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Global Student Entrepreneur Awards 2017

2017-02-16T16:30:00.001+01:00

The Surface Mini Is Officially Dead

2014-07-24T13:53:00.000+01:00

On Tuesday during Microsoft’s FY14 Q4 earnings report to the United States Security and Exchange Commission, the company revealed that it is no longer pursuing an 8-inch Surface Mini tablet. Microsoft disclosed this in the “Computing and Gaming Hardware” section of the report.

“Current year cost of revenue included Surface inventory adjustments resulting from our transition to newer generation devices and a decision to not ship a new form factor,” the report stated.

News of the Surface Mini has been rather wishy-washy since the tablet was removed from a Surface reveal event back in May. Rumor has it that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella pulled the device at the last minute because it didn’t have anything to differentiate it from other small Windows-based tablets. The touchy Office “Gemini” apps were supposed to make their debut on the tablet, but now it looks as if we won’t see them until Spring 2015.

Thousands of Surface Mini units are believed to be locked away in one of Microsoft’s warehouses.

The news arrives as rumors begin to surface about a third Apple iPad Mini “Air”. This device is rumored to pack a new Apple A8 processor and a design that’s a 30-percent thinner form factor when compared to the older iPad Mini model. That would suggest a thickness of around 5.25 mm; the first-generation model is 7.2 mm and the second-generation is 7.5 mm thanks to the Retina display.

How Apple will reduce the iPad Mini’s size is unknown for now, but there’s a chance the company will use the same sapphire crystal display that will be used on the rumored iPhone 6. This protective display would reportedly be about as thin as a sheet of paper.

The third-generation iPad Mini is expected to hit shelves in 3Q 2014, probably behind the launch of Apple’s iPhone 6 in September. Macrumors reports that this model will likely have a more durable Touch ID fingerprint sensor. The device will also support iOS 8’s new SDK, which allows third party apps to access the fingerprint scanner to verify the user.

Did Microsoft do the right thing in cancelling the Surface Mini? The company reported on Tuesday that Surface revenue was $409 million, driven by the second-generation Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2 devices, along with the recent launch of the Surface Pro 3.

“We launched Surface Pro 3 in the U.S. and Canada on June 20, and it will roll out to additional markets beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015,” the report stated. “This new device is optimized for productivity and highlights the progress we have made bringing hardware and software together.”

Premium Tutorials Forum • View topic - Internet Download Manager (IDM) 6.19 Crack

2014-05-17T17:28:00.001+01:00

Premium Tutorials Forum • View topic - Internet Download Manager (IDM) 6.19 Crack

Snakable’s New USB Charging Cable Will Never Need Duct Tape

2014-05-05T21:01:00.001+01:00

If you’ve ever owned a USB charging cable (and if you’re reading TechCrunch, odds are you have), then you’ve encountered the problem that Snakable wants to solve. That is, after repeated use, the cable breaks, the wires are exposed, and then, more often that not, the cable itself becomes unreliable, requiring you to jiggle it in order to get your device to start charging. Snakable, instead, offers a new type of USB charging cable that includes built-in protection from the dangers of over-bending and strain present in today’s cables, with a patent-pending strain relief assembly on its end that has free-moving ball joints to prevent the cable from bending beyond a safe radius.

Oh, and I guess this makes the cable look a little bit like a snake because of the way it moves, hence the name.

The project was dreamed up by Wes Goulbourne, whose background in aerospace has had him working alongside engineers for his entire career. (He currently works at Boeing in Philadelphia.)

Amazon Extends Its Shopping Cart To Twitter

2014-05-05T20:59:00.000+01:00

Amazon has just introduced a new feature that lets Twitter users add items to their Amazon carts by including a hashtag within a tweet.

After the user connects their Twitter account to Amazon, they can extend their Amazon shopping experience by tweeting a reply to Amazon product links they see on Twitter including the hashtag #AmazonCart — or #AmazonBasket in the UK — to add the product to their shopping basket.

“Add it now, buy it later” is the slogan Amazon is using on a promo video explaining the new feature.

The feature not only extends the retail reach of Amazon beyond its own website, reducing purchase friction, but co-opts Twitter users into product marketing activity — since they are publishing tweets indicating which items they are buying from Amazon.

It also extends the notification noise a user will get from Amazon if they decide to make use of the shortcut for adding stuff they see on Twitter to their basket — with Amazon noting that it will email users when an item has been successfully added to their shopping cart via Twitter.

Amazon is not the first company to aim to turn Twitter into a retail pipeline. Startup Chirpify raised a $6 million Series A funding round back in July last year for a social shopping service that allows social media users to include trigger words (so called ‘actiontags’) in their updates to perform actions, such as buying the item or being sent a link to it. Amazon of course brings massive scale to the concept, giving it a greater chance for traction.

Seeking ways to reduce purchase friction is a long-term mission for Amazon — which holds the patent on 1-click buying. That’s from the days of web 1.0, though. Social networks morphing into social commerce outlets in their own right (thinking of the potential of a site such as Pinterest, for instance, or Instagram) is a threat to Amazon as a central e-commerce hub.

So Amazon extending its reach into social hubs where web users are congregating and discussing products is an obvious strategy to defend itself against the rise of alternative social retail hubs. If the AmazonCart feature takes off, it effectively Twitter into a windowshopping platform for Amazon.

