Mar 25
Those who have been jealous of the 4G networks popping up all over the United States and soon to move to Canada Central America can finally have something to be proud of, at least until the world starts talking about 5G. Thanks to Ofcom who is set to auction off chunks of its network spectrum to phone carriers in 2012, it looks like 4G will be coming to the UK a lot sooner than expected, albeit not sooner than most people would want it to be.
The different parts of the proposed spectrum that is supposed to be auctioned off would bring the capacity to fill the spectrum with fourth generation data connections that have figurative speeds of up to 100Mbps although it should be noted that actual speeds will be far less than that.
Ofcom is also stipulating that whichever company successfully acquires the spectrum will be required to provide 95% of the British population with high speed broadband data connections by the end of 2017. This would facilitate in the improving of data connections in part of the country where data connections are not that strong.
Thanks to the switch from analog to digital TV, much of the bandwidth has been freed up which fits within the 800MHz spectrum. The parts of the spectrum which are up for grabs are over 80% more then what was available during 2000.
Just like in the United States, the two competing technologies for 4G, both WiMAX and LTE are not yet agreed on and it is not sure what carriers will ultimately decide on. Furthermore, the International Telecommunication Union’s Radiocommunication Sector has ruled that neither LTE nor WiMAX is sufficiently advanced to be truly considered a 4G technology. But that has not stopped carriers such as Verizon and Sprint from calling their respective LTE and WiMAX networks 4G and we highly doubt that will stop any in the UK from doing so as well, no matter what the International Telecommunication Union’s Radiocommunication Sector has to say on the matter.
Mar 24
A few days ago we encountered some new rumours we had heard about the iPhone 5. Most notably, these rumours claimed that after years of dissing larger screens (anything bigger than 3.5-inches) Apple was finally toying with the idea of creating an iPhone that had a bigger screen, something around the size of 4.0-inches. Other than that, we had also heard that Apple was not going to support NFC in the next version of the iPhone because it did not see a unifying support or industry standard behind the tech.
We’ll be prepared to have more rumours thrown at you for your reading pleasure. According to the China Times, NFC support is definitely coming to the iPhone 5. More importantly, the newspaper confirms that the phone will receive a 4-inch screen along with a redesigned antenna. The paper goes on to say that there will be a “metal chassis to improve antenna sensitivity” (if Google Translate works right) as well as a new scratch resistant glass over the screen.
Traditionally the updated iPhone has launched in July of the year, but according to China Times, this launch is expected to be pushed back until the third quarter of the year which still pegs it around July but means we could be playing with the months of August and September as well. This would make a 6 month gap between the launch of the iPhone 5 and iPad 2, but bring the iPhone 5 closer to the company’s annual musical event where it announces its new iPod’s and additions to the iTunes store every year.
Other speculation claims the iPhone 5 will sport the same A5 processor as the iPad 2 which should be no surprise to anyone as last generations iPhone 4 did the same thing as well.
Source: Cnet
Mar 22
It’s not every day that you see the launch details for some of the most anticipated gadgets leak all at the same time. However that has happened and we got a bunch of details to share with you.
First up is the Samsung Galaxy S S2 Mini which is listed among the company’s “High End” line. The launch for said device will take place in April and among other things, those who decide to drop some money on this will get 21Mbps HSDPA support as well as a 5MP camera around back and a VGA front facing camera. Android Gingerbread is the operating system of source and that 1.4GHz processor will be able to power everything the device has to offer including support for Wi-Fi hotspot.
The HTC Desire S will come in April and will be categorized within the company’s “Mid” tier range. 5MP camera around back with a 4-inch WVGA display (Super LCD) and HSDPA 7.2Mbps as well as 4GB of Memory and a 1GHz processor.
Those interested in playing on the Xperia Play will have to wait till April and the company is listing this device as their “Flagship” phone. With Gingerbread, 5MP camera, 1GHz processor that supports 60fps along with 7.2Mbps HSDPA, we wouldn’t see why not. Oh and the phone comes preloaded with FIFA 2011 among others.
LG’s Optimus 3D is also being listed among the company’s “Flagship” devices and will drop in June. Dual 5MP cameras with Android Gingerbread and 8Gb of memory with full 1080p HD shooting and of course HSDPA support up to 10.2 HSUPA.
Rounding out things is the HTC Flyer which drops in May and the Wi-Fi only Blackberry Playbook which will launch in June.
Mar 18
The years of Android have begun and even though we can think of a few corporate executives who might be fuming at the success of the boys in Mountain View California, we’re sure there is none too little cheers from that same place from these latest statistics.
