Category Archives: Tech News

Sony Xperia Z3 & Z3 Compact – real photos, colours incl gold and specs plus Smart Band showing e-ink display

Android, Tech News, , ,

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The Sony Z3 will pack a 4.6-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, a Snapdragon 801 processor with four cores clocked at 2.5GHz, the latest Adreno 330 GPU, 3GB of RAM, front-facing stereo speakers, a 20.7-megapixel Exmor R camera, and, finally, a1 2300 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery. The Compact will have the latest build of Android 4.4.4 KitKat.

Looks really good and makes a change from the huge android phones.

And now here’s the Z3 (full size) in a gold version. Also the new smartband with an e ink display.
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Source – cultofandroid.com/ androidpolice.com/xperiablog.com

Sony about to announce groovy QX Lens- ILSE QX1-E

Android, Reviews, Tech News

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Sony is about to announce a new product in its QX hub camera accessory that will make your smartphone compatible with any of its E-Mount lenses usually reversed for its line of NEX camcorders and mirrorless shooters. The report comes from SonyAlphaRumors blog, which also shared the images. 

Unlike Sony’s QX10 & 100, reviewed on here under Reviews, Accesories, this hasn’t got a fixed lens but is an E-mount module. It has an APS-C sensor.

Seems a good way for Sony to lock in camera users to it’s smartphones as well.

Did you get your free upgrade of storage from Google and HTC?

Android, Tech News

HTC’s Advantage program just got juicier.

This morning I had an email from Google saying my free 50gb Google Drive storage from HTC had doubled to 100gb free of charge for the remainder of the offer. 

Whenever you purchase an HTC One M8, Max, or Remix, you will get 100 GB of Google Drive storage for free. Upon activating the device, simply open the preloaded Google Drive app and press redeem. Existing owners will get the increase like I did too.

Why did Apple’s iCloud Fail? 2 Step wasn’t enough either?

Apple, Tech News

The recent celebrity attacks were sophisticated. But even if you had 2 step authentication that would not have been enough. 

Two-factor is billed by Apple and many security experts as a way to protect yourself from simple password theft. It requires that you have a code sent to your physical device to confirm that yes, it is you logging in to your Apple account.

However, Apple’s two-factor solution is actually incomplete. It does not cover many other iCloud services, including backups.

In fact, the only three things two-factor secures in iCloud are :-

1) Signing in to My Apple ID to manage their Apple account.
2)Making iTunes, App Store, or iBookstore purchases from a new device.
3) Receiving Apple ID-related support from Apple.

It does not, however, make you enter a verification code if you restore a new device from an iCloud backup. And that’s what the hackers are using. Download a backup and then explore away!

Uber is banned in Germany

Tech News

“A court in Frankfurt has ruled that Uber cannot operate in Germany due to a lack of adequate insurance for these types of private drivers, as well as expensive licensing.

Low-cost UberPop drivers found to continue operating could face fines up to 250,000 euros per trip, though Uber says they intend to keep them running through the ban.

Uber has remained confident that their insurance applies to drivers, and fully intends to appeal this preliminary injunction.” 

Uber is challenging the norm and is causing great upset with traditional taxi services. But it is a clever idea and will succeed.

Source – androidcentral.com

Apple responds to the supposed iCloud hack

Apple, Tech News

From Apple –

We wanted to provide an update to our investigation into the theft of photos of certain celebrities. When we learned of the theft, we were outraged and immediately mobilized Apple’s engineers to discover the source. Our customers’ privacy and security are of utmost importance to us. After more than 40 hours of investigation, we have discovered that certain celebrity accounts were compromised by a very targeted attack on user names, passwords and security questions, a practice that has become all too common on the Internet. None of the cases we have investigated has resulted from any breach in any of Apple’s systems including iCloud or Find my iPhone. We are continuing to work with law enforcement to help identify the criminals involved.

To protect against this type of attack, we advise all users to always use a strong password and enable two-step verification. Both of these are addressed on our website at http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4232.

So there you have it.

Samsung announces upgraded Samsung Home Experience

Android, Apple, Tech News, ,

Samsung has announced an expansion to Smart Home Experience. This has an ability to work with third-party devices such as digital door locks and IP cameras.

No clear details as to the brands that will integrate into their home automation platform but Samsung should release a SDK later this year during Samsung Developer Conference.

Personally, the announcement seemed pie in the sky and perhaps trying to steal the thunder from Apple announced HomeKit which comes with iOS 8.

Of course, if you want home automation now, just buy the app Imperihome Pro. It’s what I use!

More info and Source – http://global.samsungtomorrow.com/?p=40299