Archives for June 2012

TalkTalk is the latest isp to ban The Pirate Bay

June 13, 2012 by

TalkTalk has become the latest isp in the United Kingdom to implement a ban on The Pirate Bay less than a week after O2 and Be Broadband did.  This follows the High court decision back in April, which was brought about by the BPI. TalkTalk issued a statement on Tuesday  stating:

“TalkTalk can confirm that is it is blocking access to The Pirate Bay following a court order to so,” .

This leaves just BT, which is expected to follow suit at any time soon.

The UK high courts decision to order all UK Internet service providers to ban  TPB will prove to be futile, because TPB has a number options at it’s disposal to circumvent this restriction such as proxy servers,virtual private networks,alternative ip addresses etc. In fact TPB has already released a number of alternative ip addresses, which it can be accessed on.

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Google s Nexus 7 tablet could be released this month

June 13, 2012 by

Google plans to release a Nexus 7 tablet  this month. According to Android Authority the release date is likely to be at the end of June and it going to be a collaboration between Google and Asus  and it will have a Nvidia’s quad-core Tegra 3 processor. It will also feature a 7 inch screen, but there has been no information on whether the screen will be LCD or amoled, it will come with Android’s next operating system pre installed which is Android Jelly Bean.

The odds of it being released at the end of June are good, because Google holds it’s annual I/O developer conference then, so there is a good chance that these rumours might have some validity. It likely to be priced around the $150-$250 range, which will make it competitive against the likes of the Kindle Fire tablet. In order for Apple to compete effectively at this end of the market, they really need to bring out their rumoured budget iPad that is supposedly coming with a 7 inch screen.

It’s doubtful the release of this tablet will make an impact within an already crowded tablet market. Windows 8 Arm powered tablets are also due for release in the near future, this will further pose a problem for Google s future Android tablet market share.

 

Filed Under: Android, Tablets & PCs Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Apple announces iOS 6 at the world wide developers conference

June 12, 2012 by

Yesterday iOS 6 was announced at the world wide developers conference 2012 event, it brings around 200 new features to iOS. Many of the rumoured features were included in this update. One of the most anticipated updates is the introduction of their own Mapping software, up to now they have relied on Google for their maps. According to the website called Slash Gear TomTom is also going to supply the data for the maps, but not much information regarding this matter has been released yet. There was just a small press release from Tom Tom, stating that.

“ TomTom has signed a global agreement with Apple for maps and related information,” and that “No further details of the agreement will be provided.”

This update will add extra functionality to their mapping software such as turn-by-turn navigation,better Siri map integration,3D city views etc.

Apple’s decision to move away from Google was probably influenced by that fact that they have become bitter rivals in recent times. 

IOS 6 brings other new features such as Facebook being fully integrated into the software in the same way as twitter is, so making it easier to share photos and data with facebook. Apple’s facetime is going to be able to work with cellular networks, which was highly welcomed.  Siri will also be improved with this update and it will be made available on the new ipad and the ipad 2.

There will also be a feature available that enables you put on hold all calls and messages, if you want to do this you will just need to look for the ”Don’t want to be disturbed” option on your device.  Apple is also introducing with this update a feature called passbook, this will be like a virtual wallet, which lets you store all your boarding passes, tickets and gift cards and other important documents. Passbook will come to life when you enter a place were your are documents relevant and your documents will pop up automatically. To use this feature you will have to have your location services switched on.

There are many other interesting updates in iOS 6, if you want to find out more just go to Apple.com

It worth pointing out that Apple has missed the opportunity again to add Adobe flash and Blue-tooth file sharing to it’s arsenal, which Android has offered from day one.

IOS 6 is expected to be released in the autumn. Its release will probably coincide with the release of the new iPhone, which most likely will be released in September or October this year.  

If you want to try some of the exciting new features all you need to do is just get a developers account and download iOS 6 beta from Apple. However its worth pointing out that the iOS 6 beta download is unstable at the moment and some of the features have not been implemented yet. 

