Android Authority |
- Google paid out $3500 to security researchers who helped make Chrome for Android safer
- Motorola DROID RAZR M for Verizon Wireless now available, $99 with a 2 year contract
- Verizon, unlike AT&T, will allow FaceTime over cellular for no additional fees
- Galaxy Tab 10.1 turns into giant phablet, thanks to voice dialing mod
- Lantern by Green House powers devices via USB, runs on salt water
- Skype’s new “Opus” audio codec set to deliver CD quality sound over VoIP
- Lenovo Smart Tab II for Vodaphone passes FCC inspection
- New YouTube show Android Design in Action offers design tips for developers [video]
- Apple iPhone 5 vs Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx
- Apple’s iPhone 5 fails to impress [Poll]
| Google paid out $3500 to security researchers who helped make Chrome for Android safer Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:50 AM PDT
But now Google has started to pay money to those who are finding bugs in the Android version of Chrome. Each of the seven bugs fixed in this version were rewarded with $500 from Google. Among these are fixes for vulnerabilities which exposed Android APIs to JavaScript and a bug that allowed cookie theft by malicious local Android apps.
The only wrinkle is that this new “innovative multi-process architecture” that makes the sandboxing better is only available for devices with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Other changes to Chrome for Android M18.1 include YouTube fixes. Now video controls work in full screen mode and videos continue playing after a screen lock/unlock. Also, Google has modified the way it checks your location-aware preferences. Chrome now uses the system-level Google apps location setting. Finally, Chrome will now work better with third party keyboard apps (e.g., third-party IMEs). You can get the latest Chrome for Android from Google Play. Do you use Chrome rather than the default browser? Let me know your opinion on it by leaving a comment below. Related PostsNo related posts. This article, Google paid out $3500 to security researchers who helped make Chrome for Android safer , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Motorola DROID RAZR M for Verizon Wireless now available, $99 with a 2 year contract Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:37 AM PDT
Earlier this month, Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility held an event in New York City to announce three new Android smartphones. The Motorola DROID RAZR HD, the Maxx variant of that device, and the DROID RAZR M. That last one, the M, is now available both on Verizon’s website and in their retail stores. If you buy it online, it’ll cost you $99 with a new 2-year contract. If you buy it from a physical Verizon shop, then it’ll cost you $150. You’ll get a $50 mail in rebate of course, but it can take anywhere between now and the end of time to be credited to your account. We wish operators didn’t do these sorts of things, because you know they’re betting that most people don’t bother mailing in the rebate, but unfortunately this is the state of current affairs. Now let’s focus on the device itself. What makes it special? The screen, which measures 4.3 inches diagonal, is what Motorola calls “edge-to-edge”. Translation: The bezels are so damn tiny that you can barely tell they’re there. Sadly though, the screen doesn’t do 720p, it only does qHD (960 x 540 pixels). Under the hood you’ve got a 1.5 GHz dual core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1 GB of RAM, 4G LTE support, a massive 2,000 mAh battery, NFC, and there’s even a microSD card slot. Should you buy it? That’s a hard question to answer. We admit, not everyone is into large screen devices like the Samsung Galaxy S3. Amazon has it on sale right now for $99 with a two year contract, so the only reason to go with the RAZR M is size. That’s it. We wish there were smaller flagship devices available, and we’re hoping to see some in 2013, but in today’s market if you want top of the line specs you’re going to have to put up with jumbo devices. Related PostsMotorola Droid 4 Available Today from Verizon Wireless for $199 with a New 2-Year Contract, Verizon’s Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX drops to $199; is RAZR HD coming?, Droid Razr 32GB Price Drops to $249 at Verizon WirelessThis article, Motorola DROID RAZR M for Verizon Wireless now available, $99 with a 2 year contract , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Verizon, unlike AT&T, will allow FaceTime over cellular for no additional fees Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:31 AM PDT
