from piracy.

The Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu) - of the City of London Police - will tackle serious intellectual property crimes. On Friday morning, UK detectives arrested two men in Birmingham for allegedly importing £40,000 worth of counterfeit DVD boxsets.

"Our focus will be the professional criminals using intellectual property crime to generate illicit gains," Det Ch Supt Oliver Shaw told the BBC.

The new unit will work with international law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security in the United States. It will also have the ability to press service providers to take down websites found to be selling illicit products.

In addition, it will inform legitimate advertisers who are running ads on illegal websites in an effort to disrupt revenue streams.

Outside of piracy of digital content, the unit will also tackle the problem of the physical production and sale of counterfeit goods, such as branded car tyres.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Google Street View privacy lawsuit upheld

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 10:01

Google Street View privacy lawsuit upheld A federal appeals court has rejected Google's attempt to have a lawsuit concerning Street View data interception dismissed.

In May 2010, Google publicly revealed that the vehicles it uses to take panoramic shots of streets around the world had been accidentally intercepting and storing payload data from unsecured wireless networks. Analysis of the data done in various regions showed that the data included private communications of Internet users.

Since then, regulators around the world have instructed Google on what they should do about the accidental hoarding of the data, with pretty much all ordering it be destroyed as soon as possible.

On the litigation front, Google is facing a lawsuit which alleges it violated federal wiretap laws by intercepting payload data from unsecured Wi-Fi networks in the United States. It had asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to dismiss the lawsuit - finding that Google was exempt from liability under the act - but the effort has failed.

Judge Jay Bybee wrote that Wi-Fi communications do not qualify as a radio communication, or electronic communication that is readily accessible to the general public.

"Even if it is commonplace for members of the general public to connect to a neighbor's unencrypted Wi-Fi network," Bybee wrote, "members of the general public do not typically mistakenly intercept, store, and decode data transmitted by other devices on the network."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Vodafone hack hits two million customers

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 9:45

Vodafone hack hits two million customers Vodafone Germany has revealed that personal details of two million of its customers were exposed in a hack.

The information gained by the hacker included names, addresses, back account numbers and birth dates, but did not include phone numbers, PIN numbers, credit card details or passwords.

"Vodafone deeply regrets the incident and apologises to all those affected," the operator said in a statement/

The information was stolen from a database on the Vodafone Germany's internal network.

It is not clear when the attack took place, as Vodafone was asked by police to delay notification to customers while an investigation was underway. A suspect has since been identified and police carried out a raid on a house, prompting Vodafone Germany to notify affected customers.

Vodafone has 36 million customers in Germany.




AfterDawn: News

Samsung backs 64-bit smartphone switch

Written by James Delahunty @ 13 Sep 2013 9:37

Samsung backs 64-bit smartphone switch Samsung will follow Apple by putting 64-bit processors into its smartphones, according to the South Korean electronics giant.

Apple unveiled its new iPhone 5S smartphone this week, featuring a 64-bit A7 chip that would work with its new iOS 7. Samsung backs the move to 64-bit chips, but of course it will have to wait on the development of Android too.

Upon unveiling the iPhone 5S, Apple boasted that the A7 offered "desktop-class architecture", but the benefit of 64-bit support won't be significant for some time in the smartphone market.

Nevertheless, Samsung is to follow suit, according to the Korea Times newspaper. It quoted co-chief executive officer Shin Jong-kyun as saying that 64-bit chips would not the used "in the shortest time" but will be in some of Samsung's next smartphones.




AfterDawn: News

Microsoft will buy back your iPad for $200 or more

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Sep 2013 8:38

Microsoft will buy back your iPad for $200 or more Microsoft has launched a new promotion in which it will buy back your Apple iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad 4 for at least $200, payable as a Microsoft gift card.

Of course, there are catches. The devices must be "gently used" or better condition and you must bring the tablet into a Microsoft brick & mortar store (there aren't many).

The company hopes to convert iPad owners over to its struggling Surface brand of tablets.

Microsoft has slashed the price of their current generation tablets, ahead of September 23 in which the company will unveil two new devices, the Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2.

The trade-in offer ends on October 27th.




AfterDawn: News

Twitter files for IPO, announces via tweet

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 13 Sep 2013 7:50

Twitter files for IPO, announces via tweet With just a tweet last night, Twitter announced it was filing for an IPO, marking the highest-profile tech debut since Facebook.

In their tweet the company says, "We've confidentially submitted an S-1 to the SEC for a planned IPO. This Tweet does not constitute an offer of any securities for sale."

Filing for an S-1 means that Twitter has less than $1 billion in revenue, but growth remains outstanding at the microblogging site.

Twitter has been privately valued at over $10 billion, but could come to the market with an even bigger value given the service's extreme popularity.

Max Wolff of Greencrest Capital adds (via Reuters): "It's completely conquered mobile. It has an enormous social network. It's becoming a key utility as a second screen to TV and it's literally the first draft of history. Normally a company like Twitter would have been public for some time."

As of writing, Twitter has over 200 million active users and over 400 million posts per day. More importantly, the company has been at the forefront of breaking news, including Osama Bin Laden's death and Middle Eastern troubles.





AfterDawn: News

Report: 100GB Blu-ray discs with 4K support already in production

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Sep 2013 10:48

Report: 100GB Blu-ray discs with 4K support already in production Although the Blu-ray Disc Association has not confirmed, Singulus has claimed that they have been providing machine tech to support triple-layer Blu-ray Discs.

The Singulus BLULINE III discs can support up to 100GB of storage, enough to print a 4K (UltraHD) movie.

While the content will be available through streaming services like Sony Unlimited and Netflix, the huge size of the files makes discs a viable option.

The biggest question is whether current-gen Blu-ray players, including the PS3, will support the new discs via a firmware update. It absolutely seems possible, but there will still likely be 4K Blu-ray players in the future when the format becomes more mainstream.




AfterDawn: News

Walmart drops prices on iPhone 5C, 5S

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Sep 2013 10:24

Walmart drops prices on iPhone 5C, 5S Just days after Apple unveiled their two new devices, Walmart has already dropped the price on the iPhone 5C and 5S.

With a two-year contract, the devices will sell for $79 or $189, respectively, for the 16GB models. Apple sells the 5C for $99 and the 5S for $199.

Pre-orders begin on Friday and the devices will go on sale next week, on September 20.

Walmart says if you wait until the 21st, you can use the company's new trade-in program to save some money while exchanging your existing smartphone.

The iPhone 5 will also drop to $79, while the iPhone 4S has dropped to 97 cents with contract.




AfterDawn: News

Newly posted FCC pic is likely the Nexus 5

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Sep 2013 9:59

Newly posted FCC pic is likely the Nexus 5 Although it has still not been confirmed, it seems to be a lock now that LG is building the Nexus 5, and we have already seen it in action thanks to an inadvertent Google slip.

The FCC has now posted pictures of a device that is made by LG and looks almost identical to the image we saw in Google's Android 4.4 statue video.

FCC's filings show off at least a prototype of the Nexus 5, which will certainly have an improved camera from its predecessor.

There is little else known about the phone but it is rumored to have a 5-inch screen, a quad-core Snapdragon 800, 2GB RAM and LTE support.





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