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AfterDawn: News

Android Key Lime Pie to follow Jelly Bean

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Mar 2012 2:56

Android Key Lime Pie to follow Jelly Bean Verge has said today that Google will name their future Android update "Key Lime Pie," following the yet unreleased "Jelly Bean."

Google confirmed Android 5.0 Jelly Bean earlier this week, but sources have already tipped the company's hand on the update to follow. 5.0 is expected to be launched in the Q4 of 2012.

Says Verge: "We were tipped by a reliable source today that Google will be using the name "Key Lime Pie" for the version of Android that comes after Jelly Bean (in fact, the information comes from the very same source that tipped us to the Jelly Bean codename last year)."

Google recently launched Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, and the OS is only on 3 percent of devices. The update is the largest to date, and completely transforms the interface and integration of popular Android apps.




AfterDawn: News

Facebook Messenger now available for Windows

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 05 Mar 2012 2:45

Facebook Messenger now available for Windows Although the app leaked last year, Facebook has made their Messenger software available officially today.

The app will roll out to all users over the coming weeks.

There will be conversation tabs, navigation buttons similar to the touch and mobile versions of the site, pop-up notifications and even News Tickers. The app is exactly like the leaked version from December but Facebook says that version was just a "test."

Furthermore, the company says a Mac version is coming soon, but did not provide a time frame.

Video chat and group chat are missing, but can be accessed through the web interface.

More info here: Messenger for Windows




AfterDawn: News

Kodak sells online business to Shutterfly

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 4:31

Kodak sells online business to Shutterfly Eastman Kodak, the bankrupt photography pioneer, has sold their online photo services to Shutterfly.

The final price on the deal was $23.8 million and should be the first round of asset sales for the company as it tries to emerge from bankruptcy as a leaner, profitable company.

In their bankruptcy proceedings, the company has already announced they will quit the digital camera market and sell their potent patent portfolio, which should fetch over $1 billion.

Shutterfly says it will transfer all current Kodak Gallery customer accounts and images over to Shutterfly. Users can opt out if they do not want to be transferred over, however.

Kodak Gallery has 75 million users and is a service exactly like Shutterfly allowing customers to upload and share images or get them printed in books, cards, mugs, etc.




AfterDawn: News

Tajikistan begins blocking access to news sites, Facebook

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 3:13

Tajikistan begins blocking access to news sites, Facebook Following the publication of an article critical of the country's long-standing president, Tajikistan has blocked all access to two Russian-language news sites and the social networking giant Facebook.

ISPs in the nation say the shutdown was ordered by the state-run communications service. Any user who tries to access the sites will be met with a redirect to their homepage, or the homepage of their ISP.

"This morning, we carried out the instruction of the communications service and blocked the sites facebook.com, tjknews.com and zvezda.ru," said one ISP. "We could not refuse to carry out this instruction."

The news sites had published a story critical of President Emomali Rakhmon, who assumed power in 1992. It is well-known around the world that Rakhmon stole the 2006 election by fraud, and WikiLeaks brought to light that the president and his family have pillaged the country's coffers for years, including taking all profits from the state-run Tajik Aluminium Company (TALCO). The country is the poorest of the former Soviet states.

Tjknews.com had posted an article headlined 'Tajikistan on the eve of a revolution.'

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

'Anonymous' DDoS software contained trojan

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 2:47

'Anonymous' DDoS software contained trojan The hacktivist collective known as Anonymous was hit with a "taste of its own medicine," says security software company Symantec.

Anonymous recommends a DDoS software called Slowloris, says the firm, and the software appears to have contained a nasty trojan that was stealing financial information from anyone who installed it. contained an insidious Trojan that was stealing financial info from people using it.

The group began recommending the software after the take down of Megaupload in late January. Anonymous members DDoS'd UMG, the U.S. DOJ, the FBI, RIAA, MPAA and many others in retaliation of the raid.