Devices running iOS have this nifty little feature called “FaceTime”. You probably know it better as “video calling”. Forget about how Apple tends to put a marketing term on something that’s already popular and then claims that they were the first to roll it out; there’s something more important here. “FaceTime”, and other services like it, are called OTT services. OTT stands for over the top, meaning they’re services that run on top of the infrastructure that a wireless operator has already erected. Pretend you’re AT&T or Verizon. Apple, who makes the wildly popular iPhone, has just launched a service enabling iPhone owners to make calls and send text messages to each other for free. That’s revenue you use to capture by charging people to use your network. Last month, AT&T said that in order to use Apple’s video calling feature over cellular you need to have a special data plan, one that costs more money. Does your broadband provider charge you a special fee to use Skype? Do they ask you for more money to watch YouTube videos? Of course not, that would violate net neutrality principles. AT&T though, looks like they couldn’t care less. Verizon on the other hand, according to the Wall Street Journal, isn’t going to require any special data plans or charge you extra to use “FaceTime”. We salute them for being an operator that doesn’t mess with net neutrality laws, however we do wish they charged less for their services. Hey, they have the best network in America, after all. Just yesterday we filed a report that said their data network is almost twice as fast, on average, as AT&T’s! You may be wondering, why are we covering this Apple brouhaha on Android Authority? Because Google can just as easily be put into a situation where they want to introduce an awesome feature, but the operators decide to put the brakes on innovation by forcing customer to pay more. We’re not fans of that. It hurts everyone, regardless of which OS they like. Related PostsVerizon Galaxy Note 2 spotted, release date not available; U.S. Cellular to get it too, FCC planning to auction off additional UHF spectrum to mobile carriers, Google’s WebRTC to Unhook Real-Time Chat from Proprietary Technology; Are Skype, FaceTime Scared?This article, Verizon, unlike AT&T, will allow FaceTime over cellular for no additional fees , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Galaxy Tab 10.1 turns into giant phablet, thanks to voice dialing mod Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:14 AM PDT
Where do we draw the lines when it comes to the size of the so-called phablets? For some of us, the idea of using a phone that is 5-inches or larger seems less than appealing. Others gladly flock to monster smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Everyone is different, but is there a size that is too big? How about 10.1-inches? If you’ve always dreamed of a 10.1-inch monster phablet, your wish is granted – sort of. A new mod from the XDA Developers forum allows Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 users to easily transform their tablets into voice calling devices. Why would you want to do this? Holding a Note 2 to your ear already looks pretty massive, but a full-sized tablet? Pairing a good bluetooth headset with the Tab 10.1 could make for a portable calling solution that wouldn’t replace your smartphone, but would make a great backup line. Having this backup line could prove handy if your smartphone dies and you absolutely need to make a call right away. The Tab 10.1 could also make a great conference call device. The possibilities are only limited to your own imagination. Does this voice calling mod have a catch? Somewhat, there are a few limitations. The mod currently exists in the form of three ICS and one Jelly Bean build. You will also need to have the 3G version of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1. The only known bug that is worth mentioning is that you might need to drop to 2G in order to get calls to work correctly. Are you interested in turning your Tab 10.1 into the world’s biggest phablet? Related PostsGoogle Voice on Android and Blackberry devices offers faster dialing, 5.5-inch Samsung Galaxy Note 2 phablet coming on August 15, release date not available yet, Second Galaxy Note 2 image leaks, is it the press photo of the new phablet?This article, Galaxy Tab 10.1 turns into giant phablet, thanks to voice dialing mod , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Lantern by Green House powers devices via USB, runs on salt water Posted: 13 Sep 2012 02:09 AM PDT
A Japanese company called Green House is preparing to release a lantern that runs on a healthy diet of salt water. Currently known as the GH-LED10WBW, it requires no battery or outside power sources at all. Simply drop the salt water in and it lights up. As an added bonus, the lantern also comes with a USB port. This can be used to power or charge your electronic devices.