“Twitter offers a great environment for our customers to discover product recommendations from artists, experts, brands and friends. #AmazonCart was designed to help customers add products to their cart now without leaving Twitter and come back later to shop and buy on Amazon,” said an Amazon spokesperson in an email to TechCrunch.

The feature also potentially gives more pull to product makers to sell their stuff on Amazon, rather that opt for another retail option. Amazon declined to confirm how many companies it has signed up to tweet out product links that are identifiable as being sold on Amazon — a prerequisite for the #AmazonCart feature to function.

Google Stops Mining Education Gmail And Google Apps Accounts For Ad Targeting

2014-05-05T20:54:00.002+01:00

Google will no longer scan student and teacher Gmail messages or use data from Apps for Education for advertising purposes, the company told the WSJ today. The move comes after Google’s use of data from its education products came under fire by students and others during a court case last year that claimed the scanning violated user privacy rights.
The company’s director of Google for Education Bram Bout told the WSJ that all scanning of Gmail and any collection and use of data from Apps for Education, which includes Google Docs, will stop. Previously, ads weren’t included in education apps, but the company still scanned them for information to be used later in other areas to target ads to users. Google also said it’s looking at making similar moves in its Apps for business and for government products.
Google’s email and app scanning is all performed by robots, and none of the raw data is ever seen by humans according to the company, but it has still proven a means through which critics of the company (including Microsoft) have been able to try to tear it down. Google moving to end education customer scanning is a big step towards addressing criticism, and no small act by Google, since it means the company now has 30 million fewer data points from which to gather ad targeting insight.

Apple Said To Be Mulling Health And Fitness Services Platform

2014-05-05T20:47:00.003+01:00

Apple is reportedly working on building a “full health and fitness services platform,” which would resemble and be modelled on its App Store software marketplace, according to a new report by Reuters. Apple is also said to be ramping up its hiring of health tech and hardware experts, which is an ongoing trend that’s been noticed by other observers in the past.

The latest hire at Apple is StartX Med founder Divya Nag, who created the Stanford-backed startup accelerator to foster and grow companies and entrepreneurs that want to build technology (including software and hardware) related to health and medicine. Other recent hires include Masimo Corp chief medical officer Michael O’Reilly, Vital Connect VP of biosensor technology Ravi Narasimhan, embedded sensors expert Nima Ferdosi and a few others, too.

Apple’s hiring spree is said to be about talent, not necessarily any specific tech from the companies these people were poached from. It’s about building an iWatch, which will reportedly have health tracking features, but it’s also more broadly about building a health platform. Other companies, including Apple rival Samsung, have built their own health and fitness platforms to help convince people to buy their devices over those of others, but mostly these feel half-baked. There’s still plenty of opportunity to build something mature and complete, and it makes sense to roll up all the energy going into building startup software and hardware health products.

Rumors have been swirling about Nike dropping its hardware efforts in favor of partnering with Apple on deeper integration between their software and Apple devices, and that could be something that does indeed signal a wider platform push. An App Store for health sounds like something that doesn’t necessarily to be broken out from the main product, but at this stage, it’s too early to tell how similar or different such a project might be.

Microsoft confirms Windows 8.1 (a.k.a "Blue") will be totally free

2013-05-16T19:41:00.001+01:00

It's official: The Windows Blue update will be dubbed Windows 8.1, it'll be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT devices alike, and it will cost you the low, low price of zip, nada, zilch.

Interestingly, the free Windows 8.1 update will be available through the Windows Store, not the usual Windows Update method.
"Windows 8.1 ... continues the journey we first began with Windows 8 last fall," the confirmatory Windows Blog post commented this morning. "Windows 8.1 will help us to deliver the next generation of PCs and tablets with our OEM partners and to deliver the experiences customers—both consumers and businesses alike—need and will just expect moving forward."
What's that mean? Early leaks of Windows 8.1 gave us some tantalizing glimpses into the future, while we have some strong suggestions and logical guesses (hello again, desktop!) of our own.

A new half-screen Snap feature was just one of many helpful tweaks in leaked versions of Windows Blue.

Windows 8.1 gives Microsoft an unprecedented (for Windows) and crucial opportunity to quickly correct some of the most glaring missteps present in its new-look operating system. Comments from company representatives seem to suggest that Microsoft is truly paying attention to customer feedback and metrics as it develops Windows 8.1—here's hoping Microsoft doesn't fumble the opportunity. The very fates of the PC and Microsoft's mobile ambitions alike may be hinging on this critical course recalculation.
Will Microsoft get it right? The Windows Blue leaks suggest the company is on the right track, but we'll know for sure before long.
Speaking at the JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference, Windows co-honcho Tami Reller nailed down a concrete ship date for the developer preview. Prepare to start feeling Blue in just over a month, on June 26.
Split-screen Snap and a returned Start button, here we (hopefully) come. Just don't expect the price of future Windows upgrades to be so generous.

