Android Authority |
- Google actively looking for the next generation of passwords
- Pantech makes the 5.9-inch Vega No. 6 official, the world’s umpteen Full HD smartphone
- Reuters: The iPhone isn’t cool in Asia anymore, people are switching to Android
- Nokia launches Music+ subscription service, sadly it requires Windows Phone
- Samsung says they’ve now manufactured over 300 million AMOLED panels
- Your smartphone might soon be able to identify scents and flavors
- Samsung Music Hub to finds its way to non-Samsung devices soon
- Zombie epidemic coming to Plague Inc. in February update
- Full screen mode in Chrome Beta!
- Speaktoit Assistant adds premium subscription, allows users to teach it custom commands
| Google actively looking for the next generation of passwords Posted: 28 Jan 2013 03:32 AM PST
Google’s security team has released a report outlining why the password is no longer good enough for the Internet of today, according to a report from Wired. With news of hacks becoming a staple in the newspaper over the past year or so (with Mat Honan’s epic hack still at the forefront of our collective memory), it was an appropriate time for Google to conduct this study. They also conceive and consider multiple alternatives, such as the YubiKey. When you plug the USB key into a computer it will automatically log you into Google. They also spoke about possible NFC security implementations in their report. Envision a universe where all you have to do to login to a computer is to tap it with your phone. While similar implementations are at least many years away, the technology to do so exists even today. As for today, what can you do to protect your online identity? For one, you can use the Google Authenticator app and enable 2-step authentication. This should make it significantly harder to access your account without authorisation. To check out the full report by Wired hit up the source link below. |
| Pantech makes the 5.9-inch Vega No. 6 official, the world’s umpteen Full HD smartphone Posted: 28 Jan 2013 03:12 AM PST
Do you remember how excited we all were when we first heard word about 1080p smartphones? It was like we were seven again, it was Christmas morning, and, instead getting the same old candy canes and toy cars as always, we got… ponies. I mean, sweets and toys were fine too, but getting a pony was the dream. Like seeing a Full HD smartphone seemed the dream in the tech world a while back. But then everyone got a pony and it suddenly started to feel less special. Like ponies were the new candy canes. Still, if there's anyone out there in the market for a "pony" and somehow HTC's Droid DNA, Sony's Xperia Z, Huawei's Ascend D2 and all the others don't feel like the one, you might want to meet the Pantech Vega No. 6 as well. The newest Full HD phone has been unveiled in Korea just moments ago. As expected, the big guy crosses the very thin line between phone and tablet, boasting a humongous 5.9-inch display. It's more like a one-year old stallion than a pony if you will, although it falls short of the world's biggest "phablet" title (that still goes to Huawei's Ascend Mate).
But talk is cheap, especially when our pony metaphor is getting old, which is why we'd rather just give you the thing you're most interested in – Pantech Vega No.6's specs:
And now, something that I know you're even more interested in – pricing. According to official sources, the 5.9-incher will start selling in Korea next month for 849,000 won, or around $795. That's the outright price, of course, with SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ all set to offer the beast in subsidized flavors as well. But how about the rest of the world? Well, I wouldn't hold my breath. Pantech is not exactly a household name in the industry outside Asia, so we don't think they'll be taking a risk with the Mambo No.5 Vega No.6 in the US or Europe. Then again, after Discover's debut on AT&T, the company's reputation in the States seems to have gotten a major boost, so why not allow ourselves to dream?