Because the software is so easy to use, Symantec believes thousands of people opened themselves up to the trojan: "Not only will supporters be breaking the law by participating in DoS attacks on Anonymous hacktivism targets, but may also be at risk of having their online banking and email credentials stolen. The joining of malicious financial and identity fraud malware, Anonymous hacktivism objectives, and Anonymous supporter deception is a dangerous development for the online world."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Huawei joins Tizen Association

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 2:21

Huawei joins Tizen Association The popular Chinese handset maker Huawei has joined the Tizen Association, meaning the company will be launching Linux-based handsets in the future.

Furthermore, the group has noted today that a beta version of the Tizen OS source code and SDK are now available.

Compared with the earlier code preview, the beta has additional features, tools, and other improvements, including:

SDK support for Windows, in addition to Ubuntu
SDK source code is now available
Tizen Web UI framework extends jQuery Mobile to make developing web applications easier with optimized widgets.
Tizen Web API provides more features, such as setting an alarm, accessing media contents, retrieving system information, and more.


Huawei would not commit to a time frame for the new devices, however.

Adds the company: "Our ongoing goal is to work closely with our customers and partners to bring truly innovative handset propositions to consumers in all markets and the new Tizen ecosystem complements our existing areas of focus and provides fresh opportunity for tremendously strengthening Huawei's brand name in the mobile segment."




AfterDawn: News

Android 5.0 'Jelly Bean' finally confirmed

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 1:53

Android 5.0 'Jelly Bean' finally confirmed Google has confirmed the name of their upcoming Android update, Jelly Bean.

The name was widely expected, and now the company has confirmed it is Android 5.0.

Says Hiroshi Lockheimer, vice president of mobile engineering at Google: "After Android 4 comes 5, and we haven't announced the timing yet, which we're still sorting out... In general, the Android release cadence is one major release a year with some maintenance releases that are substantial still."

There was no timetable for the update's release, but it is expected by the Q4 of this year.

Little other details are known about the updated operating system.




AfterDawn: News

Reminder: Sony PlayStation Network will be down as of 3PM today

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 1:31

Reminder: Sony PlayStation Network will be down as of 3PM today Sony has sent out a friendly reminder to PSN users this weekend, reminding them that the service will be down for maintenance.

The scheduled maintenance will begin at 3PM EST and will end at 5AM tomorrow morning.

Originally, the maintenance had been planned for Thursday but Sony ended up delaying it.

Says the company: "Unlike typical maintenance events, consumers who are already signed-in to PSN will be signed-out, and consumers will be unable to sign in for the duration of the maintenance window. During this time, users won't be able to access the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home, Account Management or play online. PSN enabled websites will not be able to service users, including this one."




AfterDawn: News

Siri-like "Google Assistant" coming by end of year?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 12:53

Siri-like "Google Assistant" coming by end of year? Google has been working on a virtual assistant for the Android platform that will rival and surpass Apple's Siri companion, and speculation is the software will be launched in 2012.

The project had been codenamed "Majel" but now has a more official name, Google Assistant, says Crunch.

Google Assistant is said to surpass Siri in many ways, and Google will keep control of all the layers involved in the software.

Crunch's sources say the software will have these three parts:

1) Get the world's knowledge into a format a computer can understand.

2) Create a personalization layer - Experiments like Google +1 and Google+ are Google's way of gathering data on precisely how people interact with content.

3) Build a mobile, voice-centered "Do engine" ('Assistant') that's less about returning search results and more about accomplishing real-life goals.


Unlike Siri, Google Assistant will also be opened to developers. The sources say 2012 is Google's "year of the Assistant."




AfterDawn: News

Rumor: Quad-core Asus Nexus Tablet coming for $199

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 04 Mar 2012 12:25

Rumor: Quad-core Asus Nexus Tablet coming for $199 There is a new rumor today that Google's expected "Nexus Tablet" will be built by Asus.

If accurate, the device will be a 7-inch model with the "Pure Google Experience" meaning it will run on a stock Android 4.x Ice Cream Sandwich, with no custom UI or any custom apps brought by a carrier or manufacturer.

More importantly, the device will be powered by a quad-core Tegra 3 processor and sell for just $199.

AandM says the "rumor comes from two different industry sources...that have provided reliable information in the past..and are trustworthy."

At that price point, the tablet will directly compete with the current market leaders, the Amazon Kindle Fire and B&N Nook Tablet.