Toshiba Kirabook review: The first Ultrabook with a higher-than-HD touchscreen

2013-05-16T18:53:00.000+01:00

Toshiba Kirabook i7 Touchscreen ($1,999.99)

Toshiba's luxurious Kirabook is the first Windows laptop to feature a display rivaling Apple’s Retina technology. The Kirabook is also thinner and much lighter than Apple’s MacBook Pro, and it’s outfitted with a touchscreen. But although I wish I could report that Toshiba has crafted a masterpiece that fully justifies its $2000 price tag, this machine suffers from a couple of significant flaws.
With a native resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels, the Kirabook’s 13.3-inch display delivers a pixel density of 221 pixels per inch—just shy of the 227 ppi that Apple packs into the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s 2560-by-1600-pixel display. If you think Apple’s computers are overpriced, consider the fact that a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a 3.0GHz Intel Core i7-3540M processor sells for $100 less than the Kirabook, which runs on a 2.0GHz Intel Core i7-3537U CPU. Apple, however, doesn't currently offer any full-blown computers with touchscreens (the iPad doesn't count).

Like many touchscreens we've seen, the Kirabook's is highly reflective.

Clock speeds aren’t everything, of course. The processor that Toshiba picked boasts a TDP (thermal design power) of just 17 watts, versus the 35-watt TDP of the chip that Apple uses. (Thermal design power refers to the maximum amount of power that a computer’s cooling system must dissipate. A lower TDP is desirable for a mobile computer, because it improves battery life. In our test, the Kirabook’s battery lasted an impressive 5 hours, 14 minutes.) The Kirabook’s other key components include 8GB of DDR3-1600 memory and a 256GB solid-state drive. I’ll get into the Kirabook’s performance in depth later.
Photos, movies, and documents look gorgeous on the Kirabook’s display. But when I compared the Kirabook to a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (Apple doesn’t offer its high-res display on its thinner, lighter MacBook Air line), I found that Apple’s product delivered far better contrast. Both machines rely on the Intel HD 4000 GPU core integrated into the CPU, so I don’t know whether the Kirabook’s problem is due to Toshiba’s choice of Corning Concore glass (which is specifically formulated for touchscreens) or due to the fingerprint-resistant coating on the glass. Whatever the reason, it was no contest: The Retina display produced much deeper blacks.

The Kirabook (top) weighs 2.97 pounds and measures 0.7 inch thick. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (bottom) weighs 3.57 pounds and measures 0.75 inch thick.

Why no super high-res on the big screen?

Toshiba’s touchscreen is very responsive, and since it supports ten touch points it accepts all Windows 8 gestures. But Toshiba made a serious mistake by outfitting the Kirabook with only an HDMI video output. If you connect the notebook to a big-screen monitor, the maximum resolution you’ll get is 1920 by 1080 pixels. Had the laptop’s designers specified DisplayPort, the Kirabook would have been able to drive a 27-inch display at its native resolution. I get it: HDMI is the most common digital video input on modern TVs and video projectors. But DisplayPort-to-HDMI adapters are dirt cheap and easy to carry. Limiting the Kirabook to HDMI-out cripples the system for desktop use.
Toshiba is rightfully proud of the rigidity of the Kirabook's magnesium-alloy chassis, but the lid housing its display flexes enough to do the limbo. It feels alarmingly fragile. The other half, which encloses the keyboard and motherboard, feels remarkably strong considering how thin it is. The machine weighs only 2.97 pounds, and it measures just 0.7 inch thick when closed. The Kirabook is one of the prettiest laptops I’ve seen, with nary a hard edge to be felt. Unsightly features such as cooling vents and speaker grilles stay hidden while this Ultrabook is in use.

Toshiba's engineers should be proud of their ability to render the Kirabook so quiet with vents that are all but invisible when the machine is running.

The Kirabook’s backlit keyboard offers very good tactile feedback, and its monolithic touchpad—which also supports Windows 8 gestures—tracks smoothly and accurately. The left and right mouse buttons are integrated into the touchpad itself, helping to keep the overall design clean and elegant.
In addition to HDMI-out, the Kirabook has three USB 3.0 ports, a media card reader, and a combo microphone/headphone jack. It lacks a hardwired ethernet port, however. Exacerbating that problem is Toshiba’s decision to use Intel’s Centrino Wireless-N 2230 Wi-Fi adapter, which is limited to networks operating on the crowded 2.4GHz frequency band. Come on, Toshiba, this is supposed to be a luxury offering!
As you’ve probably guessed, the machine has no optical drive. The Harman/Kardon audio system, though, sounds much better than I expected, generating relatively full-range sound and a wide stereo field from the speakers’ left and right locations on the bottom of the unit.

The tiny Harman/Kardon speakers sound much better than I expected.

Benchmark performance

The Kirabook achieved a Notebook WorldBench 8.1 score of 284, versus the 100-point score of our reference notebook, Asus’s VivoBook S550CA. Much of that performance delta can be attributed to the Kirabook’s SSD (the VivoBook has just a 24GB SSD acting as a cache for a 500GB mechanical hard drive). The Kirabook also delivered better performance in most of the other tests that make up the WorldBench suite, but those differences weren’t nearly as dramatic as the storage-performance results. And you shouldn’t expect to play hard-core games on either system, but that’s clearly not the audience Toshiba is going after with this product.
The audience Toshiba is pursuing with the Kirabook is the well-to-do professional who is willing to pay extra for services such as dedicated, United States-based telephone tech support. Toshiba goes so far as to guarantee Kirabook buyers that such calls will be answered within 45 seconds. If that’s inconvenient, you can schedule a date and time when a tech-support person will call you, instead. And should you need to send your unit in for repairs during its two-year warranty period, Toshiba will pay for overnight shipping.