 

 

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Will the iphone 5 be announced at the WWDC event

June 11, 2012 by

Soon we will find out whether the iphone 5 is getting launched at the WWDC, which starts today. A keynote announcement is expected today, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook begins at 10am PT/ 1:00p.m. EST.  Many are hoping for the iphone 5 release, but it is most likely that this event will focus on software rather than hardware. It will most probably be centred around iOS 6 and Apple’s Mac OS X Mountain Lion OS.  But who knows what Apple has planned, they don’t always stick to exact time frames when they release products. Look at last year everybody was expecting the new iPhone to be released in June 2011, instead Apple opted to release it in October.  It’s even possible Apple could make an announcement regarding the iPod at this event, because the rumoured iPod touch 5g is long overdue.

You can follow the events as they happen on abcnews or CNET

 

 

 

 

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O2 and Be broadband have now blocked The Pirate Bay

June 9, 2012 by

In a statement to the Register O2 said: “We have no option but to comply with this order and will be doing so overnight.”

Be Broadband has also released a statement on its blog.

“In April the UK High Court ruled that the Pirate Bay sites infringe copyright and that the named group of ISPs had to block access to the site. Our parent company was one of the named ISPs so we are obliged to comply,” said the ISP. 

“We wouldn’t choose to do this voluntarily but we need to comply with UK laws just like any UK business. We’re aware of the concerns voiced by members about the broader issue.

“Our policy of zero traffic management means that we treat all protocols equally (e.g. web, downloads, VPNs) and we will do as much as we can to give you the internet as you want it, whilst complying with UK laws.”

TalkTalk and BT have still not yet complied with the UK court order: TalkTalk has until 13 June to do so, while BT has been given more time to do so.

A spokesman for BPI, which represents nine record labels in the UK who brought this legal action against TPB, has told the Register that BT was expected to come to an agreement with BPI “in due course”.

This action will prove to be short sighted, because TPB has other  other strategies up its sleeves to by pass this ban, which have been pointed out in previous articles. This will further add fuel to the endless cat and mouse game, which has been going on between the TPB and the authorities  for years.

 

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Google plans to introduce some major enhancements to its maps for Android users

June 7, 2012 by

CNN reports that Google plans to introduce some major enhancements to its maps. Google at a news conference at its San Francisco office, said that its firstly adding an option to enable Android users to be able to use its maps service offline. At present you are required to use either a wifi or a wireless data connection for the maps to work. Google says this service will be available in more than 100 countries.The offline mode option will be rolled out to Android users within a couple of weeks.

 

Speaking at Google’s news event Rita Chen, a product manager for Google said “No longer will you need paper maps,” .

 

It seems unlikely that Apple iOS users will get this upgrade, because it is rumoured that Apple is dropping Google maps in favour of its own version, Apple’s new map service is rumoured to be built into iOS 6 which is expected to be launched at the Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts on June 11.   

 

Google plans to also make available a 3D option to mobile users. This will enable the mobile users to have access to more detailed 3D maps within urban areas. Peter Birch who is another project manager speaking at the news event says “We’re trying to create the illusion that you are flying over the city, almost as if you were in your own personal helicopter,”. Google also plans to extend these 3D maps by the end of the year to cover over 300 million people. At first these 3D maps will only be available within Google s Earth app for mobile devices but there is a desktop version planned for a later date.

 

All these enhancements to Google s map service look promising. Lets hope when Apple releases its own version, it can offer the same bells and whistles as the Google version does.

Source CNN

 

Filed Under: Android Tagged With: , , , ,

Windows Marketplace now has over 100,000 apps

June 6, 2012 by

The Windows phone Marketplace has now exceeded 100,000 apps after just 20 months. An article on a website called All About Windows Phone states that on June 3rd 2012 the Windows phone Marketplace has exactly 100,145 applications, this total includes all the applications that have ever been sent to the Marketplace. Applications that were and are only offered on a regional bases were also included. The site went on to say that Applications that were released and discontinued for whatever reason where also added to the total. 