The other more important question we have to answer is whether or not the Vega No.6 can perform against the other 1080p "stallions". There's nothing special about this bad boy when it comes to its CPU, GPU, RAM, software, cameras or connectivity options, whereas the battery sounds okay, but not great. The microSD support is definitely a plus, while the design is mediocre at best. We don't have anything against the way the Vega looks in the official pics, but what's up with that weight? 209 grams? That's massive, folks. Not to mention we're still not taken with the idea of carrying a 5.9-inch slab of silicon around. Or are you? Related Posts |
| Reuters: The iPhone isn’t cool in Asia anymore, people are switching to Android Posted: 27 Jan 2013 08:27 PM PST
It’s hard to believe now, but there was once a time when owning an iPhone meant you were a part of the cool crowd. The thing is, people change their minds quite easily. What’s cool today makes you a loser tomorrow. Thanks to the internet and globalization, fads come and go faster than most of us can keep track of them. According to a report published by Reuters, people living in “trend-setting” cities in Asia are now getting bored of the mythical Jesus Phone. Here are two numbers to consider: In January 2012, the iPhone had a 72% market share in Singapore. Today it’s just 50%. What are people buying instead? Android devices, of course, specifically those from Samsung. The Note II in particular is mentioned a few times because it has a large screen and a large battery. This writer, who is currently traveling through Asia, saw so many people using the Note that he succumbed to temptation and bought one for himself! So can Apple get their “cool” back? That’s hard to say. Google is getting better at design with each passing day, and Samsung is already excellent at hardware, so … we’re really on the fence with this one. We’re not going to lie, some of us here at Android Authority own iOS products, and while this might be a blasphemous thing to say, Google tends to show off their best work on Apple’s platform first. The new Gmail app for iOS, the new Google Maps app, Google+, Currents, everything that makes Google special shows up first on iOS, and then on Android. It’s probably got something to do with the fact that everyone in California (read: Google’s home turf) has an iPhone. But back to the topic at hand, we’re thrilled that more and more people are switching to Android. Let’s welcome these new members of our family with open arms and not hostility. Don’t berate someone for buying X phone versus Y phone, and please don’t tell someone that they’re not “cool” because their handset doesn’t have a custom ROM. Related Posts |
| Nokia launches Music+ subscription service, sadly it requires Windows Phone Posted: 27 Jan 2013 07:43 PM PST
Music means different things to different people. Some listen to music to elicit an emotionally response, others just want something on in the background while they’re doing menial labor. Whichever group you’re a part of isn’t really relevant though, everyone here has to admit that technology has changed the way music is consumed. People used to buy albums, then they bought digital singles, and now it’s all about the streaming services. Google doesn’t have one, Apple doesn’t have one, but that’s OK since there are companies out there like Spotify. For those who don’t know how Spotify works, it’s like Netflix. You pay a monthly fee and you get to listen to whatever it is you want. If you stop paying money, then no more music for you. But there’s another company that doesn’t get a lot of attention from the press regarding their music service, and that’s Nokia. “Nokia Music” is easy to describe if you’ve heard of Last.FM or Pandora. You pick an artist or musical genre, and then the service picks songs it thinks you might like. If there’s a song you don’t like, you can skip it, but there are only so many times you can skip per hour. This service is free, but today Nokia is introducing a paid version called Music+. What do you get for 4 USD (4 EUR abroad) per month? Higher quality audio, unlimited skips, unlimited offline playlists, and there’s even a new web app. Why are we talking about Music+ here? Because we want Google to copy it. Google knows so much about us, where we are, who we talk to, what we search for, so why can’t it predict what music we’ll like? Countless services talk about their libraries of 20+ million songs, but who cares if you don’t know which tracks are worth your time? Come on, Google, make us proud. Related Posts |
| Samsung says they’ve now manufactured over 300 million AMOLED panels Posted: 27 Jan 2013 07:13 PM PST
January 2007 is a month that no one in the mobile industry will ever forget. It’s the month that Apple unveiled the long rumored iPhone to the world, but it’s also the month that Samsung began manufacturing AMOLED panels. Today the South Korean handset vendor and component maker is announcing that they’ve shipped over 300 million of said panels. The first 100 million took nearly half a decade to make. The second 100 million took roughly 11 months. And this latest batch of 100 million, it took them just seven months. That should give you an indicator as to how fast the technology is advancing. Now some of you are AMOLED haters. Yes, the colors are somewhat oversaturated. The whites are not pure white. And the power consumption varies significantly depending on what’s being displayed on the screen. But that still doesn’t change the fact that Samsung uses AMOLED as one of their key differentiators for their high end products. The first, second, and third Galaxy S all shipped with AMOLED screens. The same can be said about the first and second Note. There was once a time when HTC used AMOLED panels that were made by Samsung, but then Samsung quickly realized that they should keep their latest screen technology to themselves. Speaking about the latest and greatest, what’s next for Samsung? We’re all waiting to hear about the fourth generation Galaxy S. We know for a fact that it’s going to have a 4.99 inch 1080p screen. The folks at AnandTech even have a photo of that particular panel. What we don’t know is how will Samsung arrange the subpixels. Are they going to stick to PenTile? Are they going to switch to whatever makes the second generation Note special? Do they have something completely different we’ve yet to hear about? We’ll find out more during the first half of 2013. Brace yourselves! Related Posts |