How does the Green House lantern work?When anyone gets the lantern, they must also get custom made magnesium rods that are placed inside the lantern. Then, a bag filled with a measured amount of salt water –350ml of water mixed with 16g of salt, according to Tech-On– is dumped into the lantern. To put it simply, the chemical reaction created by the mixture will create the light and energy needed to power the lantern. Bill Nye the Science Guy would be so proud. Each magnesium rod can be used for 120 hours of continuous power. Unfortunately, the magnesium rods are sold separately. So if you do intend to buy this product, you will also have to pick up additional magnesium rods for it. This is an excellent little device for camping trips or anywhere with a healthy supply of salt water. Green House hasn’t released a price on the lantern just yet. However, it is slated for release sometime in September. Is this is a product you can see yourself buying? Let us know in the comments. Related Posts"Where's My Water?" Hits Number 1 in the Android Market, Motorola Smart Controller: Powers for Android Devices, mWater is an Android app that tracks water quality results, could save plenty of livesThis article, Lantern by Green House powers devices via USB, runs on salt water , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Skype’s new “Opus” audio codec set to deliver CD quality sound over VoIP Posted: 13 Sep 2012 01:37 AM PDT
Skype, while not the first voice over IP client, is one of the most widely used. We use it here at Android Authority on a daily basis and we’re consistently impressed with the kind of sound quality it delivers. The company thinks it can do better though, so they’re introducing a new codec called “Opus“. Their old codec, known as “SILK”, came out in early 2009. Since then Skype’s engineers have been hard at work making a new codec that they say will deliver CD quality sound while also being more efficient in terms of bandwidth. Translation: If you have a poor connection then you’ll experience less choppiness. If you’re on a fast connection, the person on the other end of the call will sound like they’re in the same room with you. When will we be able to use “Opus”? Hopefully at some point in the next few months. When will this codec come to Skype’s mobile client? That we really don’t know. Is “Opus” proprietary and available only to Skype clients? Absolutely not! It’s completely free and Skype encourages other companies to start using it. One of the hottest VoIP clients right now is Viber, which is kind of like Skype, except that it doesn’t require a username and a password. Instead it works by making you an account using your phone number. If you and your friends have Viber installed then you can text each other and call each other for free. We’re big fans of the service and hope that the company will integrate “Opus” as soon as possible. If you’re interested in more technical details, then we encourage you to watch this 45 minute video below. It features Jean-Marc Valin, Senior Platform Developer at Mozilla, breaking down what “Opus” is, where it currently is in terms of being becoming a standard at the IETF, and other things that will probably go over most people’s heads. Don’t say we didn’t warn you! Related PostsMotorola Opus One, the iDEN Android, gets detailed, Best sound and audio equalizer apps for Android, Samsung Galaxy Nexus GT-I9250: Improving Android 4.1 Jelly Bean’s sound output and qualityThis article, Skype’s new “Opus” audio codec set to deliver CD quality sound over VoIP , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Lenovo Smart Tab II for Vodaphone passes FCC inspection Posted: 12 Sep 2012 07:57 PM PDT
At this year’s IFA there were two new tablets announced for release on Vodaphone. Users should be familiar with the name –the Smart Tab — as these will be offered as the next generation tablets after the ZTE tabs released a year ago. This year’s offerings will come in two flavors: the Lenovo Smart Tab II 10″ and the Lenovo Smart Tab II 7″. Despite sharing a name and a manufacturer, the specs on each device are quite different. The 10″ version is packing a 1.5GHz dual-core processor with 16GB of storage inside of a pretty sleek and thin design. On the 7″, the details are a little on the down low, but that didn’t stop it from making a trip to the FCC. Suffice it to say, the 7″ Vodaphone tablet passed the FCC inspections. If you browse around the official documents from the FCC, you’ll learn that the tablet supports 3G, Bluetooth and WiFi. As was pointed out over at Engadget, the FCC ID is worth noting, as well. It carries an ID of O57A2107VDF3G. The important parts to note are the A2107 and the 3G, denoting that it’s a 3G device. The A2107 is a device that we do know a little bit about. Known as the Lenovo IdeaPad A2107, the size and shape of the chunky device are identical to the Smart Tab II. It carries a 1GHz dual core MTK Cortex A9 CPU sitting behind a 1024×600 display with WCDMA/GSM radios, built in FM radio, Bluetooth 4.0 support, and 802.11 b/g/n WiFi support.
