Android Authority |
- 3DMark gaming benchmark gets industry-wide support
- Android malware found in seemingly legit versions of Opera Mini, Angry Birds. Always check permissions!
- Android Authority On Air – Episode 23 – Live with Chameleon
- Scott Forstall testimony: Apple hiring, iPhone Fight Club team, Samsung design and 7-inch iPad
- Phil Shiller testimony: iPhone, iPad creation and customer surveys, Samsung copying skills and iPhone 5 design secrecy
- RIM CEO admits to having considered switch to Android
- Judge doesn’t punish Samsung for press leak in Apple patent case, warns against any other “theatrics or sideshows”
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies up on Google Play for Xperia devices, others must wait a month
- HP TouchPad Jelly Bean update available via CyanogenMod 10
- Wireless Charging Kit for Samsung Galaxy S3 hits Verizon stores
| 3DMark gaming benchmark gets industry-wide support Posted: 04 Aug 2012 02:41 AM PDT 3DMark has been the standard gaming benchmark for PC for over a decade now. It’s what people have been using to see how their hardware fares with the latest games. The 3DMark version for Android is coming out later this year, and it has gained 4 more partners for their “Benchmark Development Program”, to create industry-wide benchmarks for games on Android. The 4 partners are Qualcomm, Intel, Acer and SingTel-Optus, and they are joining existing members such as: Nvidia, AMD, Microsoft, and Samsung. Jukka Makinen, Futuremark CEO said:
3DMark for Android is coming out later this year and will measure performance using graphics rendering, CPU and physics tests through OpenGL ES 2.0. Although I’m sure it’s going to be the most comprehensive gaming benchmark ever for Android, I’m disappointed to see that it’s not going to support OpenGL ES 3.0 out of the game; GLBenchmark 3.0 with support for OpenGL ES 3.0 is also coming out this year. But I think what’s even more important than gaining another benchmark tool for Android, is that Futuremark, the company behind 3DMark, is gathering all these industry players to establish a set of graphics standards for mobile devices. This should help Android developers in the future to make games more easily for all the different mobile GPU’s out there. We might see fewer “Tegra-optimized” or “Qualcomm-optimized” games, because they would all work basically the same on all mobile GPU’s. This article, 3DMark gaming benchmark gets industry-wide support , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:28 PM PDT There is a new generation of Android malware, and authors are increasingly becoming sophisticated with their social engineering capabilities. According to security companies, there is a trend among malware makers that involves using hacked versions of real apps to deliver a malicious payload. There are about 20,000 malicious Android apps in circulation, says Trend Micro. And about 13 million phones worldwide have been infected, says Chinese security firm NetQin. A big part of these involve remotely controlling smartphones into sending premium text messages, as well as spamming the phones’ inboxes with junk messages. Real apps with real payloadsThe inherent problem here, of course, is Android’s openness, which comes with both benefits and disadvantages. Because Google Play — and other app repositories — are not as strict in app approval as other platforms like, say, Apple , malicious applications can get through. Google will kill apps that are found to contain malicious payloads, but the damage may have already been done by then. End-users may be lulled into a false sense of security in downloading only legitimate apps. However, downloading the same legitimate apps from dubious sources might come with some problems. Case in point: OpFake, which was found to have been embedded in a legitimate copy of Opera Mini. The malware author will not just mimic the mobile browser, but will actually install the real deal — but not before sending an SMS to a premium number. Do keep in mind that the Opera Mini app available from Google Play is just the installer, and it downloads the actual app from Opera after install. This makes it easy for hackers to spoof the installer app, but download the real thing. Android malware will usually come with payloads that do any of the following: call a premium number, send premium SMS, flood the phone with spam, or offer remote control access to hackers, thereby turning the phone into a bot for sending spam. How to protect yourself against malwareYour Android smartphone and tablet already offers some defense against malware, but only if you’re vigilant enough to use it. This basically involves the user permissions that you approve when installing an app. For instance, the OpFake malware bundled into a real Opera Mini copy seeks permissions different from the legitimate Opera Mini, which should already raise suspicions from anyone familiar with what permissions a browser should require.  Image credit: GFI Labs The legitimate Opera Mini would only require the following:
