iTECH REFINED

JKUAT launches TAIFA, first Kenya-made laptop

2015-06-12T19:46:00.000+03:00

Key Features of the Taifa laptop

Display

14.0” WXGA HD (1366×768)

Processor Options

Intel® Core^TM i3 – 400M, Intel® Processors 2.4Ghz

Operating System Options

Genuine Windows® 8.1
Genuine Microsoft Office® 2013

Memory

DDR3 SDRAM 4GB RAM

Storage

500GB 7200 rpm SATA Hard Drive

Optical Drive

8X DVD+/-RW

Multimedia

High quality speakers, Stereo headphone & Microphone jack
HDMI Port
HD video webcam

Connectivity

10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet

Wireless LAN

IEEE 802.11 b/g/n

Bluetooth

Wireless Bluetooth® 4.0

Ports, Slots & Chassis

Network connector (RJ-45), USB 2.0 (1), USB3.0 (2)
Stereo headphone & Microphone jacks, Memory card reader slot

Input Device

Single pointing keyboard
Smooth Touchpad

Battery

6-cell (60Whr) Lithium Ion

Microsoft to bring back Start button in Windows 8.1

2013-05-28T11:06:00.002+03:00

Microsoft does U-turn on Start button

By Chris Martin | PC Advisor | 23 April 13

Microsoft does U-turn on Start button

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Microsoft is planning to resurrect the iconic Start button which users are sorely missing from its Windows 8 operating system. See also: What is Windows Blue? Everything you need to know.

According to The Verge, sources familiar with Microsoft's plans have revealed that Windows 8.1 will herald the return of the Start button. This move would take away some of the confusion which long standing Windows users have experienced with the latest OS. See also: Windows 8 takes blame for 'brutal' PC sales slide.

However, the new Start button will simply be a way of accessing the Start Screen with its Modern UI tiles. Therefore, it will not include the familiar Start menu for finding and launching programs.

It will effectively be a repeat of the button which is already found in the Windows 8 Charms bar. It will even look the same with the latest square Windows flag design used for Windows 8. See also: Laptop makers turn to Android after Windows 8 woes.

Although Microsoft justified the removal of the Start button with data from its Customer Experience Improvement Program, the reinstatement is due to customer feedback.

The Start button has been so sorely missed that Pokki for Windows, a replacement Start button, has been downloaded more than 1.5 million times. The firm says users open the Pokki Menu an average of 10 times each day.

The news comes after reports that Microsoft will add a 'boot to desktop' option in Windows 8.1. This will allow users to avoid booting to the Modern UI interface, which is less useful on a traditional desktop PC.

It's possible the Start button will appear in the Windows 8.1 Public Preview, if not, the final release which is set to arrive later this year.

What is Windows Blue? Everything you need to know about Windows 8.1

2013-05-28T11:04:00.000+03:00

Everything you need to know about Windows Blue, aka Windows 8.1

RELATED ARTICLES

Microsoft has sold 100 million Windows 8 licenses and with talk of Windows Blue snowballing we take a look at what Windows Blue (Windows 8.1) actually is. Updated on 14/05/13.

The software giant has said that it will change 'key aspects' of its Windows 8 operating system for PCs, laptops and tablets, admitting that the steep learning curve for users is 'definitely real'. See also: Microsoft to change 'key aspects' of OS with Windows Blue.

Read on to find out exactly what Windows Blue is and how it will affect you.

Windows Blue: What is it?

Windows Blue is a new version of the Windows 8 operating system which Microsoft is working on. Instead of releasing service packs, Microsoft will issue new versions of the OS much like Apple does with OS X.

The firm already does a similar thing with Windows Phone, for example, 7.5 'Mango' and 8 'Apollo'.

Tammi Reller, head of marketing and finance for the Windows, said: "It will deliver the latest new innovations across an increasingly broad array of form factors of all sizes, display, battery life and performance, while creating new opportunities for our ecosystem. It will provide more options for businesses, and give consumers more options for work and play."

Windows Blue: Release date

Microsoft hasn't given a specific date for Windows Blue but has said it will arrive this year.

A Windows Blue public preview launch on 26 June - the same day as Microsoft's Build conference starts where it will no doubt give more details on the software.

Windows Blue: Will it be called Windows Blue?

Windows Blue is the codename for the new version of Windows 8 so it will get a different name when it is released. Microsoft has confirmed it will be called Windows 8.1, as expected.

Windows Blue: What features will it bring?

There are a few other features which are expected to arrive with Windows Blue, according to screenshots published on the Winforum. These include a 50/50 split for the multi-tasking Snap Views function and the inclusion of Internet Explorer 11.

Other smaller changes include new tile sizes for the Modern UI Start Screen and a new Personalize menu for quickly changing colours schemes and backgrounds (shown at the top of the page).

It's not shown in the screenshots, but there is talk that Microsoft will bring back the Start button and therefore Start Menu with Windows Blue. Rumour has is that it will be a repeat of the existing Charms Bar. See also: Microsoft to bring back Start button in Windows 8.1.