The Windows phone Marketplace now seems to be growing at a rapid rate of over 300 apps per day on average. If the store keeps growing at this rate it will not be too long before it becomes a credible challenger to Android and IOS.  Android actually had less apps than Microsoft when their store was at the same point in history, Android took as long as 24 months to get to 100,00 apps. However its worth pointing out that the App store only took 16 months to achieve 100,000 applications.

The most popular category within the Windows phone Marketplace according to AAWP is Entertainment, which has a total of 18,867 apps and the average price of an app was $0.99.

The steady growth of the Windows Mobile OS is promising. If Microsoft can play their cards right, it has the opportunity to become a formidable player in the mobile tech world of the future.

Filed Under: Microsoft Tagged With: , ,

Apple plans to release Siri on the iPad

June 5, 2012 by

Apple is planning to implement Siri to the Ipad. It is expected to come included with the new iOS 6 software, which is expected to be announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which starts  on June 11.  

According to 9to5Mac who are a reliable source, Siri will have identical features to what the current iphone 4S Siri has  such as iMessaging, Weather, Calendar managing, Music playback, Reminders  and Maps integration. But there are a few differences, the phone-related commands, which are on the iphones version are not included.  Its seems also likely that the Siri ipad version will not occupy all the screen like the iphone version did, according to 9to5Mac instead it will be presented on small pop up window, 9to5Mac  go on to say that there will also be an option to activate it  from the lock screen.

Lets hope the older ipad models will get Siri too. If they don’t there is going to be a lot of disgruntled customers.   

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7.1% of all Android devices are now running Ice Cream Sandwich

June 4, 2012 by

Ice Cream Sandwich is now running on 7.1% of all Android devices  according to the Android Developers website on June 1, that 

Google’s Ice Cream Sandwich is now running on 7.1% of all Android devices. It has more than doubled since last April when it was reported that only 2.9% of Android devices were running ICS.

While the ICS software user base is expanding. There are problems brewing for the OS. It appears that many of the older  and lower end devices are not able to run ICS, due to the hardware of these devices not being able to cope with the newer requirements. In fact the adoption rate of Gingerbread (Android 2.3) has increased by 1.3 percent amongst older and lower end devices over the last few months alongside the growth of ICS. The Android Developers  website goes on to say that Froyo (2.2) and Gingerbread (2.3) are running on as much as 84.1% of Android devices. ICS has a long way to go, before it  becomes a major player within the Androids eco system. This will not help Google’s fragmentation issue which appears to be growing day by day.

On a more positive note most of Google’s Android high end and mid end devices are now receiving or have received the new OS update.  Samsung devices such as the,Galaxy Tab,  Galaxy S2 LTE, and the Galaxy Note have all received Android 4.0 aka ICS. The Galaxy S3 even now coming with ICS.

Sony has now updated most of it’s high end and mid end Xperia range phones with the exception the Sony Xperia Play, which will not be getting it, due to hardware issues.

Htc has plans to rollout ICS soon to its high end devices such as the EVO 3D, Incredible S, Sensation XL, Desire S and the Desire  HD.

Other manufactures such as LG, Asus and Viewsonic are planing soon to implement ICS. 


Filed Under: Android Tagged With: , , , , , ,

The new smaller SIM format gets standardised

June 1, 2012 by

The new smaller SIM format war is over and gets standardised. There have been a few companies competing  for their proposed size to become the industrial standard such Apple, Motorola,Nokia and Rim. There appears to be no outright winner instead there has been a compromise in size to keep all the companies happy.  This new size was agreed today during a meeting at the European Telecommunications Standards Institute in Osaka, Japan. 

This size appears to be closest to what size Apple had proposed. The new sim card will measure 12.3 mm x 8.8 mm, with a thickness of 67 mm. Overall it will mean a 40% reduction in size. The good news is that the new SIM card will work with existing devices. In order to make it fit it will just have to be paired with a carrier frame, which can then be inserted into a device.

 


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