| Your smartphone might soon be able to identify scents and flavors Posted: 27 Jan 2013 07:09 PM PST
Ever heard of a mobile phone that can smell or taste? We haven’t either, although we’re very much aware that mobile devices today can already “see” and “hear” you through cameras and microphones. Phones can now even “feel” your touch, since touchscreen-enabled devices are increasingly becoming popular, and are beginning to edge out those with physical keypads. But in the future, our smartphones might be able to smell and taste us, with new sensors being developed by smartphone manufacturers. IBM actually predicted that in five years’ time, our mobile devices will be able to mimic the five senses: touch, sight, hearing, taste and smell. This technology might just be around the corner. For one, Adamant Technologies, a San Francisco-based startup, is developing a mobile chipset that “can take the sense of smell and taste and digitize them.” According to Adamant CEO Sam Khamis, their system uses a combination of about 2,000 sensors to identify scents. This is even greater than the approximately 400 sensing nerves in the average human nose. To put things in perspective, a dog’s nose has about 2,000 sensors, which makes the Adamant-developed chip more sensitive than the average human — perhaps good enough to sniff for specific scents like dogs. In bad taste (and breath)Humans have one inherent advantage, though. While computer sensors can easily detect specific smells like chemicals or smoke, these might have difficulty identifying combinations, like hot pizza and cookies baking in the same kitchen, for instance. But there are practical applications that Adamant is hoping to satisfy in the next couple of years. Chief among these is detecting bad breath. “Halitosis, or bad breath tracking, is something we’re really interested in,” quips Khamis, saying it’s something that even your closest friend might have trouble telling you about. But once your smartphone can detect you’re not exactly pleasant smelling while you’re talking, then you’re bound to listen. Adamant says the technology is far from perfect, and that they’re likely to release a product in the market in two years’ time. First among these will be a plug-in accessory to smartphones (initially the iPhone), which will sell for $100. Khamis says that once the device is out, it will not only tell you that you have bad breath, but will actually be able to point out the origin of your condition through the included mobile app. Medical appsGoing beyond bad breath, though, a smartphone that can identify scents will have a multitude of other applications that may have a bigger importance in the community. For instance, authorities will be able to use smartphones as substitutes for the usual Breathalyzer, which can help identify not only whether a driver is intoxicated, but what substance he or she is currently under the influence of. In the medical field, a “smelling” smartphone may be able to monitor blood sugar, for diabetic patients’ maintenance. Healthcare facilities will be able to detect airborne infectious material (viruses, bacteria) in real time. Even in mundane everyday things, this will also work. Adamant foresees a calorie-tracking app, which can track metabolism in real time. Or it can be as simple as making everyday lifestyle suggestions that might come in handy for us, smartphone users. Next time we hold our phone against our ear, our phone might discreetly say: “You need a shower!” Related Posts |
| Samsung Music Hub to finds its way to non-Samsung devices soon Posted: 27 Jan 2013 01:35 PM PST
Samsung had big plans for its Music Hub app, which combines cloud storage, music store, and online radio in one place, when it was first announced last year. Currently available for the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Galaxy Note 2, the company not only planned to release this app for its extensive lineup of smartphones and tablets, but also other Samsung electronics including audio docks, Smart TVs, and Android-powered refrigerators. While these plans have yet to come to fruition, Samsung is already looking at the next step to further extend its stronghold in the Android arena. Speaking to The Next Web, TJ Kang, SVP for Samsung Media Services, mentioned that the company plans to release Music Hub not only for its own devices, but those from other manufacturers as well. Further, the availability of the app, which is currently restricted to just six countries, will also be extended this year. Granted, there is no fixed timeline for such a rollout yet, and is only in the early stages of planning. Though Samsung is king of the Android hill, this move is, in part, acknowledgement that other Android manufacturers exist, even if it may not feel that way at the moment. This will also pit Samsung against the likes of Google and Amazon who have similar apps available, as well as popular online music services like Rdio and Spotify.