Unfortunately, the Smart Tab II 7″ has already been confirmed as having only 4GB of on-board storage, as well as having no LTE radios. It carries the somewhat reasonable price tag of about $245 (190 Euros). This means that although it is priced competitively, the lack of 4G support and only 4GB of storage may turn potential customers off. It is very likely Vodaphone will offer a great subsidy on the tablet, which might make it look more appealing. Do you think the Smart Tab II could be just the A2107 rebranded? If it hits the US market as a subsidized tablet, will the price and specs be competitive with the current stock? Leave your comments below. Related PostsLenovo introduces LePad A2107, the world’s first dual-SIM tablet, Lenovo outs 7-inch IdeaTab A2107, no pricing and release date announced just yet, Lenovo to launch IdeaTab A2105, A2107 and A2109 in September, pricing and spec sheets unknownThis article, Lenovo Smart Tab II for Vodaphone passes FCC inspection , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| New YouTube show Android Design in Action offers design tips for developers [video] Posted: 12 Sep 2012 07:34 PM PDT
Launched yesterday on Google’s Android Developers YouTube channel, Android Design in Action is new video show that looks at the design of apps, and how they might better fit with the guidelines laid out in the Android Style Guide. At the beginning of the premiere, host Roman Nurick describes the show as a spinoff of The App Clinic that focuses more on the design elements of given apps. The first episode’s theme is transit apps, and Roman and guest Nick Butcher visit three apps: London Underground, London Bus Checker, and MParking, all of which have previously been featured on The App Clinic. When first looking at an app, the focus is on picking apart its design elements and any possible problems with these, such as the user needing to scroll to get to important information. The second half of each segment focuses on redesigning the app to look and behave more in line with Google’s Style guidelines, and to generally increase the usability of the app. Though Android Design in Action is obviously aimed at developers, Android users who want to understand more about how the apps they use are designed should find it interesting. Some may find the “for developers by developers” tone daunting at times, but the show rarely wanders too deeply into this territory. Right now there is a problem with the first episode where audio only plays on the right channel, but the team has said that they hope to fix the audio issue soon. Does this seem like the sort of show that would keep watching, or do you think it only has appeal for developers? Related PostsAndroid Developers Now Have Style Guide Courtesy of Google, Ice Cream Sandwich Preparedness 101: Android Team Spills Tips, Tricks for App Makers To Ready Wares for ICS, 28 Google I/O Android sessions videos now available on YouTubeThis article, New YouTube show Android Design in Action offers design tips for developers [video] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Apple iPhone 5 vs Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx Posted: 12 Sep 2012 05:30 PM PDT
ZOMG! So like, has the iPhone 5 finally arrived!? Yawn. Forgive us for not sharing the seemingly blind enthusiasms that many are feeling, but it comes with the territory when you’ve been spoiled with such a diverse and impressive Android lineup this year. A 4-inch display? Welcome to 2010, Apple. It doesn’t mean that we’re dismissing the wide appeal of Apple’s latest phone — specs, features, and what it can help bring to the smartphone table, no siri siree! Here at Android Authority, we’d like to lay bare the cold, hard unadulterated facts. Rest assured that we will be reasonably objective when we lower the iPhone 5 and the Droid Razr Maxx HD into the fight cage for their duel. Let's first meet the two participants in this edition of VS. Apple iPhone 5Ah, the iPhone 5. We can’t say that we’re not entirely pleased to see you arrive — if only to give a jolt to Android phone makers to push the envelope some more. People were expecting the iPhone 5 to come out last year, but what they got instead was the iPhone 4S and Siri. So it’s understandable that the expectation this time around is higher and that much more intense. The numerical jump, and not just an added alphabet on the back, traditionally signifies big changes for Apple’s iDevices. Will the iPhone 5 successfully please those on the other side? Quite likely. The more pressing question is whether or not it proves that Apple still has what it takes to innovate — something we haven’t seen in a long time. Is the iPhone 5 a Droid Razr HD Maxx killer? Now