Another rumour is that users will be able to boot straight to the desktop rather than the Start Screen. This is not currently possible in Windows 8.

SkyDrive integration will also be pushed further with the option to auto-upload photographs and additional backup options.

Windows Blue: Price

Microsoft has announced that the Windows 8.1 update will be available for free via the Windows Store.

MSI Notebook Official Website - Product Preview Page

2013-05-24T14:15:00.001+03:00

MSI Notebook Official Website - Product Preview Page

HP Launches Split x2 Win 8 Laptop-Tablet

2013-05-20T18:37:00.000+03:00

HP Launches Split x2 Win 8 Laptop-Tablet

Computer shoppers first experienced Envy. Then came the Split -- as in the Split x2, HP's second entry in the hybrid laptop-tablet line. The Split x2 has a battery in both the screen/tablet portion of the computer and in the keyboard. This new model joins a rapidly growing hybrid market, but a clear leader hasn't emerged yet so there's still time for the Split to make a splash.

HP on Wednesday announced the Split x2 Windows 8 hybrid laptop-tablet, the second such device in its lineup after the Envy x2, which debuted last year.

The Split x2 has batteries in the
screen and keyboard.

The Split x2 is a detachable PC, meaning that the screen can be removed and used separately as a tablet. HP also announced the Android-based SlateBook x2 on Wednesday.
The screen-cum-tablet half of the Split x2 incorporates the HP ClickPad for gesture and multifinger navigation.
The Split x2 is scheduled for availability in the U.S. in August and is priced at $800.
The Split x2 and SlateBook x2 "join the HP Envy x2 as part of HP's detachable PC portfolio," HP spokesperson Sheila Watson told TechNewsWorld.
"With its price and performance, the Split x2 fits into the high end of the hybrid line, almost on par with Ultrabooks," said Jim McGregor, principal analyst at Tirias Research. "I'm glad they're using full-sized keyboards; nothing's worse than trying to use a small keyboard."

The Split x2's Putative Tech Specs

The Split x2's features include two batteries, one in the keyboard dock and one in the screen/tablet; an HP TrueVision full HD webcam with an integrated digital mike; Beats Audio and dual speakers; a detachable 13.3-inch HD touchscreen, and Intel Core processors.
Whether HP's going to implement an i3 or i5 Intel processor is not yet clear.
The screen is an LED-backlit IPS display with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.
The Split x2 weighs just over 4 lbs.
There is a multiplicity of storage options. The tablet/screen comes with either a 64 GB or a 128 GB solid state drive (SSD). Customers can install a 500 GB hard disk in the base/keyboard. The base also has an SD card slot while the tablet/screen has a microSD card slot.
The Split x2 has one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 ports and a combination audio jack as well as an HDMI port.
It supports 802.11ab/b/n+ Bluetooth.
The device can be pre-ordered now off HP's website.
Purchasers can get HP's two-year accidental damage protection coverage with pickup and return service, LoJack, and can tap into HP SmartFriend Services for support. Both options are fee-based.

Joining the Win 8 Hybrid Laptop-Tablet Queue

Several Windows 8 hybrid laptop-tablets are already on the market.
One is HP's Envy x2. Lenovo has the IdeaPad Yoga and ThinkPad Helix; Dell offers the XPS 12; ASUS has the Vivo Tab and Transformer Book; Samsung has the ATIV Smart PC Pro 700T; and then there's the Acer Iconia W510.
So is HP perhaps late to the market? Can it become a player with the Split x2 and other products in the x2 line?
"There really isn't a preferred platform or clear leader in this convertible segment because it's competing with tablets, laptops and Ultrabooks," Tirias Research's McGregor told TechNewsWorld. There's a lot of variety among the products because "there are so many unknown factors, such as which screen size consumers will prefer, how much battery life is really needed and so on, and no one has the resources to create every potential platform combination."
The Split x2 "looks competitive with other solutions in the market, [but] Atom- and ARM-based products will still offer more battery life," McGregor said, pointing out that HP has not discussed the battery life of the Split x2.
The Intel Atom-based HP Envy x2 "is great for a person that favors mobility, and the Split x2 is for someone that prefers to have a powerful processor with full notebook PC performance, and enjoys a larger screen," HP's Watson said.
However, apart from a wide range of products in the hybrid laptop-tablet segment, McGregor said that "it's very difficult to differentiate [HP's offerings].

Vaio Fit May Be the Laptop Windows 8 Has Been Looking For

2013-05-20T18:35:00.000+03:00

Vaio Fit May Be the Laptop Windows 8 Has Been Looking For

Sony's new Vaio Fit laptop line could give Windows 8 a nice lift. It's not an Ultrabook -- but it's not priced like one, either. "The Vaio Fit looks like a stylish, extremely serviceable laptop that should be an attractive option for numerous consumer and work applications," said Pund-IT analyst Charles King. "Touch-enabled products like the Vaio Fit could help Microsoft significantly."