The Samsung Music Hub has some great features (you can check out our video review here), with a premium subscription (at $9.99/month) giving you 100GB of cloud storage space. Unfortunately, with no specifics on expected release dates, we can only wait and see if and when the Samsung Music Hub makes its way to non-Samsung devices. While it may be a welcome addition, with the exponentially increasing popularity of apps like Google Play Music and Spotify, I hope that Samsung doesn’t suffer from a case of “too little too late.” What are your thoughts? Are you looking forward to the Samsung Music Hub being available on your device? If you currently own a Samsung Galaxy S3 or Galaxy Note 2, do you use this app? If yes, share your experiences in the comments section below! Related Posts |
| Zombie epidemic coming to Plague Inc. in February update Posted: 27 Jan 2013 01:23 PM PST
Forget about the Neurax Worm's mind control catastrophe that endangered the whole human existence; an even deadlier mutation is about to wreak havoc in the popular Android strategy game, Plague Inc. Come February, a new game update (1.5) will include the Necroa Virus that can kill infected victims and turn them into mindless zombies. It's all new gameplay that will keep players disturbingly entertained by killing billions of people. Unlike previous viruses which the game is able to fight against by formulating a cure, a new organization is formed to contain the player's much-maligned effort to turn every human into the living dead. Strategies that worked in past mutations may no longer have the same level of efficacy when used for the Necroa Virus. James Vaughan, one of the minds at Ndemic Creations, who developed Plague Inc., asserts that the game still lives up to its realistic take of disease outbreaks even though the element of horror is more prominent. Besides the unique gameplay, other features are also either added or enhanced in the update: music, graphics, events, and achievements. Due to the usual optimizations and sophisticated testing for several Android devices, there is a good chance that the Android update will release some time after its iOS equivalent. And once it arrives, the Necroa Virus update can be availed for $1.99, or at no cost when all the previous stages of the game are completed on brutal difficulty. Related Posts |
| Full screen mode in Chrome Beta! Posted: 27 Jan 2013 01:06 PM PST
A recent update has given Chrome Beta the option to enable WebGL. While that usually has a lot to do with graphics, this time it's given us a fun new way to view webpages. An enterprising Reddit user (Smackel) has found a way to view our favorite web pages in full-screen mode! It's really simple to do, too. Just follow the steps below, and you're on your way! Keep in mind some notes about using this function going forward are after the step-by-step, so don't stop reading just yet! You'll also need an Android 4.0 or better device, and Chrome Beta loaded. Steps:
Simple as that! Now, a few notes. We asked you to bookmark the page in step 4 because when you turn the device off or force-stop Chrome Beta, the full-screen function goes away. You'll have to run through steps 4-6 again to re-engage the feature. It really makes mobile web browsing a much better experience.We're sure this is a feature we'll see on future Chrome updates (once the beta tag is removed), but an early gift is never a bad thing. I've tried it on both the Nexus 4 & 7, and it works perfectly. If you need additional help, the video below will walk you through it. Have you tried it yet? Tell us what you think!
Related Posts |
| Speaktoit Assistant adds premium subscription, allows users to teach it custom commands Posted: 27 Jan 2013 12:58 PM PST
The developers behind Speaktoit Assistant, one of the best virtual assistants available for Android–ie. one that sets out to be not just an ordinary Siri or S Voice clone–have recently unveiled a premium version of the app that allows users to teach their virtual buddy customized responses for certain questions or commands. To date, no other intelligent personal assistants and knowledge navigators implement such technology. Siri, for instance, only defaults to offering a web search when it fails to understand a query; the S Voice by Samsung likewise. Luckily for Speaktoit users, their assistant can learn customized responses and actions for questions that it doesn't recognize. To illustrate, you can tell the assistant that the next time you say "what's happening," it should display the latest news, just like what the image above shows. Customized responses and actions are only available on a Premium account that uses a paid subscription model: $2 for every month or $20 per year. An upgrade to premium also entitles users to exclusive features such as extra voices to choose from, unlimited use to all services, PIN codes, and prioritized support. In the meantime, new features have also been introduced for users of the free version: assigning from one to multiple nicknames to people found in your contact list, inclusion of Facebook friends' birthdays in briefing mode, the ability to speak German, and various other enhancements and fixes. Do the premium features justify the $2 monthly fee? Tell us what you think. Related Posts |
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