let’s not get too hasty. We have yet to properly introduce the competition. Motorola Droid Razr HD MaxxAs one of Android's royal members, the Droid brand has successfully emerged from a slump with the release of the Razr series. The new Droid Razr HD Maxx built upon that fine reputation and took it several notches further. Meanwhile, seeing the Maxx on the back of the name brings great pleasure to those who need their phone to come with nuclear-like power source. OK, maybe it won't last for eons, but it still has the biggest built-in battery (capacity-wise) on a smartphone. Without giving away too much too early, the Droid Razr HD Maxx truly offers the best of both worlds: form and function. Now that you know a bit about the contestants, better get the aprons ready. The battle between the iPhone 5 and Droid Razr Maxx HD is likely to get messy. And it starts, NOW! DesignTruth be told, Apple has released some pretty iPhones in the past. The iPhone 5 continues the rounded-corner theme, minimalistic look and hardware home button tradition of past iterations. We're not going to say it's getting boring, but it wouldn't hurt for Apple to shake things up a bit on this front. Apple is using an aluminum and glass combo for the next generation iPhone. This time around, however, you'll find that the back comes in two-tone colors – possibly an homage to the original iPhone. Kudos for making the iPhone 5 thin as ever, as it measures at 7.6mm. It has also lost some body weight, and is now only 112 grams.
The Droid Razr HD Maxx has a distinguished design that makes it stand out from its peers. It certainly looks more well-balanced compared to the rather awkwardly tall iPhone 5. The thin look is complemented by the use of Kevlar backing, which now envelopes the side of the phone as well, not just the rear. If you dislike the hump that the previous iteration sports, you'll be pleased to know that it's now gone. The phone packs monstrous battery and screen, surely it will be thick as a brick? Not really. The Droid Razr HD Maxx weighs a respectable 157 grams and is still only 9.3mm in thickness. As handsome as the device and its edge-to-edge screen is, the Verizon logo on the front rather ruins it and we so wish that it's not there. Maybe we'll get our wish when and if Motorola decides to release an international version of the phone.
For inquiring minds, here are the dimensions for the two phones:
Winner: Droid Razr HD Maxx. It’s easy to be thin and light when you’re sporting a much smaller screen and has smaller battery. That being said, we’re just indifferent toward the iPhone 5′s design. HardwareThe iPhone 5's 4-inch screen (1136 x 640 resolution) is a welcome and long overdue addition, but it pales in comparison to the Razr HD Maxx's gargantuan 4.7-inch Super AMOLED HD display, despite the slight pixel density advantage of the former (326 vs 312 ppi). In reality, it won't be that noticeable if at all. Running the show on the latest iPhone is the new A6 SoC for 2x faster CPU and graphics, or so Apple claims. Anandtech believes the A6 is based on the ARM Cortex A15 of the dual-core variety. Other notable features include an 8MP rear camera with f/2.4 aperture and backside illumination sensor, as well as a 720p HD front-facing camera.
All the hoopla about the phone sporting a 4G radio materializes today, but as per the company's habit, it'll be known as Ultrafast Wireless. Check out the full specs of the phone right here. The Droid Razr HD Maxx boasts the tried and tested Snapdragon S4 dual-core processor, which is clocked at 1.5GHz. It also comes with 1GB RAM, 32GB onboard storage, microSD slot, 8MP rear camera, 1.3MP front-facing camera, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, WiFi a/b/g/n, and GPS. Similar to its predecessor, the Razr HD Maxx has a 3,300mAh battery to power the phone for days. Winner: Droid Razr HD Maxx. Given the similarity between the two SoCs, we can expect the phones to perform similarly in terms of raw speed. But the Razr HD Maxx powers through thanks to its NFC chip, expandable storage, and of course, amazing battery life. SoftwareThe iPhone 5 ships with the equally brand new iOS 6, one which was already previewed earlier in the year. It turns out there's really nothing new introduced today. Some fresh features that the new OS brings include an improved Siri (can now launch apps by voice, gives sports updates, hands-free usage while driving, etc), FaceTime over cellular network, turn-by-turn navigations, and a better Facebook integration. Another feature that's being touted by Apple is Passbook, which lets you store and access digital copies of movie tickets, airlines tickets, boarding passes, vouchers, coupons, and the likes.