Toshiba should have outfitted the Kirabook with a gigabit ethernet port.

The Kirabook is the most beautiful Ultrabook to pass through the PCWorld Labs, but its inability to drive a large external monitor at native resolution, a lid that flexes like a contortionist, a Wi-Fi adapter restricted to 2.4GHz networks, and a display that doesn’t deliver as much contrast as the Retina display Toshiba wants consumers to compare it to make this machine’s sky-high price tag hard to swallow.

Mobile security reality check: What you really need for protecting your phone

2013-05-16T18:46:00.000+01:00

To hear the headlines scream it, mobile security is already a lost cause. Android is the king of mobile malware! Umpteen gazillion rogue apps found! THE HACKERS ARE SNOOPING YOUR SNAPCHATS AND SEXTING YOUR GRANDMA!
It's enough to make you want to wrap your phone in tinfoil and cower in a corner somewhere—but don't believe the hype.
The sky isn't falling, and your phone isn't sending illicit photos to your grandmother. While you may want to slap a security app on your phone, it probably isn't for the reason you think. And those rogue apps? If you aren't an idiot, the odds of your installing a malicious mobile app are almost infinitesimally small.
Welcome to your mobile security reality check.

Much ado about (very slightly more than) nothing

Here's the thing about all those ominous-sounding reports: Most of them originate from the very antivirus companies looking to sell you security solutions—so they're not exactly impartial.
Fortunately, I managed to track down honest, straightforward experts from three noted security firms: Lookout, which offers a popular security app for Android devices; McAfee, which needs no introduction; and AV-Test, a highly respected independent institute that specializes in technology security.
All sang the same tune when it came to malicious mobile threats.

Malicious apps like Droid Cleaner are a rare (and quickly scoured) sight in Google Play.

"If you follow simple precautions such as sticking to the Google Play Store, not downloading things from suspicious sites, and not clicking on suspicious links in emails you weren't expecting, then you're pretty safe," says Marc Rogers, the principal security analyst at Lookout. "Google has a very effective app vetting process in place."
Fear not, iOS lovers: Apple's approval process is even more stringent.
Andreas Marx, the CEO of AV-Test, agrees with Rogers. "The mobile malware situation for US and European users is not yet problematic; the majority of malware is spreading in China and Russia only.
"Google Play is not entirely safe to use," Marx continues, "but it's well maintained and even when malicious Apps are able to 'enter' the market—criminals are working hard on this—the apps are getting removed quickly. Google can also remotely wipe malicious apps from your phone if they see a very big risk."

But…

Sweet! So you can leave your phone AV-free and carry on with life blissfully stress-free, right? Not quite.

All three organizations reported that they've been seeing an increase in targeted malware that skirt the precautions Google, Apple, and other platform protectors have installed—think malicious websites, third-party app stores offering free versions of popular paid apps, and phishing emails containing poisoned links or apps.
While the threat to the average person is still small, the bad guys are definitely getting smarter. Lookout recently identified the BadNews malware family, which disguised itself as an everyday ad network to sneak 32 apps into Google Play, and then began acting maliciously only after those apps had been downloaded between 2 million and 9 million times. The damage was limited mostly to Russian users, however.
Built-in app store security doesn't protect against trickery like that. Now for some not-so-delicious irony: Android typically gets hammered as being the more vulnerable operating system, compared with iOS, but Marx says iOS is actually more vulnerable to phishing attacks since Apple's App Store has few viable antimalware apps.
What's more, the contents of our mobile devices all but ensure that those unfriendly efforts will continue.

"Think about it: Your phone is, for all intents and purposes, a computer," says Luis Blando, vice president of mobile product development at McAfee. "It has every single bit of corporate data that your company wants to protect. Much more worrisome, it has your calendar, your Amazon account, God knows what else. As a target, phones are absolutely irresistible [to hackers]."
Slightly hyberbolic? Maybe. But it's also very true, and that has led AV-Test to revise its recommendations for mobile security.
"The situation is changing," says Marx. "More and more attacks are targeting mobile users in the US, so it's getting more risky. Therefore, we recommend using security software on your Android. Last year, we said 'It's an optional component, but it will get more essential in the future.' Now we argue: Use it."
Don't misunderstand: If you're smart and careful, the threat of infection is still fairly small. But with more and more bad guys trying to sneak their way onto your phone outside of the app stores, running Android unprotected is a risk.
Even if you don’t have much cash, you can keep your phone fairly secure using one of the freebie Android security apps that are out there, including offerings from Lookout, AVG, Avast, and others. However, sticking to no-cost solutions usually leaves you out in the cold when it comes to security features that are arguably the most handy-dandy.

The real reason you want a security app

Even if you barely surf the Web and rock impeccable security habits, it's still recommended that you pick up a security app.
Mobile security, you see, isn't all about malware.

Mobile security apps are more important for their non-malware-related tools.