Sony introduced its new line of entry-level laptops on Tuesday. The new Vaio Fit series starts at around US$550 with the Fit E, which offers Intel's Core processors, discrete Nvidia graphics processors, and hybrid hard drives, as well as a full-sized keyboard and trackpad. The step-up Vaio Fit, at $649, offers an aluminum chassis.

Sony's Vaio Fit 14

The Fit models utilize Sony's Exmor R sensors, which enable a webcam that can capture respectable images even in low light. They have near-field communication capability for quick exchange of Web URLs, as well as the option to enable Bluetooth and WiFi direct connections to compatible NFC devices.
Although large enough to include an optical drive, the Fit notebooks are smaller than most thin and light laptops.
"It's interesting that Sony [isn't] classifying these as an 'Ultrabook,'" said Craig Stice, senior principal analyst for compute platforms at IHS iSupply.
"Now whether or not Sony just decided not to, or if there are actually specific specs within the new Vaio Fits that don't meet Intel's Ultrabook requirement, I don't know," he added.
"This could also be a trend that we might start to see more of," Stice told TechNewsWorld, "meaning, an ultrathin-designed system with powerful features, but maybe misses one of Intel's Ultrabook specs so they can't call it as such -- but this in turn allows for a lower-priced unit."

Prices Trending Down

The Fit lineup is available in 14- and 15-inch models in black, silver and pink. The Fit 15 features an HD 1920x1080 display resolution, while the Fit 14 has 1600x9000 resolution. The Fit E provides 1366x768 -- enhanced definition level resolution -- in both the 14- and 15-inch models.
"Overall, the Vaio Fit looks like a stylish, extremely serviceable laptop that should be an attractive option for numerous consumer and work applications, especially considering its pricing," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT.
The Fit suggests makers are looking to go ultra small and sleek, even with machines that may not meet Ultrabook specs.
"It does appear to be a nicely packed system with good performance features at a very reasonable price point," added Stice.
"One might consider this the next wave of the ultrathin class of Mobile PCs -- and what I mean by that is the PC OEMs are finding ways to create a strong performing ultrathin PC, with touch, and at price points that aren't going to turn away heads," he explained.
"Six months ago, these types of systems were in the $1,000 price range, but seeing these down now in the $650 range as it appears the entry Fit 14 will be, it is a good sign that the trends are going in the right direction," Stice said.

Lightweight and Light on the Pocketbook

Sony's new Vaio Fit lineup features the company's ClearAudio+ technology, along with a virtualized surround sound experience. The step-up Fit models come with ArtRage Studio, a touch-oriented painting program that takes advantage of Windows 8 touch-enabled functionality.
For the price, the Vaio does seem like an affordable alternative to a tablet with a few more productivity options.
"The Sony Fit is one of the first of a new wave of Windows 8 Touch laptops at price points that the market is ready to accept," said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group.
"At launch there was a huge separation between high-quality products and the price people were willing to pay for them," he recalled. "Average prices were in the $1,100 range and the market was far closer to $650. This release brings quality touch products down into the price ranges where people are willing to buy them."
Sony's brand has taken some hard knocks in recent years; could products like the Vaio Fit help get the company back into fighting shape?
"These are attractive thin and light products that are surrounded by Sony's Apple-like build quality -- and unlike Sony machines of the past, they aren't full of crapware destroying the user experience," Enderle pointed out.
However, "Sony doesn't have the funding they once had," he observed, "and that suggests that marketing could be underfunded -- and without strong marketing, these won't sell to their potential."

Road to PC Tablet?

The release of Sony's Vaio also comes as Microsoft's Bill Gates predicted that the iPad and Android tablet users might make a move to PC tablets, as the latter offers better productivity options. Windows 8, which has not exactly been a smash hit, nevertheless has passed the 100-million-license mark -- and devices such as the Vaio Fit could help further convince people to give the touchscreen-enabled OS another look.
"Touch-enabled products like the Vaio Fit could help Microsoft significantly," Pund-IT's King told TechNewsWorld. "In fact, though Sony is certainly ahead of some PC competitors, I expect to see numerous notebooks similar to the Vaio Fit as the year progresses."
Given that Microsoft is giving Windows 8 a makeover with Windows 8.1, aka Windows Blue, users could find fewer problems with it and more to like.
"These products (such as the Vaio) will be followed by offerings from other vendors who don't have this marketing shortcomings, suggesting the hardware for Windows 8 is getting sorted," said Enderle. "While much of the market may still wait for Windows Blue expected later this year, these moves should significantly improve Windows 8 adoption rates."

Tips and Tricks: How to Reset Password of Memory Card – Without For...

2013-05-20T16:51:00.001+03:00

Tips and Tricks: How to Reset Password of Memory Card – Without For...: We uses password to protect our memory card our privacy and security of our valuable data, But some time it went wrong when we forgot our ...