According to Google, the amount of devices running the very first version of Android, version 1.5 is sitting at only 3%. The step up to that carries a bit more hitting the 4.8% margin. As for Android 2.1 Éclair, we have a modest 29% of devices who are living with that version, most of which are waiting on either their device manufacturer or service provider to push out an update to bump them up to 2.3 (hint, hint Samsung) which currently controls 61.3% of all devices. Those are pretty big numbers for Google who has been plagued by media questioning whether or not the fragmentation of Android is a bigger problem than many claims it is. Albeit, Android 2.3 (Gingerbread), only has 0.7% of device hearts at the moment and the step up to that, 2.3.3 carries a +0.3% difference. As for Honeycomb, the first operating system built specifically for tablets (in Google’s words, not ours), there is a 0.2% user share.
All in all, these are good numbers for Google who has been pushing out updates ever so timely as it tries to stay ahead of the curve. Not bad if you ask us and seeing that the company is about to face steep competition from Nokia and Microsoft thanks to their new found love, we’d say that the company does indeed have something going for them. If only they can keep it up.
Source: Android.com
May 28
So we already know that Android 2.2 is already out for the Nexus One, and that an update for the HTC Desire is coming this June 23. The important thing now is to actually know what the new update is all about and what really makes Froyo so special.
First off, the name Froyo stands for frozen yogurt. Google has been naming Android versions after sweets and snacks in an alphabetically arranged fashion. Android 1.5 is Cupcake, 1.6 is Donut, and 2.0/2.1 is Éclair. This latest update brings a bunch of new features (which will be discussed below); according to Google, a bigger update for the Android will be launched sometime later this year, version 3.0 Gingerbread
One of the biggest improvements in the new OS version is the introduction of the Dalvik VM, which is a just-in-time complier (JIT). While this may not seem like a big deal for end users, developers will instantly recognize the value of this feature –it actually makes the device faster. Since it improves performances by a very significant amount, end users will really not care much about the terminologies used, as long as it works. This literally makes the Android anywhere from twice to five times faster.
There will also be new services as well as APIs that have been designed to make the user experience much better. One of the more interesting APIs is the cloud to device messaging feature which will allow users to push data from their computers to their Android device –like browsing Google Maps on the Chrome browser and pushing the bookmark unto the Android device. Also included is USB tethering and the ability to turn the handset into a WiFi hotspot.
Apps can now be easily backed up and also moved from internal storage to the memory card –allowing users more control of how the space on their hardware is managed.
May 26
As much as it would be nice to have a checklist of requirements that you may expect and want from a touch screen tablet, the fact of the matter is that right now, there really is no other choice than to sign up for the Apple iPad tablet.
The device is not so bad, despite being the only option available, it runs great, has a long battery life and the side features are very useful. Overall, the tablet is a great investment. The only real issue of course is the device’s availability.
The first sign that getting an iPad would be hard was during the US launch of the Apple tablet. According to Apple, they failed to anticipate such a large demand for the iPad that they had troubles keeping up with the demand –which pushed the international release date back by a full month.
Now, with May 28 looming over the next few days, it would not be surprising to know that the iPad release date has been delayed once again. There are already rumors that the launched will be pushed back to June 7, in time for the start of Steve Job’s WWDC event.
At least DSGi has confirmed that getting an iPad would not be difficult in the UK. According to the reports, both Curry’s and PC World will be offering the handset as part of their store lineup. This will give early buyers an alternative to the long lines at Apple’s retail store. So far, the device is not yet in stock.
Experts on the other hand are telling people to wait. Despite the new tablet about to be launched in the next few days, there is plenty to wait for with Google’s new Android tablet that is already deep in development. At the very least, the presence of another tablet should at least force the iPad’s prices to be more competitive.
May 25
Progress in society is pretty hard to measure, but if one were to make a joke of it, our civilization can probably mark it in terms of how many devices and technological innovations that society depends on each day. Many decades ago, devices such as the computer, the television and even the telephone were hardly what one would call necessities. These days, homes would not be complete without either one of the three.
With the emergence of better digital transfer technology, faster internet access and innovations in wireless signals, devices such as computers, laptops and smart phones have become more and more common. And the smart phone’s growth is exceptional; as it is portable and multi-featured, it is the one device that many people are starting to use.
According to Martha Lane Fox, no one can afford to do without knowledge in using the internet, and that any sector of society that is not granted the provisions for being able to access online resources will be left behind by the progress of society.