"One of the biggest mobile security risks is actually losing your phone," Blando says. "When you lose your phone, it's not only the cost of the device, but also the cost and hassle of losing its data."
That's especially so when your phone is stolen. People's entire lives are stored on their handset, open to anyone that picks it up. Study after study shows that few people lock their phones, and losing mobile devices is an all-too-common occurrence.
In the past year, the "Find My Phone" feature in Lookout's mobile app was used more than 9 million times, or roughly every 3.5 seconds. Half of all robberies in San Francisco and 42 percent of all robberies in Washington, D.C. are related to smartphone theft, the New York Times recently reported.

Apple offers free phone-finding and data protection services.

Apple's iPhones have robust features against phone loss that can be set up with minimal hassle, including remote locking, wiping, and phone-finding capabilities. Android's antitheft options aren't quite as beefy, prompting experts to recommend picking up a third-party security solution.
"The question 'What can you realistically expect from a mobile security suite?' is easy to answer," says Marx. "To help you when your phone is stolen or lost, to either help find it and/or destroy the data on it."
While free security solutions sometimes work a few anti-theft tools into the mix—witness Lookout’s Find My Phone—virtually all security providers tuck the most helpful backup, location-finding, and remote control options into their paid-for offerings.
In other words, while careful users can usually get by with a free security program on their PCs, cheaping out on your mobile Android security means you won’t have access to the features that you’d really, really need if you ever lost your phone.

The no-nonsense recommendation

So that’s where we stand today. What does it mean in terms of actual product recommendations?
If you’re walking around with an iPhone in your pocket, there’s no pressing need to buy a mobile security solution. Not because iOS is inherently safer than Android—if you’re even the slightest bit cautious, all mobile operating systems are highly secure—but because Apple already offers phone-finding and back-up features, and because none of the scant security options available in the app store can really protect against the increasing risk of phishing attacks and other “back door”–type malware.
The situation’s a bit different on Android. You’re going to want a free security app at the very least, and we recommend paying extra for a premium security app to gain access to those crucial remote security features. (Again: If you need ever them, you’ll really, really need them.)
Which app should you buy? Our mobile security app roundup can help answer that question, as can AV-Test’s superb (and independent) Android testing results.
But save your money if you’re using a BlackBerry phone. Robbers don’t want your device anyway.

Parting words of wisdom

“But wait!” you cry. “What about metrics! You didn’t delve into the hard stats! I read this report…”
Hopefully, this reality check made sense sans all the numerical gobbly-gook. But regardless of whether or not you’re a stat freak, consider these parting words of wisdom from Lookout’s Rogers, and keep them in mind the next time you read a hysterically screaming report about mobile security.

"A lot of people have latched onto the idea that there's a large variety of Android malware that's out there, kind of implying that there's been some kind of huge explosion—but that's not really the case," he says. "…Don't get hung up on the numbers."
And when you do see numbers, give 'em a thorough eyeing. "Android threat doubles in the past year!" sounds scary, but if that means there are now 10 malicious apps where there were once five, it's not worth worrying about. A good rule of thumb from the Lookout team: If you see percentages in an Android malware report, ignore it completely unless hard numbers back up the sensational headline.
Knowing, as they say, is half the battle. Now that we're done with this mobile security reality check, here's hoping you know better than to believe the FUD.

Firefox 21 Launches With Social API Support For msnNOW, Mixi And Cliqz, Android App Gets New Fonts, HTML5 Improvements

2013-05-14T20:19:00.004+01:00

Mozilla today launched the latest version of its Firefox browser for Mac, Windows and Linux, and the highlight of Firefox 21 is additional support for Mozilla’s Social API. This API allows social providers to integrate directly with Firefox and the organization it launched in cooperation with Facebook at the end of last year. Today, it is adding Cliqz, Mixi and msnNOW to the mix.

The new Social API integrations, Mozilla says, “help you stay connected to your social networks, no matter where you go on the Web.”

Once installed, users can access these integrations from buttons in the browser toolbar. Cliqz users, for example, will be able to see content recommendations right in the new social sidebar in Firefox, share links across their social networks and preview Twitter commentary, all without actually going to Cliqz. The integration with Japan’s Mixi and Microsoft’s msnNOW works in the same way.

The Social API, Mozilla writes, “has endless potential for integrating social networks, e-mail, finance, music, cloud possibilities, services, to-do lists, sports, news and other applications into your Firefox experience.” Now that it has landed in the Firefox stable, chances are we will see a number of additional integrations in the near future.
Also new in this version is preliminary support for the new Firefox Health Report.
Similar to what Microsoft is doing with Internet Explorer, Firefox will now also provide users with suggestions for how to improve the application’s startup time.

Firefox For Android

The Android version of Firefox was also bumped up to version 21 today and with it, the team has integrated support for two new open source fonts, Charis and Open Sans. The fonts will replace the three Android default fonts to enable “a more visually appealing and clear reading experience on the Web.” The difference is “subtle, but beautiful,” Mozilla says.

Additional features are the ability to save media files through a long tap and access to your recent browsing history through the back and forward buttons.

This new version for Android also includes some HTML5 improvements and the browser now scores 421 out of the 500 possible points on HTML5test.com (plus 14 bonus points).

Sony launches Xperia ZR smartphone

2013-05-14T19:48:00.001+01:00

Sony’s Xperia ZR adds a slightly smaller model to the impressive Xperia range.

With the Xperia Z garnering impressive reviews, the ZR offers a similar style but a slightly smaller screen and resolution, at 4.6 inches compared to the Z’s 5”, and 1280 x 720 compared to 1920 x 1080.