Explanation: How Brain Training Can Make You Significantly Smarter | How Life Works

2013-01-28T15:53:00.001+03:00

Explanation: How Brain Training Can Make You Significantly Smarter | How Life Works

Feds: 1 guilty plea, 2 others arrested over virus that infected more than 1M computers

2013-01-28T15:49:00.002+03:00

CARLO ALLEGRI/REUTERS - U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara holds a news conference on the Gozi Virus in New York Jan. 23. Federal prosecutors charged three people in as many countries with creating and distributing the computer virus known as "Gozi Virus" that infected more than a million computers around the world, including some operated by the U.S. space agency and others by banks.

By Associated Press,

NEW YORK — A computer virus that spread to more than a million computers worldwide, including some at NASA, and produced at least $50 million in illegal profits or losses to victims should be a “wake-up call” for banks and consumers unaware of the threat posed by Internet criminals, a prosecutor said Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and George Venizelos, head of the New York FBI office, warned of the growing threat to financial and international security as they announced that a 2½-year probe had resulted in three arrests, two of them overseas, and the seizure of vast amounts of computer-related evidence that will take months or years to fully analyze. They said the Gozi virus had infected 40,000 computers in the United States since 2005, including 190 at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, along with computers in Germany, Great Britain, Poland, France, Finland, Italy, Turkey and elsewhere.

“This case should serve as a wake-up call to banks and consumers alike because cybercrime remains one of the greatest threats we face, and it is not going away anytime soon,” Bharara said. “It threatens individuals, businesses and governments alike.”
He told a news conference that cybercriminals “believe that their online anonymity and their distance from New York render them safe from prosecution, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
Venizelos said law enforcement had seized 51 computer servers in Romania, along with laptops, desktops and external hard drives, accumulating more than 250 terabytes of information.
“That vast pile of data is almost certain to aid criminal investigation at FBI offices around the country as well as law enforcement agencies around the world,” he said. “It is more than standard boilerplate to say that this investigation is very much ongoing.”
So far, the investigation has produced three arrests, including that of Nikita Kuzmin, who pleaded guilty to computer intrusion and fraud charges in May 2011, admitting his role in creating the virus. The plea was followed by the arrest in November of a co-conspirator in Latvia and another in Romania last month. Extradition proceedings are under way against both on various criminal charges, including conspiracy.
The NASA breach occurred from Dec. 14, 2007, to Aug. 9, 2012, with the most damage occurring between May and August last year, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. The infected computers sent data without user authorization, including login credentials for an eBay account and a NASA email account, details of visited websites and the contents of Google chat messages.
Mihai Ionut Paunescu, who was arrested in Romania, set up online infrastructure that allowed others to distribute destructive viruses and malicious software, including ones dubbed Zeus Trojan, SpyEye and BlackEnergy, according to a criminal complaint filed against him. The document said Paunescu, a Romanian national residing in Bucharest, was also known as “Virus.”
The Gozi virus was designed in 2005 and distributed beginning in 2007, when it was secretly installed onto each victim’s computer in a manner that left it virtually undetectable by antivirus software.
Deniss Calovskis was arrested in Latvia, where he is a citizen and resident, on charges including bank fraud conspiracy.
Extradition proceedings had begun to bring them to New York for trial.
Authorities say Kuzmin began designing the Gozi virus in 2005 to steal personal bank account information of individuals and businesses in a widespread way. They said he hired a programmer to write the software and began renting it to others for a weekly fee, advertising it on Internet forums devoted to cybercrime and other criminal activities. Beginning in 2009, Kuzmin offered the code to others for $50,000 plus a guaranteed share of future profits, court documents said.
Authorities said Calovskis had training and expertise in computer programming when he was hired by a co-conspirator to upgrade the virus with new code that would deceive victims into divulging additional personal information, such as a mother’s maiden name. Federal authorities sought at least $50 million from Calovskis, an amount they said was obtained through the conspiracy.

Apple releases accountability report, discloses it has found underage workers

2013-01-28T15:46:00.000+03:00

MIKE SEGAR/REUTERS - The Apple Inc. logo is seen in the lobby of New York City's flagship Apple store in this January 18, 2011 file photo.

By Hayley Tsukayama, Published: January 26

Apple said that underage workers were allowed to work at its supplier plants in China because labor agents in the country faked paperwork to make workers appear older than they were.

The company said Friday that it terminated its relationship with the supplier, Guangdong Real Faith Pingzhou Electronics Co., after discovering instances of underage workers.

The report says Apple also traced the source of the faked paperwork to a central third-party labor agent, called Quanshun. Apple said it has reported Quanshun — which worked with families to forge the paperwork — to local authorities and said the firm has had its business license revoked.

Bloomberg reported that a manager at the branch of Quanshan in the southern city of Shenzhen, Wu Yong, denied it had worked with the manufacturer to forge documents. The report also said that the company’s affiliate in the Henan province of central China had been de-registered in October.

Apple’s senior vice president of operations, Jeff Williams, also told Bloomberg that the company felt it was important to identify the suppliers to highlight the problem. In the past, Apple has not included the name of suppliers found to be violation of its policies — something that labor groups have criticized.

Apple reviewed 393 suppliers in its chain over the course of 2012 as part of its annual supplier responsibility report — a 72 percent increase from its previous report.