Any other details? Sources speculate the tablet will be called the Google Play and be released at Google's I/O conference at the end of June.




AfterDawn: News

Roku releases remote control app for Android

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Mar 2012 4:53

Roku releases remote control app for Android Roku has announced that its Roku App is now available in the Android market.

Using the app, owners of Roku set-top boxes can explore channels and content without needing to use the standard Roku remote and instead using their phone or tablet.

The company notes more features:

Instantly replay your favorite movie moments.
Quickly add and remove channels.
Control and switch between multiple Roku players.
Launch rocket ships and make perfect toast. Every time. (Just kidding).
Features a handy keyboard for text entry.


The app requires Android 2.1 or higher and is completely free.

Roku boxes range from $50 to $100 depending on the features.




AfterDawn: News

iOS App Store: 25 billion served

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Mar 2012 4:34

iOS App Store: 25 billion served Apple announced earlier today that they had reached 25 billion app downloads via the iOS App Store.

The person who downloaded the 25 billionth app will receive a $10,000 App Store gift card.

On February 20th, the company announced it had reached 24,400,000 downloads and began letting visitors to the site that a milestone was approaching. It apparently only took 12 days to see 600 million downloads, any impressive feat all on its own.

Apple opened the store on July 10th, 2008 and hit 1 billion downloads in 2009.

The company sold over 50 million iOS devices in the fourth quarter of 2011, alone.




AfterDawn: News

Pirated TV show release groups move to new standard, MP4

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Mar 2012 4:21

Pirated TV show release groups move to new standard, MP4 Most of the heavy hitters in the TV show piracy scene have moved away from the XviD/AVI standard of the past decade and started releasing files in MP4/x264.

The release groups, SAP, BAJSKORV, C4TV, D2V, DiVERGE, FTP, KYR, LMAO, LOL, MOMENTUM, SYS, TLA and YesTV came together in February and wrote up "The SD x264 TV Releasing Standards 2012" documents, which pretty much details all the technical standards that will be used in the future for TV show releases on torrent and warez sites.

Reads the document (via Freak): "x264 has become the most advanced video codec over the past few years. Compared to Xvid, it is able to provide higher quality and compression at greater SD resolutions. This standard aims to bring quality control back to SD releases. There are many standalone players/streamers such as TviX, Popcorn Hour, WDTV HD Media Player, Boxee, Xtreamer, PS3, XBOX 360, iPad, & HDTVs that can playback H264 and AAC encapsulated in MP4."

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Valve creating its own game console?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 03 Mar 2012 4:02

Valve creating its own game console? There has been speculation on the matter for some time, but the rumors appear to be heating up.

Verge has uncovered evidence that Valve, the company behind PC game digital distribution platform Steam has been working on a gaming console for some time now.

The console would be called the "Steam Box" and the devices would be made by many partners, with the software made readily available for anyone who wants to sell the device.

Part of the rumor is that during CES, Valve held meetings to demo an in-house version of the Steam Box to potential partners. The specs of the console are a Core i7 CPU, 8GB of RAM, and an unknown NVIDIA GPU. The devices will run all PC titles and will be allowed to load other platforms, like EA's Origin.

Making the system nice for partners is there won't be a required devkit and no licensing fees to create software for the platform. Many current and future USB peripherals will work with the box but Valve is looking to create a proprietary one that ships with all new devices. Said controller will also have swappable components, meaning depending on the game you can switch out or add pads and buttons.

Read more...


AfterDawn: News

Sony releases new tablet, is once again extremely late to the party

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 02 Mar 2012 10:39

Sony releases new tablet, is once again extremely late to the party After over seven months of delays, Sony has released its foldable Tablet P device.

The tablet will be available on Sunday via AT&T, which will be offering the device on-contract or off. The tablet will cost a shockingly high $550 with no contract, and $400 with a two-year contract.

Running on Android 3.2, the device has dual 5.5-inch displays with 1024x480 resolution each, a 1GHz Tegra 2 dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, dual cameras 0.3/5MP and just 4GB internal storage.

The only saving grace for the tablet is 4G HSPA+ capability.

If you were to sign up with a contract, AT&T offers two options, 3GB of data for $35 or 5GB of data for $50.





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