The ZR does however offer a 13MP camera which allows full HD 1080p video underwater.

Sony warns that its dustproof and waterproof specifications are limited to 1.5m for half an hour, however. It advises consumers “The phone is not designed to float or work submerged underwater outside the IP55 or IP58 classification range that may lead to your warranty will being void.”.

Sony also includes 8GB of storage and a microSD card slot for expandability, and 4G LTE and 3G HSPA+ connectivity.

Powered by a 1.5GHz Qualcomm quad-core CPU, the ZR will be out by the end of June. Pricing will be confirmed nearer the time.

Windows 8.1 Will Be A Free Update For Windows 8 and Windows RT Users, Public Preview To Launch June 26

2013-05-14T19:33:00.000+01:00

Windows Blue will be called Windows 8.1 and will be launched as a public preview on 26 of June 2013, Microsoft revealed today. While the company remains mum about what exactly we can expect from Windows 8.1 (boot to desktop? the return of the Start menu?), Microsoft says that Windows 8.1 “will help [it] to deliver the next generation of PCs and tablets with our OEM partners and to deliver the experiences customers— both consumers and businesses alike —need and will just expect moving forward.” The update will be available for Windows 8 and the ARM-based Windows RT.
June 26 marks the start of Microsoft’s Build developer conference in San Francisco, so the date is obviously not all that much of a surprise, given that Microsoft will want to get its developer ecosystem to start working with Windows 8.1 as soon as possible. The update, Microsoft says, will be delivered through the Windows Store.
Microsoft, the company’s CFO Tami Reller said at the JP Morgan Technology, Media & Telecom Conference in Boston today, wants to continually update Windows to create “a richer experience” for its customers.
Today’s announcement comes after a few days of build-up, including pieces by Microsoft’s corporate VP of communications Frank X. Shaw about how Windows 8 has been doing far better than the pundits make it seem. This also caps off months of speculation around when we would see the first preview of Windows, though the first day of Build always seemed like a reasonable date.

BlackBerry extends BBM messaging service to Apple and Android

2013-05-14T19:11:00.002+01:00

Today at BlackBerry Live, CEO Thorsten Heins announced BBM will soon be available on Android and iOS. The messaging app will launch globally this summer. iPhone and Android users will gain access to mobile giant BlackBerry's popular messaging service BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for the first time this summer, the company has announced. This is a huge move for BlackBerry as it brings BB10′s strongest feature to literally hundreds of millions of potential users.

“It is a state of confidence,” Heins explained. “The BB10 platform is so strong and the response has been so good that the time is right for BBM to become an independent mobile messaging platform.”
The app will be free on both Android and iOS. Much like other messaging apps, it will be a standalone application. iOS 6 or Ice Cream Sandwich will be required.
Initially, only messaging and group features will be available. But Heins promised that the rest of BBM will eventually make its way to the Android and iOS versions including screen sharing, BBM voice and the just-announced BBM channels.
We are making the BBM platform more powerful than ever”, Heins proudly stated. And with this very uncharacteristic move from BlackBerry, it’s hard to argue against his statement.
It’s clear BlackBerry is finally waking up. They are no longer the big dog in the mobile war. If they are to survive, the company needs to forge new relationships and learn to work well with the two reigning platforms. This move to put BBM on Android and iOS is a big step forward. BlackBerry might actually have a chance.

More than 51 million BlackBerry users communicate daily via BBM, one of the earliest mobile chat tools to give users a free and private means of staying in touch over the internet.

Andrew Bocking, an Executive Vice President at BlackBerry said in a blog post: "For BlackBerry, messaging and collaboration are inseparable from the mobile experience, and the time is definitely right for BBM to become a multi-platform mobile service.

"BBM has always been one of the most engaging services for BlackBerry customers, enabling them to easily connect while maintaining a valued level of personal privacy. We’re excited to offer iOS and Android users the possibility to join the BBM community."

BBM will compete with other free messaging services already available to smartphone users running the iOS and Android operating systems, including WhatsApp and Viber.

The necessity of a personal PIN to use BBM, supplied with BlackBerry's phones and shared only with contacts with whom users wish to communicate, is one of BlackBerry smartphones' most attractive aspects.

Samsung may have accidentally leaked the Galaxy Note 8.0

2013-02-17T08:42:00.000+01:00

Samsung’s big reveal at Mobile World Congress later this month might not be much of a surprise at all at this point. SammyHub on Thursday spotted what appears to be a leaked picture of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.0 that’s on track to be launched at MWC in Barcelona. The leaked picture looks a lot like other leaked pictures we’ve seen of the Note 8.0, which looks a lot like a larger version of Samsung’s hit Galaxy S III smartphone. Samsung’s latest tablet, an attempt by the company to counter the success Apple (AAPL) has had with its iPad mini, will likely come with an 8-inch display with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, a 1.6GHz quad-core processor and a 5-megapixel rear camera.

Finally invented: A computer incapable of crashing

2013-02-17T05:51:00.000+01:00

London scientists have created a machine that can repair its own damaged code

Good news for folks who regularly find themselves mashing control+alt+delete until their fingernails hurt: Researchers at the University College London have invented a new "systemic" computer that automatically repairs corrupted data whenever it appears. In non-geek speak, all that means is that this gilded, Platonic ideal of desktop PCs never, ever crashes.