Overall, the company said that 79 percent of its suppliers are in compliance for its standards on worker practices, and 73 percent of suppliers met its standards for having management systems in place to prevent bad practices. That compares to compliance rates of 76 percent and 71 percent, respectively, in the company’s 2012 report.

Apple has been releasing supplier responsibility reports since 2007, but did not disclose even the names of its suppliers until it released its 2011 report in January of last year.

The company has faced criticism for labor practices at its supplier factories in the past, coming under harsh scrutiny after a rash of worker suicides in 2010 at one of its largest suppliers, Foxconn. Criticism increased after explosions at two Chinese factories in 2011.

In 2012, Apple announced that it had joined the Fair Labor Association, which conducts independent audits of the company’s facilities. In a report published in March, the FLA said it had found that problems with working conditions persisted at Foxconn plants. According to the report, more than half of the workers at the assembly facilities it visited worked in violation of labor laws that cap theworking week at 60 hours.

Apple’s report Friday said that it found 92 percent of the facilities it visited were in compliance with work week limits, and that the average employee worked 50 hours per week.

New windows 8 features

2012-10-29T09:44:00.000+03:00

http://view.email.microsoftemail.com/?j=fe9a16717164077477&m=fed216717264067c&ls=fe321774756d047c771d71&l=fec21c767365017e&s=fe23117672670275701474&jb=ff6415727d&ju=fe61107073640d7c7613&r=0

Apple vs. Samsung: A peace treaty

2012-10-22T11:12:00.003+03:00

Apple vs. Samsung: A peace treatyOn an historic day in 2012, online warriors from the epic Apple-Samsung feud agreed to set aside their smartphones and resolve tensions.

Articles Trending on Jelly Beans

2012-10-14T11:39:00.001+03:00

Galaxy S3 Alpha runs Jelly Bean with built-in multi-window support

A few days ago we told you that NTT DoCoMo will offer its subscribers in Japan two new Samsung smartphones, the Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3 Alpha, with the latter being an updated version of the regular Galaxy S3.

For More info you can check out the link below

http://www.androidauthority.com/tag/jelly-bean/

FTC getting closer to antitrust case against Google

2012-10-14T11:33:00.001+03:00

The FTC is moving forward in pursuing a possible antitrust lawsuit against Google on the grounds that they used their position on top of the search market to hurt their competition. While four of the commissioners involved seem certain that this is the case, the fifth is more skeptical.
This isn’t the first time we’ve reported on Google’s situation with the FTC, and is far from likely that it will be the last. This particular matter isn’t the only one, either. In addition to being investigated over possible misuse of its search dominance, just earlier this week we mentioned the FTC’s scrutiny of Google regarding its patents.

The Matter at Hand

It isn’t other search engines that are complaining about Google; rather it’s more specialized companies that focus on things like travel and shopping. Both Yelp and Nextag have openly complained about Google to congress during hearings. They allege that Google lowers competitors search engine rankings to drive customers to their own products, meaning that other companies need to purchase advertising if they want to be displayed in a prominent position on Google.
Google denies this, saying that they aren’t doing anything wrong. While Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick has said that “”We are happy to answer any questions that regulators have about our business,” the FTC has declined to comment on the issue.

Where Could This Go From Here?

If the antitrust case does happen and Google is found to have broken any laws the company will have two options, the first of which is to try to negotiate a settlement with the FTC to resolve the issues at hand. The other option would include a lengthy court battle. No matter which happens, it doesn’t appear that pleasant times are ahead for Google given that this is only one of the legal matters it is currently dealing with.
Do you think the FTC is going to move forward and file a lawsuit against Google? If this is the case, who do you think will come out on top?

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available for pre-order from Mobilicity, Launch Date October 30

2012-10-14T11:31:00.005+03:00

Mobilicity, who is among the many other carriers offering the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, has put a pre-order form for the device on their website. As appears to be the case with other Canadian carriers, Mobilicity will launch the Galaxy Note 2 on October 30.
As with the Best Buy pre-order we reported on earlier today, customers will have to pick up their shiny new Galaxy Note 2 in person. Unlike Best Buy however, Mobilicity customers are able to at least submit their pre-order request online.
To get the $50 discount, customers will have to jump through some hoops, such as signing up for Mobilicity’s “automatic monthly payments.” Here is what the email customers who pre-order are receiving has to say:

Thank you! We have received your pre-order registration request for the Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone at Mobilicity. You are on the list of consumers eligible to be the first Canadians to get this smartphone when it launches in Canada on October 30, 2012!
You can also receive a $50 hardware credit on the Samsung Galaxy Note II from Mobilicity if you are one of the first 1,000 people to purchase and activate your Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone on Mobilicity’s unlimited network and sign up for automatic monthly payments by November 6, 2012!
Here is your confirmation number:
Please keep this confirmation number handy and stay tuned for more information. We will email you more details on how to take advantage of this special launch promotion by October 20th.
We appreciate your patience and look forward to launching the Samsung Galaxy Note II smartphone, and providing you with a smart mobile experience.
Thank you!
Mobilicity

While the price for the Galaxy Note 2 through Mobilicity is currently unknown, customers who pre-order the device will save $50 on their order. As we noted earlier today, Best Buy customers are currently being offered a price of $149 for the Galaxy Note 2 through Telus and Bell, and $249 through Rogers. We’re not sure if either of these prices are accurate, but they give a small clue what the Galaxy Note 2 will cost for Mobilicity customers.
With a large amount of carriers offering the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which one are you going to choose?