However, the OpFake version would also require the following:
In a Fast Company article, Neil Ungerleider says the fact that an app seeks permissions for “phone calls,” “messages” and “services that cost you money” should already raise suspicions of a potential threat. Does a mobile web browser really need to initiate SMS messages and access services that result in carrier charges? Going beyond malware, even poorly-coded applications can severely affect a smartphone’s functionality. A study conducted by Stanford university researchers has determined that poorly-designed mobile websites and mobile apps drain smartphone and tablet batteries at an accelerated rate. Even free applications that display ads are more likely to drain your Android device’s battery than a paid one without ads, as determined by Purdue research. Even the best of us get hit by malicious software at least once in our computing lives. I must admit that even with vigilance, my notebook computer got hit by a hard-to-remove rootkit a couple of years back. That particular attack caused two weeks in lost productivity as I hunted for a way to remove it without reformatting. Android smartphones should be easier to fix, with a quick factory reset and a re-sync of user data from Google account backups. But the headache and heartache over extraneous expenses from premium SMS and calls sent should be bad enough for any Android user. The key here is vigilance. A quick glance at the app permissions before tapping “accept & download” may spell the difference between a safe system and an infected one. This article, Android malware found in seemingly legit versions of Opera Mini, Angry Birds. Always check permissions! , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Android Authority On Air – Episode 23 – Live with Chameleon Posted: 03 Aug 2012 08:57 PM PDT This week, we dig into Android’s latest launcher, Chameleon, along with this week’s special guest Phill, from their development team. Screen real estate, widgets, and home screens based on a context system make Chameleon extremely powerful. Chameleon, now in private beta, will soon be launching an SDK system to allow developers from all walks of life to create additional widgets. Don’t worry Kickstarter backers, you’ll be getting your invites in the next few days. Chameleon has a lot of potential and they keep adding functionality. Keep an eye on this application, it’s going to get better. Google’s Wallet grows up, allows any major credit card to be added. Google adds additional security features which make Wallet extremely enticing. The Nexus Q goes free to those that pre-ordered, the rest of us will have to wait while Google figures out exactly what they want to do with the Q. They plan on adding more functionality, which is great news. Next up, Verizon gets a slap on the wrist resulting in tethering changes. This is a good thing. Users can now download tethering apps directly from the Google Play store and bypass the $20/month fee. Thanks FCC. Sadly, a bunch of old Snapdragon phones won’t be getting CM9 or CM10. They’ll have to settle for Cm7.2 or non-CM ICS/JB ports in the future. Miss the show? Tune in or watch below: YouTube Links: Google Wallet can now add any credit card or debit card This article, Android Authority On Air – Episode 23 – Live with Chameleon , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Scott Forstall testimony: Apple hiring, iPhone Fight Club team, Samsung design and 7-inch iPad Posted: 03 Aug 2012 06:06 PM PDT The U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial continued its proceedings today with Judge Lucy Koh scolding the two parties for their "theatrics" and "sideshows" followed by Phil Shiller's testimony. Once Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing answered all questions, the next witness to take the stand was called. And we were looking to another important Apple executive for the iOS business, Scott Forstall, the company's Senior Vice President of iOS Software. Just like Shiller before him, Forstall revealed quite a few interesting details on the inner workings at Apple, including plenty of patent infringement allegations, that happen to go both ways. Apple examinationAnd just like in Shiller's case, we have plenty of quotes from Forstall's testimony, via The Verge. NeXT job at AppleForstall took the stand and kicked off his testimony with various background information regarding his education and his getting hired at NeXT, which was then acquired by Apple. Apparently, Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs wanted explicitly to hire Forstall, as Jobs burst in the room during Forstall's interview telling him that he would get an offer, which he'd better accept – we're definitely not seeing the relevance of this introduction, but it's yet another interesting detail from Jobs way of doing things. iPhone Fight Club TeamThen Forstall explained how in 2003 he was working on the iPad, and how that work transformed into developing the iPhone a year later. He ended up leading the iPhone OS software team under strict instructions to hire anyone as long as the persons chosen for the job were already working at Apple. The team would then work in a special building, labeled "Fight Club," on a project nobody outside the team had any details about. Here are some relevant quotes from his testimony:
Samsung cross-examinationAttorney Kevin Johnson questioned Forstall when it was time for the Samsung cross-examination. Samsung tried to prove that Apple does examine Samsung handsets – just like Samsung does with the competition's – and that the Galaxy Tab may have been an inspiration source for a future iPad mini product. Does Apple copy Samsung design?Johnson reminded Forstall that during depositions, the VP acknowledged that the iPhone processor speed was a concern for the executive, who was wondering how the CPU would fare against devices from the competition, including Samsung handsets.  Samsung SGH-E910 Moreover, an email from Tony Fadell, another important Apple figure that worked on the iPod and iPhone before leaving Apple to start its own thermostat-building venture, was brought to Forstall's attention, although the iOS guru did not remember the contents of the email. Fadell detailed the examination of a Samsung handset, the SGH-E910 in an email sent to Jony Ive, Jon Rubinstein, Jobs and Fostall. Jobs apparently forwarded the email back to Ive saying that:
Then, when a new Samsung smartphone was released, the same Fadell emailed the team about it, and Johnson argued that thus it's Apple execs that were copying Samsung. Other Samsung devices, including the Galaxy S, were tore down by Apple and inspected. During inspection, features not found on the iPhone were explored, including TouchWiz and Swype. Other competing phones were also analyzed by Apple in 2008, with Forstall explaining that Apple was simply comparing dropped call performance – this was probably at a time that Apple had issues in the U.S. when it comes to making calls in certain metropolitan areas. The 7-inch Galaxy Tab-inspired iPad miniThe most interesting fact that Samsung helped uncover is the 7-inch iPad Mini that will probably be revealed later this year. We all remember Jobs's adverse reaction to the original 7-inch Galaxy Tab during an Apple's quarterly earnings report, which hinted that Apple will not be making a 7-inch iPad anytime soon. But it looks like not everyone at Apple was against 7-inch tablets. In fact, Eddy Cue, Apple's Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Services was quite interested in making a 7-inch iPad, and apparently his arguments managed to convince Jobs back in 2011 the project is worth investing in. Here are some relevant quotes from Cue that were mentioned during Forstall’s testimony:
Later, Johnson asked Forstall whether Apple invented the touchscreen but Forstall responded that he's not fully aware of Apple's patent portfolio. When asked whether the trial will reveal that Apple instructed employees to copy Samsung's design, here's what he answered:
We'll be back with more details on the U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial next week as this fight continues. This article, Scott Forstall testimony: Apple hiring, iPhone Fight Club team, Samsung design and 7-inch iPad , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:52 PM PDT The U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial continued today after Judge Lucy Koh ruled on certain motions and objections from both parties with the testimony of Apple's Phil Shiller, the company's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing. In what follows we're going to look at what both Apple and Samsung asked Shiller, as reported by The Verge, as his responses are quite revealing for the trial. Apple examinationApple attorney Harold McElhinny started asking Shiller about the way the iPhone and iPad came to be. The executive offered various details on what it took to create the iPhone and the iPad, both great gambles for the company. He explained differences between models, what differentiates them, and referred to elements and patents that Apple claims are infringed by Samsung’s products. He even described how a multitouch is supposed to work. iPhone and iPad creationHe explained that the iPhone project came after the iPad, but Apple shifted attention to the iPhone when realizing its priorities. Here are some of his answers:
Market surveysWhile Apple is famous for saying that the company does not conduct surveys when creating new products, it appears that the Shiller's market research team "will do surveys of customers" from time to time. And here we're talking about the surveys that Apple wanted to be thrown out of the trial, but Samsung convinced the judge they were relevant for the case. Again, the best way to look at the story is to follow some of the most important quotes from Shiller:
According to these studies, 85% of surveyed customers purchasing the iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 said that the look and design was important or very important. Advertising the iPhone and iPadApple's counsel also asked Shiller to describe Apple's iPhone and iPad ads. The jurors will also be able to watch all the iPhone and iPad ads since the launch of each product until present day, something Samsung has tried to object but was overruled. According to Shiller, the concept behind Apple's advertising campaigns is calling the "product as hero" of the ads. Here are some relevant quotes:
Shiller also revealed how much the company spends during each fiscal year on ads – Apple's fiscal year ends in September:
Samsung copying the iPhone, iPadNaturally, one of the points Apple's counsel tried to make from the beginning is that Samsung copied with its Galaxy S products the iPhone and iPad. And Shiller was not shy to reveal his strong opinions on the matter – that Samsung had effectively copied the look and feel of both the iPhone and iPad with its Galaxy S and Galaxy Tab products, and other devices from these families of Android smartphones and tablets. Here are some quotes:
Samsung cross-examinationWhen McElhinny finished Apple's interrogation of the witness, Samsung moved in to cross-examine Shiller and to try to prove that Apple's devices are not entirely original, as they do use existing technology. Who came up with the touchscreen first?One example given by Charles Verhoeven, Samsung's attorney, was an email exchange inside Apple that discussed the fact that the LG Prada, a phone that preceded the iPhone, actually sported a full touchscreen (but it’s worth remembering that it did not run Android). An email from Steve Sinclair, referring to the iPhone and LG Prada said:
Samsung also tried to make a different point during examination, that iPhones and Samsung phones are "segregated" in carrier stores in such a manner that no confusion can be made between Apple's and Samsung's products, but Shiller responded that confusion exists for the public when marketing the products. Infuse 4G confuses Samsung lawyers tooBut not everything went well for Samsung, as its counsel managed to confuse it's client's phones when showing them to Shiller. Apple's executive was handed a Samsung Continuum first, and then he was given what Verhoeven believed it was an Infuse 4G, but it was actually a different device. This isn’t the first time Samsung’s lawyer crews aren’t able to properly recognize one of the products made by their client – a while ago a Samsung attorney was not able to tell the iPad and Galaxy Tab 10.1 apart from 10 feet away when directly asked by Judge Koh. Shiller said that the phones that were shown to him were confusing. Furthermore, he added:
Samsung then tried to pull a fast one by asking Shiller to explain one of the surveys we mentioned before, in which only 1 percent of respondents revealed that the color or design of the iPhone would affect their buying decision. But the attempt was then deflected by Apple’s counsel. A later Apple redirect allowed Shiller to explain that in the survey Samsung quoted, Apple asked buyers what factor in addition to price would be most important for them when buy the product. iPhone 5 designSamsung tried to convince Shiller to reveal whether the iPhone 5 – which is what customers and tech blogs erroneously refer to when talking about Apple's sixth-generation iPhone – would come with a different design. Even if the Judge allowed the question, Shiller choose not to answer it: I prefer not to tell confidential information about future products. Apple rebuttalMcElhinny returned to clarify the survey Samsung referred too (explained above) but also to have Shiller reveal the relationship between the iPhone design and Apple brand. Here’s what the VP answered:
We'll be back with tidbits and revelations from Apples Senior Vice President on iOS Software Scott Forstall, who took the witness stand after Shiller. This article, Phil Shiller testimony: iPhone, iPad creation and customer surveys, Samsung copying skills and iPhone 5 design secrecy , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| RIM CEO admits to having considered switch to Android Posted: 03 Aug 2012 04:28 PM PDT RIM isn’t exactly in the best form today, having risen and fallen as the preferred smartphone platform in the enterprise market. To date, BlackBerry’s market share has dwindled, although the platform remains in third place after Android and iOS. In the aim of keeping up with the times, RIM had actually considered making the switch to Android. In an interview with The Telegraph, RIM’s new CEO Thorsten Heins admitted that the Canadian company could not keep up with Apple and Samsung, given their market dominance in the smartphone and tablet business. He pointed out that RIM did not have “the economy of scale to