How does such a miracle machine even work? Its creators, naturally, turned to Mother Nature — more specifically, the random modeling that allows swarms of bees to scatter in unison around a honey-hungry bear or that allows atoms to bounce around until they find their proper place.

"Today's computers work steadily through a list of instructions: One is fetched from the memory and executed, then the result of the computation is stashed in memory," explains Paul Marks at New Scientist. Crashes happen when a computer mangles these kinds of linear instructions and the code doesn't quite know what to do next. Hence, the dreaded error message. The new computer works a bit differently, dividing instructions into little digital slots called "systems." Here, an explanation:

Each system has a memory containing context-sensitive data that means it can only interact with other, similar systems. Rather than using a program counter, the systems are executed at times chosen by a pseudorandom number generator, designed to mimic nature's randomness. The systems carry out their instructions simultaneously, with no one system taking precedence over the others. [New Scientist]

That means whenever a chunk of data hits a wall, these randomly-generated paths simply reroute these instructions through various systems (all containing the same message) to help it accomplish its original goal without shutting down. Kind of, but not exactly like how the human brain is capable of rewiring its neural pathways around obstructions. The creators of the device are optimistic, and think this intelligent, self-repairing tech could one day help damaged drones reprogram themselves on the fly, enable bioengineers to create more realistic models of the human brain, and trigger sentience in emerging mainframes like SkyNet. (One of these isn't for real.) The team plans on presenting their findings at a conference in Singapore this April.

Apple's former retail chief ends lands at U.K. chain

2013-02-15T09:42:00.006+01:00

Apple's former retail chief John Browett is back on his feet after reportedly being fired from the company last October.

Apple's unceremoniously departed retail chief John Browett has a new gig.
The former executive, who Apple said no longer worked for the company as of last October, has landed at U.K.-based retail chain Monsoon Accessorize.
In his new role as the chief executive, Browett will oversee more than 1,000 stores, The Financial Times reports (subscription required). That's more than twice the size of Apple's retail empire, which is currently at 400 stores.

In a statement Monsoon Accessorize founder Peter Simon said the company went through "an extensive search" to find a new CEO, leading up to the choice of Browett.
"John has the skills and experience needed to take Monsoon Accessorize to the next level," Simon said.
Apple originally hired Browett to replace Ron Johnson, who left to become CEO of JC Penney. Before Apple, Browett ran U.K.-based electronics retailer Dixons.
Apple is still on the hunt for a new retail chief to replace Browett, though the company has not let on to progress on that effort. In an interview earlier this week, Apple CEO Tim Cook described Apple's stores as wildly important to its overall strategy.

"I'm not even sure 'store' is the right word anymore," Cook said in an interview at a Goldman Sachs event earlier this week. "They've taken on a role much broader than that. They are the face of Apple for almost all of our customers."

Apple cuts prices on MacBooks

2013-02-15T07:17:00.001+01:00

Apple on Wednesday said it would cut the price of its 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display while simultaneously updating it with faster processors.

The 15-inch model is also getting improved specs, although its price remains the same.

The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro now starts at $1,499 for 128GB of solid-state flash storage, and $1,699 for 256GB of storage. The higher-end model also includes a more robust 2.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor.

The 15-inch model still starts at $2,199, but now that gets you a quad-core 2.4GHz Core i7 processor. If you want the best of the best, you can now get a 15-inch Retina MacBook Pro with a quad-core 2.7GHz Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM for $2,799.

In addition to the adjustments to the Retina MacBook Pro line, Apple also took the price of its 13-inch MacBook Air down a notch: The 13-inch model with 256GB of flash storage now costs $1,399.

The new prices and specs are effective today, both online and in Apple Stores.

The price cuts and speed bumps of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro make a lot of sense in the light of reviews, which praised the laptop's high-resolution 2,560 x 1,600 display, but lamented that it didn't have the same kind of power to drive those pixels as its larger 15-inch sibling.

"What's inescapable is that this first version of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro isn't a winner when it comes to price and performance," wrote Mashable senior tech analyst Christina Warren in her review. "It's just a bit too expensive."

Will the price cuts and improved specs make you more inclined to buy a MacBook in the next few weeks? Let us know in the comments.

What You Should Know About The Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Batch 23&24

2012-10-22T12:37:00.000+01:00

Did you know that the Nigerian Navy is among the largest on the African continent?
Do you also know that upon joining the Nigerian Navy you’re entitled to accommodation and great health packages?
Now, have you always nursed a desire to see the world?
Then a chance to enjoy the above perks is here as the Nigerian Navy is currently accepting applications to the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School Batch 23&24.
Interested?
Here’s what you should take note of before you apply:
Applicants should be between 18-34 possessing either ND/ NCE/ RN/ RM by 31st December 2013
Male applicants must not be less than 1.70m tall while female candidates should be at least 1.67m tall
Aptitude tests will hold between 4th to 10th February 2013 at the designated centres
Online registration starts on 29th October 2012 and closes 7th December 2012
To apply:
Visit www.service.nigeriannavy.gov.ng (application starts on 29th October). If there are any challenges or enquiries, send an email to navy.support@swglobal.com
Click on start application and complete the application form
Click on save button to complete application on line
Print out the pay4me acknowledgment slip and take it to any branch of UBA, Sterling bank, Diamond Bank, Fidelity Bank or Union Bank.
Take the receipt given at the bank to the website to complete the application.
Print out your parent/Guardian consent form and attestation of Local Government form.
I wish you success...