Microsoft versus Motorola in Germany hits round 2, this time Google Maps and Google are involved

2012-10-14T11:27:00.004+03:00

Some months ago we brought you news of Microsoft and Motorola fighting in court. It had been announced that all Motorola Android products were pulled from German shelves. After a few months of battling, the German courts changed their minds, stating that Motorola didn’t break any patents. Now, Microsoft is at it again.
In this latest chapter of Microsoft vs Motorola, Microsoft is going after Google Maps. According to Engadget, the patent in question is, “taking map information from one set and overlaying it with data from another.” This is basically what Google Maps does. For instance, changing from road view to satellite view.
What is far more interesting is that Motorola isn’t doing this one alone. The patent refers to Google Maps more than Motorola. That means that Google itself will be dropping gloves in this patent brawl. Microsoft has actually included Google itself in this latest patent suit. So it isn’t Microsoft going after Android hardware anymore. It’s Windows going after Android.

Does Microsoft have a case here?

Unfortunately, yes they do. Despite how vaguely worded the patent is, there really isn’t much wiggle room. Almost all map software violates this to some degree. This time, Microsoft is choosing to cash in.
What will be interesting to see is whether or not Google and Motorola pay the licensing fees if they lose. The only other option would be remaking Google Maps to work around the patents. That would not be an easy task.
The big story here, though, is Microsoft going directly after Android and Google. Very recently, Google passed up Microsoft in market cap value. That puts Google second overall behind only Apple. It is very highly unlikely that Microsoft included Google because of that. However, there is definitely a Clash of the Titans vibe going on that is hard to ignore.
So here we go with round two of Microsoft versus Motorola and Google in Germany. It is more like watching Godzilla fight Mothra and King Kong. Except, you know, in Germany. Should Motorola just pay the licensing fees like everyone else? Are they justified in standing up to Microsoft? We want to know what you think.

LG Nexus 4: wireless charging and ‘final design’ mockup spotted

2012-10-14T11:26:00.003+03:00

The LG Nexus 4 is going to be unveiled in late October according to recent reports, but we already know pretty much everything there is to know about the device. A leaked prototype has been in the hands of a tech publication for days now, and we have been able to see the device in crystal clear pictures and virtually take it for a 360 degrees spin in the process.

There’s even a “preliminary review” of the LG Nexus 4 prototype out in the wild, that you can go through while we wait for Google and LG to unveil the final fourth-generation Nexus.

But today we have one more Nexus 4 detail for you that was missed so far. According to the FCC (see images), the handset will support wireless charging, a feature some of you will certainly appreciate. Don’t expect any details about the LG wireless charging pad that will go with the device because we don’t have them for you at this time, although we’re certainly going to tell you everything there is to know about official LG Nexus 4 accessories once they come out.

The FCC refers to the device as the LG E960, albeit we’ll keep calling it Nexus 4 for lack of a better alternative. The same product number can be observed on the back cover of the prototype that’s been in the wild for several days now. In fact, based on that model, Android and Me has photoshopped what could be the “final design” of the LG Nexus 4, just take a look at the top image.
Getting back to wireless charging, is this a must have smartphone feature for you these days?

Why Nexus devices have no SD card

2012-10-14T11:23:00.003+03:00

The Internet is hard at work debating the merits of the Nexus 7 tablet, and the biggest arguments are about the lack of expandable storage, or an SD card, as you likely know it. It seems like everyone and their brother has a theory about why the hottest tablet to hit Android so far will be shipping without one. The most popular reason revolves around some conspiracy that Google is to forcing you to use its cloud services. While I'm sure Google would love nothing more than users depending on Google Drive or Google Music -- and there's certainly a big push for it -- that's not the reason devices have been trending away from expandable storage.

Wanna know what it really is? Sure you do.

The lack of an SD card in Nexus devices is nothing new, and we've been over this issue already when the Galaxy Nexus first appeared.

We got tired of seeing OEMs include many GB of internal storage for music, while users were still running out of space for apps and data. This approach lets us merge everything on one volume, which is way better.
-- Dan Morrill, Android engineer at Google

Google still supports removable storage in Android, but it is leading by example and providing phones (and now a tablet) with one big block of storage that users can use for anything they like -- be it media, documents, or apps. There are a couple of side benefits to this approach as well. The first one is a bit geeky -- it allows the device to use ext file systems instead of a mix of ext and FAT. This is faster and safer -- both for the data on the device and the way it's handled, and access to our own personal data. A journalized file system means fewer file errors, and ext preserves file system permissions so random code can't find your pictures or documents folder.