We're glad that the features above are finally arriving on the iPhone, because let's face it – some, if not all, have been available on Android for as long as we can remember, either through third-party or Google's homegrown apps. The audience may have gasped when the Do Not Disturb feature was introduced for the iOS6, which lets users put the phone on silent mode and stop notifications from coming in according to a set schedule, but Moto's Smart Actions does that and so much more. Owners of the Razr HD Maxx get location- and time-based functionality. UI-wise, it's still pretty much the same experience on the iPhone 5. The rows of icons and folders overcrowding the home screens are as simple as they come, but they get the job done. Razr Maxx HD runs a light skin on top of Android OS. It's one that doesn't distract users from enjoying a wholesome Android experience, but rather enhances it. There's a slight disappointment in learning that it will only ship with Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich outright and miss out the buttery bandwagon that Jelly Bean can offer, but an upgrade to Android 4.1 is promised soon. Google's influence on the Razr HD Maxx is pretty obvious, as it – along with the other two new Razr phones – comes preloaded with Chrome browser. It's very comforting to know that the phone will not be left in the cold from getting timely updates in the future, though it remains to be seen how Moto and Google will walk the walk. Winner: Droid Razr HD Maxx. Need we say more? Thought so. EcosystemMoving on to content and service that the two camps provide, Apple clearly has set a high standard with its ecosystem, one that happens to pre-date the iPhone. But Apple also has no problem locking down its users, which would make them think twice about jumping on to another platform. Except for songs bought on the iTunes, most purchased digital contents (TV shows and movies come to mind) won't run on non-iOS devices. We'd like to think that Google has been doing a better job as of late in making its Google Play Store more desirable by providing a steady stream of multimedia content. The recent introduction of Google Play voucher is also a step in the right direction; one that will make it easier for customers to purchase digital goods, and subsequently create a more conducive environment for developers and content providers. All in all, we're in for a good ride. Winner: Tie. Apple has the slight upper hand, but Google is fast catching up with no signs of slowing down. Wrap UpThis piece isn't meant to persuade Apple fans to climb over the picket fence and change allegiance, but we're merely showing how the two phones differ. While simplicity seems to be Apple's mantra, the same experience can be had as well on Android if one desires. That's one of the best things about Android, as the overall user experience can be made as simple or as complex as the users like it to be. Aside from the obvious hardware and software advantages, this is what the Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx offers and why it’s ultimately the more superior option. To answer the original question, we don't think the Android camp has much to worry about the competition from Cupertino for now. The iPhone 5 has flat-out failed to impress us and it most definitely isn't a Droid Razr HD Maxx killer. Did you yawn as much as we did during the iPhone 5′s unveiling event? Were you expecting more from Apple? Leave your comments and thoughts below.