Cosmic Rays Rumours

2012-08-16T01:01:00.000+01:00

There have been rumors circulating that cosmic rays from Mars are entering Earth tonight so we need to switch off our phones, or put them away from us.Here is the text I received from a friend of mine:Tonight 12:30 am to 3:30 am cosmo rays entering earth from mars. So switch off your mobile at night. Don’t keep your cell with you & put it away while you are sleeping because they are too much dangerous rays:NASA informs BBC NEWS. Pls spread this news. The message above is clearly nothing more than just another HOAX. I don’t know why people are circulating panic messages such as this to disturb the lives of other people. From what I have noticed, this message has been circulating since 2008 and it suddenly reappeared today,15 august 2012. I also received text messages containing this false information and saw similar Facebook posts. I did my own research and I have found no credible reports that confirm the claims in the warning message. There are no references to such a threat listed on credible scientific websites. I also checked the NASA and BBC news today to see if they have posted something like this. Fortunately, both have never said such a thing and will never probably produce a similar baseless statement. Despite the claim in the message, there are several reasons to say that this information is untrue.First, Mars could not emit harmful radiation because it is not a star. Cosmic rays are emitted by stars. i.e bodies that are undergoing nuclear reactions that is fusion (as occurs in our sun) or fission (as occurs in nuclear reactors). Mars is neither. It is a planet that just reflects sunlight. It cannot emit cosmic radiation. Next, with regards to these rays, the earth’s atmosphere is capable of taking care of them so no need to worry. The magnetosphere absorbs and protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation. Whatever remains is too feeble to affect any thing as far as earth. The Earth’s magnetosphere prevents most of the particles from the Sun, carried in the solar wind, from hitting the Earth. Another thing is that we are actually hit by cosmic rays everyday — all day (and night too). If it was going to hurt your cell, then it would have already fried it by now.Sometimes magnetic storms on the sun will fry the electronics of satellites in orbit, and may also blow out the power grid in high latitudes near the Earth’s magnetic poles, but other than static, I don’t see what it might do to your cell phones. So, to anyone who will receive this kind of message, please think it over and help educate others. Spreading dubious and unsubstantiated warnings such as this is counter productive and is unlikely to help anyone.

Cosmic Rays Rumours

2012-08-16T00:59:00.003+01:00

Cosmic Rays Rumours

2012-08-16T00:59:00.001+01:00

GET 1GB AIRTEL DATA BUNDLE FOR JUST N1,200 INSTEAD OF N10,000

2012-05-10T12:40:00.003+01:00

It's only Airtel BB Subscribers that have been enjoying this package all this while. Just subscribing for 1 month paying N1,200 for 1GB. While other phone subscribers are paying N1,000 for just 100MB for that same 1 month. For you to get 1GB as a normal phone subscriber, you need to pay N10,000. Isn't that crazy?...don't worry, you can now enjoy the privilege of getting that same 1GB and pay the same N1,200 as a normal phone subscriber instead of N10,000. Follow the steps below and start flexing as the speed is super speed.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE AIRTEL BLACKBERRY PACKAGE - 1GB FOR N1,200 FOR A MONTH

1. Load up your Phone with N1,2000 Airtime and move to the next step.

2. Text BSM to 440. You will Receive a Message that your Blackberry monthly Plan has been Successfully Processed. Then you will receive another Message asking you to Text Stop Renewal to 440 if you don't want Airtel to auto renew you on this Package.( You can ignore this if you'll like to subscribe the next month as it is dam cheap)

3. Now, Switch Off your Phone and put it ON after a Minute, You should be able to Use it now - Start Browsing.

4. To Check your Data Bundle Balance, Use *141*712*0#, You should see 1.00GB

That's all.... dont forget to click on the ADVERTS on this blog...

MTN FREE CALL IS BACK AGAIN

2012-05-10T12:31:00.000+01:00

MTN FREE CALL IS BACK AGAIN.....CLICK ON THE ADVERTS AND ALSO COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POSTS AFTER USING IT AND YOU FIND IT USEFUL. I know you all love good things especially when it's free! dis 1 no be PULSE VERSUS PAYGO SWAP......dis one na any plan fit use am

Make sure you have upto #60 and above!

1st step:dial 600ur 2nd mtn lineall de credit u hav 2dat ur 2nd mtn numberur transfer pin#
and save it as a phonebook contact

then Call any number u want,when ringing scroll to dat already saved contact and send..immediately ur credit will be transfered 2dat ur 2nd line and ur call will continue to flex until dat assumed credit shows in dia office dat it has finished, den it will cut off...1LOVE peepz!!!

Watch out for more from the desk of mightysparrowlee...

2012-04-27T01:04:00.001+01:00

For Mtn users 0803 only load 100 Naira on your sim and send MAIL BROWSE MONTH in capital send to 4777 or 133. After sending you will receive a message invalid format but never mind after 24hrs you will get a message welcome to Mtn monthly plan then start browsing that's unlimited.