Another benefit is that the host machine (when your device is connected to a computer) can't muck things up and molest the file system, as it doesn't have block-level access to the files. Instead, a proxy FUSE (Filesystem in Userspace) file system is used to mount a psuedo-SD card folder so that your computer can read and write to it via MTP. This means you won't get errors from incorrectly unmounting your phone, and the device still has access to all the data even while plugged into a PC.

Does Google want you to use Google Play and its cloud services? Of course it does. But there is no secret evil cabal in Mountain View that held back the SD card slot to force it on you. In fact, you're still free to use other cloud solutions like Amazon, Dropbox, or even a shared drive on your desktop PC. Nobody has to like the fact that Nexus devices ship with no SD card slot, but let's stop looking for conspiracies when we already know the answer.

iPhone 5

2012-10-11T18:25:00.001+03:00

	Black & Slate White & Silver
¹	16GB	32GB	64GB
²	$199	$299	$399
³	Height: 4.87 inches (123.8 mm) Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm) Depth: 0.30 inch (7.6 mm) Weight: 3.95 ounces (112 grams)
	GSM model A1428: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17) CDMA model A1429: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25) GSM model A1429*: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5) 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz) Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology
	Assisted GPS and GLONASS Digital compass Wi-Fi Cellular
	Retina display 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display 1136-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi 800:1 contrast ratio (typical) 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical) Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
	8-megapixel iSight camera Panorama Video recording, HD (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio FaceTime HD camera with 1.2MP photos and HD video (720p) up to 30 frames per second Autofocus Tap to focus video or still images Face detection in video or still images LED flash Improved video stabilization Photo and video geotagging
	External Buttons and Controls Connectors and Input/Output
⁴	Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter Talk time: Up to 8 hours on 3G Standby time: Up to 225 hours Internet use: Up to 8 hours on 3G, up to 8 hours on LTE, up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi Video playback: Up to 10 hours Audio playback: Up to 40 hours
	Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV User-configurable maximum volume limit
	AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV support at 720p AirPlay video streaming to Apple TV (3rd generation) at up to 1080p and Apple TV (2nd generation) at up to 720p Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, High Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
	Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic Storage and travel case
	iPhone 5 (Model A1428): M3, T4 iPhone 5 (Model A1429): M4, T4
	Viewable Document Types .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)
	Three-axis gyro Accelerometer Proximity sensor Ambient light sensor
	Apple ID (required for some features) Internet access⁵ Syncing with iTunes on a Mac or PC requires: Mac: OS X v10.6.8 or later PC: Windows 7; Windows Vista; or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later iTunes 10.7 or later (free download from www.itunes.com/download)
	Operating ambient temperature: 32° to 95° F (0° to 35° C) Nonoperating temperature: −4° to 113° F (−20° to 45° C) Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
	Language Support English (U.S.), English (UK), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese Keyboard Support English (U.S.), English (UK), Chinese - Simplified (Handwriting, Pinyin, Stroke), Chinese - Traditional (Handwriting, Pinyin, Zhuyin, Cangjie, Stroke), French, French (Canadian), French (Switzerland), German (Germany), German (Switzerland), Italian, Japanese (Romaji, Kana), Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Emoji, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Serbian (Cyrillic/Latin), Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Tibetan, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese Dictionary Support (enables predictive text and autocorrect) English (U.S.), English (UK), Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, French (Canadian), French (Switzerland), German, Italian, Japanese (Romaji, Kana), Korean, Spanish, Arabic, Catalan, Cherokee, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, Greek, Hawaiian, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Malay, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Vietnamese Siri Languages English (U.S., UK, Canada, Australia), Spanish (U.S., Mexico, Spain), French (France, Canada, Switzerland), German (Germany, Switzerland), Italian (Italy, Switzerland), Japanese, Korean, Mandarin (Mainland China, Taiwan), Cantonese (Hong Kong)
	iPhone 5 Apple EarPods with Remote and Mic Lightning to USB Cable USB Power Adapter Documentation
	Lightning to 30-pin Adapter Connect your current accessories to iPhone 5 using this adapter. Buy now Apple World Travel Adapter Kit Plug your Apple power adapter into most electrical outlets around the world. Buy now Other Accessories Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m) Lightning to USB Cable Apple USB Power Adapter Apple EarPods See more accessories in the Apple Online Store

Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III

2012-10-10T21:52:00.001+03:00

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimension: 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 mm; 133g; Display; 4.8 inch HD Super AMOLED (1280x720) display; Network/Bearer and Wireless Connectivity; 2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz; 3G (HSPA＋ 21Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz; 4G (Dependent on market)
Memory: 16/ 32GB User memory (64GB available soon) ＋ microSD slot (up to 64GB); Colour; Pebble Blue and Marble White