Related PostsDroid Razr Maxx vs iPhone 4S, Verizon’s Motorola Droid RAZR MAXX drops to $199; is RAZR HD coming?, Up Close and Personal with Verizon’s Droid Razr MaxxThis article, Apple iPhone 5 vs Motorola Droid Razr HD Maxx , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Apple’s iPhone 5 fails to impress [Poll] Posted: 12 Sep 2012 02:26 PM PDT
Well Apple has announced the new iPhone 5. It pretty much conforms to the rumors that were flying around before the San Francisco event kicked off. It's certainly an improvement on the iPhone 4S, but is it enough to tempt you away from Android? In a word – no! So what's new?It is lighter and thinner than the old one. We're talking 7.6mm thick and 112 grams. It has a 4-inch screen with a resolution of 1136 x 640 pixels, so it's basically the same 326 ppi Retina display as before, no change to the width – the screen is just taller now. It has support for 4G LTE and dual-band Wi-Fi. The A6 processor is twice as fast as the A5 that was in the iPhone 4S. We've got an 8-megapixel camera and 1080p HD video recording. There are three microphones now and improved speakers. There's also a new, much smaller, dock connector (adaptor for your old accessories sold separately of course). The new iPhone 5 will run iOS 6 which was revealed back in June. It will be available in black or white and you're looking at $199 for the 16GB, $299 for the 32GB, and $399 for the 64GB version, all with a two-year contract. It ships on September 21 but pre-orders are go from September 14. What's missing?Apart from any surprises at all, there's also no support for NFC so you can forget about contactless payments, presumably Apple has another digital wallet plan up its sleeve. There's also no wireless charging. The iPhone 5 looks like a straightforward upgrade to the iPhone line – no redesign, no major new feature that the competition lacks, and no obvious reason to rush out and buy one. It's quite surprising to find just how thoroughly the details of Apple's new flagship phone were leaked before the announcement. The 4-inch display, support for LTE, smaller dock connector, the A6 processor, and even shots of the device design have all popped up online in the last few days. Pre-Apple eventsWe saw a few exciting devices announced in the run up to the Apple event. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 offers a smoother "phablet " experience with a huge screen, the Kindle Fire HD is an interesting new Android tablet, the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx offers unbelievable battery life, even the new WP8 Nokia Lumia 920 has wireless charging. Where is the cutting edge with the iPhone 5? We can expect it to be fast, but aside from that it looks like it will have a good display, a decent camera, and pretty ordinary battery life. All-in-all the Apple event was a dud. The new iOS 6 includes Apple's new Maps app which looks inferior to Google Maps, there's the Passbook app, and a couple of minor improvements, but nothing eye-catching. Does anyone care about the Apple stores and a new line of iPods? How does it line up?If we take a look at the iPhone 5 next to the leading Android devices on the market right now, the Samsung Galaxy S3 and the HTC One X, it looks like Apple is playing catch up. The next wave of Android releases, devices like the Motorola Droid Razr Maxx, the LG Optimus G, and the Sony Xperia T, all have the potential to surpass the iPhone 5 in certain areas, even the WP8 Nokia Lumia 920 has some advantages over the iPhone 5. You can bet it will impress in benchmark tests and we can expect some straight comparisons with the Android leaders in the not too distant future. Android already did itIt's tough to watch an event like that and not think about how many of the "new" features Apple is boasting about that have been around on Android for ages. Everything from panorama mode and the ability to take still images while shooting video, to turn-by-turn directions and a 4-inch screen are already part of the Android line-up. The iOS 6 platform doesn't appear to include much in the way of innovation. Android strikes backNow that everyone can see what the iPhone 5 brings to the table we can expect a flurry of activity amongst Android manufacturers. Expect to see some aggressive new price cuts and maybe a few new device announcements in the not too distant future. There's little doubt the iPhone 5 will fly off the shelves in the lead up to Christmas, fans of Apple and many indifferent mainstream consumers will want it, but a lot of people are inevitably asking "what's the big attraction?" It will be interesting to see how the big Android manufacturers react to this and how quickly they look to push out new devices to compete. The iPhone 5 looks like a perfectly decent phone, but it seems unlikely that it will provoke panic in the competition. What do you think? Did you expect more? Are any of you tempted to buy an iPhone 5? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.Related PostsNo related posts. This article, Apple’s iPhone 5 fails to impress [Poll] , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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So many of us place our online safety in the hands of Google. After all, Google makes the OS that runs Android mobile devices, the web browser on our PCs, phones and tablets, and of course there is the search engine. As a result, Google is pretty hot on security issues. To this end, it has a bug-finding bounty scheme, in which Google pays independent programmers and security researchers hard cash for finding security related bugs in its apps, such as Chrome. Over the last few years Google has paid out over $1 million in bounties, mainly for security issues found in the desktop version of Chrome.
As well as the bug fixes Google has also been 
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