compete against the guys who crank out 60 handsets a year.” As such, the company seriously considered switching to another platform altogether, which could have potentially helped boost market share, given the popularity of Android among consumers. But RIM “took the conscious decision not to go Android and stick to developing BlackBerry 10.” The reason: differentiation. Heins said manufacturers have very little ability to differentiate. Even if manufacturers could come out with dozens of models a year, they tend to lose focus and handset releases get lost in the sea of Android phones. However, RIM’s optimism lies in its ability to serve the segment that it considers the most important: the enterprise market. RIM believes that the BlackBerry platform is not about playing games and loading multimedia. “[I]f you stay true to that purpose you have to build on that basis,” Heins stressed. As such, RIM wants to continue building products for folks who have little time to consume and enjoy content, but rather need to get things done. Still, Heins acknowledged that RIM could not catch up to the likes of Apple and Samsung on its own. As such, it is considering licensing out the upcoming Blackberry 10 platform to third-party manufacturers. RIM will need a company that can produce BlackBerry smartphones and tablets “at a way better cost proposition,” and the company is currently investigating the potential implications if they will let other manufacturers compete in the smartphone business with BB10 as their platform. Would Android have helped RIM improve their market situation? It was already a big thing when the BlackBerry Playbook was announced to have support for Android apps. True enough Android has a more comprehensive application ecosystem than BlackBerry. And let’s face it, BlackBerry’s market share in the U.S. is on a downward trend. But still, BlackBerry is going strong in some markets like the Asia Pacific region, where it is a strong platform in both enterprise and consumer markets. Did RIM make the right decision in sticking to their guns? Or could they have had an advantage if they tried powering BlackBerry smartphones with Android and instead ported popular features – like the Blackberry Messaging service – to the platform? This article, RIM CEO admits to having considered switch to Android , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Posted: 03 Aug 2012 03:18 PM PDT The U.S. Apple vs Samsung trial resumed its proceedings today, but before the two parties could go forward with the testimonies of Apple's top executives Phil Shiller and Scott Forstall, Judge Lucy Koh had to rule on some of the motions filed by the two companies in the previous days. One of them, filed by Apple, asked the Judge to punish Samsung by ending the lawsuit in Apple's favor. Samsung's counsel decided earlier this week to leak certain pieces of evidence that Judge Koh did not allow to be used in the trial to the media. This measure infuriated the Judge and prompted her to officially ask an explanation for what happened. Samsung's lead counsel John Quinn explained why he released the documents, saying that they were already part of the public record, that he didn't act unlawfully and that his actions should not be perceived as trying to influence the jury. Today, Judge Koh ruled against Apple's motion to obtain a fast victory and instead decided to interview each juror ahead of the proceedings to ask them whether they have seen the leaked evidence and whether they can still offer an impartial ruling. All jurors but one said they have not seen any of the reports based on the leaked evidence. Juror number seven saw headlines about the "kitchen table" – a termed derived from the testimony of Apple’s Christopher Stringer and refers to a place where Apple products are reportedly brainstormed – but nothing else. After establishing that the jurors have not been influenced by the leaked documents, Koh warned both parties that the Court will not stand for any more "theatrics or sideshows" from either party:
Judge Koh also said that she 's annoyed with the current state of objections from both parties, and that from now on all objections will have to be made in front of the jury, on each side's own time – each side has 25 hours to make its case:
The Judge also said that Samsung could use in court Apple research surveys and sales numbers when cross-examining Phil Shiller. We'll be back with more juicy details from the testimonies that took place earlier today, so don't go anywhere. This article, Judge doesn't punish Samsung for press leak in Apple patent case, warns against any other "theatrics or sideshows" , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies up on Google Play for Xperia devices, others must wait a month Posted: 03 Aug 2012 02:51 PM PDT Those darn zombies are at it again. This time they're making quite a bloody mess that a special elite force has to be deployed to get them out of their miserable life death. The best thing about it is that you can play it all out in Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies. It was only two weeks ago that the game Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies was hinted to come to Android platform. So, to see that it is finally available to download on Google Play so soon is a welcomed surprise. Developed especially for phones and tablets, the game lets you battle the undead in maps like Kino Der Toten, Ascension, and Call of the Dead: Director's Cut. The Dead-Ops Arcade mode features 50 levels of top-down Zombie mayhem – which should be more than enough to sharpen your Zombie-killing skills with the range of weaponries available. You can play on your own or have up to 4 buddies of yours join the game for a team up via WiFi. Similar to its iOS counterpart, the Android version comes with a $6.99 price tag. The Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies is an Xperia-exclusive for a month, so owners of non-Xperia devices may want to check the Google Play link back about 30 days from now. Zombie fans, do you think Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies is priced a bit too high? This article, Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies up on Google Play for Xperia devices, others must wait a month , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| HP TouchPad Jelly Bean update available via CyanogenMod 10 Posted: 03 Aug 2012 12:17 PM PDT Remember the HP TouchPad tablet? Sure you do, it was HP's poorly marketed webOS-running iPad-killer wannabe that the company decided to discard soon after launching it. HP sold the device for very low prices once it decided it has no future with the company – as low as $99 – which made it very appealing to the crowds that wouldn't have otherwise picked one up. Naturally, one of the things developers did with the device was to port Android to it, and the device was soon running Android, even if unofficially, alongside webOS. Now we hear that a Jelly Bean port is available for the 2011 tablet that's now dead considering that HP's webOS mobile arm is also pretty much dead, which is quite interesting. Sure, this isn't the official Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean release for the TouchPad – and you won't see that happen either since the device is not an Android tablet per se. But it's a CyanogenMod 10 build, a Jelly Bean-based custom ROM that we've seen recently installed in preview mode on a variety of devices. Like in previous CM10 preview versions, not everything is functional yet, but we wouldn't be surprised to find out that the TouchPad will run Jelly Bean quite smoothly in the future. This will only make us wonder why certain Android devices that were contemporary with the TouchPad will not be officially upgraded to Jelly Bean, if and when that happens. Meanwhile, if you own a TouchPad running CM10, let us know how it works out for you! No related posts. This article, HP TouchPad Jelly Bean update available via CyanogenMod 10 , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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| Wireless Charging Kit for Samsung Galaxy S3 hits Verizon stores Posted: 03 Aug 2012 11:56 AM PDT If you don't mind the lack of Samsung's official branding, you can now purchase a wireless charging pad for your Samsung Galaxy S3, and for other compatible Android phones, from Verizon's website. Verizon is charging – pun intended – $50 for the wireless charging pad. The charging pad comes with a LED indicator that will emit a flickering green light when you're charging the phone, and a solid light when it has completely replenished the phone's battery. It will also emit a beeping sound when you place the phone or when it's stopped charging – a feature that apparently can't be turned off. You'll need more than the charging station to make that wire-free charging fantasy of yours a reality. A separate purchase of the wireless charging battery cover for your Galaxy S3 is needed. The inductive back cover, which reportedly cost $39, is a genuine Samsung product. Hmm, this explains why it's rather pricey. The whole set up will set you back $89. We just checked and saw that the wireless charging kit is unfortunately listed as out of stock on Verizon's website. You can try again in a couple hours – or days even – to see if Big Red has more stock. Alternatively, you can check with your local Verizon stores to see if they have the complete kit lying about. If you want something a tiny bit more affordable and don't mind waiting for a good month or so, Zens plans to release its own take of wireless charger for the Galaxy S3 in September – with the bundled charging pad and back cover to cost $83. No related posts. This article, Wireless Charging Kit for Samsung Galaxy S3 hits Verizon stores , was originally published at AndroidAuthority.com - Your Android News Source.
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