Services and Applications: S Beam, Buddy photo share, Share shot; AllShare Play, AllShare Cast (available soon); Smart stay, Social tag, Group tag, Face zoom, Face slide show; Direct call, Smart alert, Tap to top, Camera quick access; Pop up play; S Voice; Burst shot & Best photo, Recording snapshot, HDR
OS: Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich)
Battery: 2,100 mAh
Connectivity: WiFi a/b/g/n, WiFi HT40; GPS/GLONASS; NFC; Bluetooth® 4.0(LE)

Audio and Video: Audio Codec: MP3, AMR-NB/WB, AAC/AAC＋/eAAC＋, WMA, OGG, FLAC, AC-3, apt-X; Video Codec: MPEG4, H.264, H.263, DivX, DivX3.11, VC-1, VP8, WMV7/8, Sorenson Spark Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p)
Camera: Main(Rear): 8 Mega pixel Auto Focus camera with Flash & Zero Shutter Lag, BSI; Sub (Front): 1.9 Mega pixel camera, HD recording @30fps with Zero Shutter Lag, BSI
Sensors: Accelerometer, RGB light, Digital compass, Proximity, Gyro, Barometer
Google™ Mobile Services: Google Search, Google Maps, Gmail, Google Latitude; Google Play Store, Google Play Books, Google Play Movies; Google Plus, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Places, Google Navigation, Google Downloads

Google Student Ambassador Program

2012-10-10T20:52:00.001+03:00

The Google Student Ambassador Program is an opportunity for students to act as liaisons between Google and their universities. These ambassadors:

Learn about innovative Google products and programs
Plan and host fun events on campus
Act as a campus contact for Google teams
Help Google better understand each university’s culture

Ambassadors are thrilled by new technology, enthusiastic about Google, and involved in their school communities. They have majors from Computer Science, to Anthropology, to Business, to Zoology!
Google Ambassadors have the opportunity to enhance their professional development, leadership, and communication skills, and access to a unique network of Google Ambassadors across EMEA. Plus, there’s swag!
The Google Student Ambassador program consists of students Google has met over the years through mutual passion for technology and innovation, and is currently by nomination only. The program is one school year in length.

Africa Straight Up - Official Film

2012-10-09T20:53:00.001+03:00

iPhone concept

2012-09-07T10:20:00.001+03:00

Samsung Acquires Wireless Chip Maker Nanoradio

2012-06-08T21:33:00.002+03:00

Jun 1, 2012 10:21:43 AM

Samsung has announced today that it has acquired Nanoradio, a maker of ultra-low-power WLAN chipsets that it based in Sweden.

In an IDG News Service release on Computerworld, Geoff Blaber, a research lead at CCS Insight, says that if Nanoradio’s technology is integrated into its own, Samsung will see a longer battery life in its smartphones and tablets. Blaber also believes that another goal of the acquisition, which is rare for Samsung, is to bring on engineering talent.

Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.

Facebook, Zuckerberg Sued by Shareholders over IPO

2012-06-08T21:31:00.002+03:00

May 23, 2012 11:07:04 AM

Facebook went public less than a week ago and there are already lawsuits against the company, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a number of banks and even the Nasdaq.

The lawsuit was filed today in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan. It alleges that important information was purposely withheld from all but a select group of preferred investors. That information included lowered business forecasts from underwriters prior to the IPO. One complaint, as cited on Reuters, claims, "The value of Facebook common stock has declined substantially and plaintiffs and the class have sustained damages as a result."

According to an update from CNET, this isn't the only lawsuit related to Facebook's IPO. A Maryland investor is suing the Nasdaq over glitches in how the offering was handled.

iTECH REFINED

JKUAT launches TAIFA, first Kenya-made laptop

Microsoft to bring back Start button in Windows 8.1

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MSI Notebook Official Website - Product Preview Page

HP Launches Split x2 Win 8 Laptop-Tablet

HP Launches Split x2 Win 8 Laptop-Tablet

The Split x2's Putative Tech Specs

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Lightweight and Light on the Pocketbook

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Explanation: How Brain Training Can Make You Significantly Smarter | How Life Works

Feds: 1 guilty plea, 2 others arrested over virus that infected more than 1M computers

By Associated Press,

Apple releases accountability report, discloses it has found underage workers

By Hayley Tsukayama, Published: January 26

New windows 8 features

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Galaxy S3 Alpha runs Jelly Bean with built-in multi-window support

FTC getting closer to antitrust case against Google

The Matter at Hand

Where Could This Go From Here?

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 now available for pre-order from Mobilicity, Launch Date October 30

Microsoft versus Motorola in Germany hits round 2, this time Google Maps and Google are involved

Does Microsoft have a case here?

LG Nexus 4: wireless charging and ‘final design’ mockup spotted

Why Nexus devices have no SD card

iPhone 5

1

2

3

4

Viewable Document Types

Language Support

Keyboard Support

Dictionary Support (enables predictive text and autocorrect)

Siri Languages

Lightning to 30-pin Adapter

Apple World Travel Adapter Kit

Other Accessories

Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III

Google Student Ambassador Program

Africa Straight Up - Official Film

iPhone concept

Samsung Acquires Wireless Chip Maker Nanoradio

Facebook, Zuckerberg Sued by Shareholders over IPO

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