Schools already rely heavily on internet access –many children are tasked with work that requires learning information that can be gathered online. Even social growth is closely tied to the technology as well; with many users substituting online correspondence for real socialization.
Individuals are not the only ones who need to change; systems such as businesses and governments need to catch up as well. Being able to build websites that are easy to use, navigate and encourage users to read and learn more are very important. And that is just the front end of things.
The internet and cloud technology will be the basis for many groups. Government services will have to make the most out of the technology in order to accommodate the many users and coordinate their own projects –services will be availed of online with entire processes being accomplished over the internet.
May 24
Okay, there are dozens, if not hundreds of tower defense games out on the market. Since Rampart first came out in the 1990’s people have discovered the addictive gameplay that involved setting up your defensive lines and seeing your enemies try to get past it.
It seems simple, but it is very satisfying and in later stages, very challenging. That has been the formula for tower defense games and that is how these games play until now.
Aside from Rampart, it was Blizzard’s StarCraft that has made tower defense the genre that it is now. The concept of manually building defensive lines and upgrading each structure is an element that has been retained in all tower defense games –regardless of the setting or game environment.
Lubis Labs has come out with Robo Defense, a simple, 2D graphic tower defense game that has players building sci-fi inspired defensive gun and rocket turrets to hold off a metallic assortment of baddies that will come storming in. The game also gives players special achievements for finishing certain levels under special circumstances.
The biggest charm of Robo Defense, aside from its price, is the straightforward gameplay. The developers at Lupis Labs have stuck true to the formula of tower defense and have delivered a game that will give you sensible and practical upgrade choices, easy to understand map layouts and of course, detailed enemy variations. Choosing upgrades is also fun as basic gun turrets turn into AA cannons and rocket turrets turn into SAMs. The challenge is still there, complete with non-stop swarm of a variety of enemies.
Overall, the game is not so different from other tower defense titles, but with its low budget price, wide range of stages and three levels of difficulty settings, Robo Defense is a great choice for tower defense fans.
May 24
If you use WiFi networks a lot, then you might have been worried to know that Google’s Street Car managed to log some data regarding people who are using unsecured WiFi networks in the UK. And chances are if you own a smart phone with WiFi capability, then you might have been one of those whose data has been recorded.
It may sound bad, after all, anyone intercepting WiFi connections could potentially access crucial information –but only if the surveillance is intentional. In Google’s case, the Street Car was not made to spy on people, the vehicle was built and designed to take images of the streets from a public perspective for the Street View web service. While bits of data have been collected there was nothing there that would be useful to anyone who intends to exploit data –and Google is not that kind of company.
Seriously, Google is a major worldwide company. They have nothing to gain by tracking down a single person or even a group of people to exploit. Google’s AdSense revenues alone can match and surpass anything that can be earned through unscrupulous means.
The worst problem about privacy issues on the internet is that they tend to be over magnified by the human tendency to worry about personal secrets. While everyone has one, companies have little to nothing to be gained from gaining such information. What it does however, is make people act too defensive and be too aggressive with their arguments and actions –often making the situation worse.
Privacy issues are real, but they are not the cause for panic. There is a reason why Google provides users with a way to communicate with the various administrators and support groups for their many web services. People need to learn that treating Google as an enemy will never get anything done.
May 20
Hotmail’s free email services has managed to stay in the internet long enough to get a major revamp, and this time will it seems like the integration of Bing on mobile phones will also require a good email service client from Microsoft as well. This is why it is important to be able to provide users with a good email, and while Hotmail is very old, MS has re-launched the service not only with an all new look but also new features.
Brandon LeBlanc, a member of the Microsoft Team, has made a blog post describing some of the new features on the new Hotmail service:
“I absolutely love filters. And the new Hotmail brings filters front and center. Previously, I had Hotmail automatically sorting emails into specific folders – such as emails from social networking services like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. However, I’ve since turned off automatic sorting and am now relying solely on the new Hotmail’s Social updates filter.”
Filters are a great addition to any email service, for those of you who have yet to try it out, this is the one function that allows an email user to instantly access specific types of mail. After all, not all content that one deems unimportant will be sent to the spam bin –there are often subscriptions to various mailing lists or forums, as well as corporate emails that often fill up the main inbox. By making use of filters, mail is sorted in an easy to read and access manner.
This has been further improved with the social filters, which not only auto-filters emails sent from sites such as Facebook, but it also categorizes them according to needs. After all, it makes no sense to have a single Facebook filter that gets instantly spammed by Farmville notifications.
Aside from new filters, Hotmail is also introducing a new document reader that will allow users to instantly view attached documents.
