Five Tips To Improve Android Battery Life

Tips and tricks to improve the battery life of your Android device.  

Friday, November 30, 2012:  With Android devices packing in more powerful computing capabilities, the battery life of the device is put to test. HD display along with quad core processors tend to drain battery very quickly. Other connectivity options like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS also kills battery life big time. Before sharing few tips on improving Android battery life, the first and the most foremost question arises- How often do you switch off your Android device? If your answer is once a week or a month, then start caring about your buddy and allow it to sleep for at least 15 minutes a day.  

The second most important question: How often do you charge the battery and how do you charge it? If you want the most of your Android phone or tablet, recharge the battery only when it indicates less than 20 per cent. Never leave your Android battery on power throughout the day. Also, stop charging immediately as soon as it shows 100 per cent.

While charging, it is advisable that you remove the back cover as it helps in faster heat dissipation. Also, never charge your device while using it as a Wi-Fi hotspot as it gets heated fast. Simply, remember your Android buddy feels hot too, so, try to cool it down whenever required. These are the basic tips for maintaining the battery life of any smartphone. Now, here are five tips and tricks to improve the battery life of your Android device:

1. Set your device to minimum brightness levels:

The display screen of any Android or for that matter any device is the biggest power consumer. The higher the brightness level, the lower battery life. The best option is to set your Android device to the lowest brightness level. You can find the difference yourself.

2. Use scheduler:

It is advisable to install automation tools which can turn off features like the mobile signal and Wi-Fi after a certain time. You can try the management apps like Tasker to schedule tasks and turn off all non-essential features when they are not required.

2. Activate Wi-Fi when required:

Wi-Fi eats up a lot of battery. When activated, the device keeps on searching for Wi-Fi signal in the area. Not only power is wasted, the device even gets heated up, which in turn reduces the efficiency of the battery.

3. Upload on Wi-Fi and not mobile data:

If you are using cloud services like Dropbox to upload files on your account then use Wi-Fi to do it as it is quicker and takes less connectivity time for your phone, which means less battery consumption.

4. Turn off GPS:

Do you really need real time navigation everytime? For majority of the users, GPS is something that is needed in certain occasions only. If you keep GPS activated always on your device then it would simply drain battery uselessly.

5. Get rid of unnecessary apps

It is better that you uninstall applications that are hardly of any use. Most of the apps continue functioning in the background, which strains the battery unnecessarily. It even reduces the processing capabilities of the device. 

Source: news.efytimes.com  

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Windows Blue to replace Windows 8 in just a few months?

So, as we all know, Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 have both only been on the market a short time, but rumor has it that Microsoft may already be getting ready to release an OS update that supersedes both to an extent, called Windows Blue, and it may even replace Windows 8 in just a few months. It sounds a bit crazy, but it may be true.

Apparently, the word is that Windows Blue will look much like Windows 8 with just some minor UI tweaks, and will likely keep the Windows 8 name, but everything behind it could be very different, including the pricing. Microsoft wants Windows Blue to be on everyone's computer, which means it could even be released for free to ensure users upgrade. From there, the idea is that Microsoft would offer regular yearly updates which will be standardized across desktop and mobile devices.

Microsoft is also planning to release a new Windows SDK along with the updates, and will stop accepting apps written using the Windows 8 SDK, although Windows 8 legacy apps will still run on Windows Blue. This change in the SDK could easily include options to make apps universal and run on any Windows device from phones to tablets and desktops. 

None of that sounds too far fetched, and it all seems like things Microsoft has been working towards. The strange thing is that the reports have Microsoft releasing this update in mid-2013,. It's unclear if you'll have to be coming from Windows 8 to update to Blue, but given that Microsoft wants this to be the standard, it would seem likely that you could come from older versions of Windows. Even if the upgrade is free initially, it will likely look like a yearly fee or subscription to keep the updates coming. 

Source : phonearena

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Windows 8 Pro Surface furnished with half the battery life of RT version

The divide between the Surface RT and Surface with Windows 8 Pro got a little bit bigger this afternoon as Microsoft revealed via tweet that the latter has about half the battery life of the RT variant.

Answering a prompt for comments on the tab (due in January) battery longevity, the @Surface twitter account offered this response:

"@shahroom Hey Shahroom, #Surface pro will have approximately half the batter [sic] life of Surface RT."

This could come as troubling news to those expecting the battery life of the Surface RT, which TechRadar found exceeded expectations, putting it among "some of the longest-lasting tablets money can buy."

Uh-oh

Our test found the Surface RT lasted 7.5 hours when a 1080p WMV video was hooked into the built-in app that ships with the slate, giving it two hours more run time than the iPad 3.

That puts the Windows 8 Pro version at around 3.75 hours...perhaps a day's worth of minimal use.

According to the Surface spec sheet, the Windows RT version has a 31.5 W-h battery while the Windows 8 Pro variant comes with a 42 W-h power source.

Though the Pro version has a more amped-up battery, its more powerful processor, full Windows 8 suite and gloat-worthy display need battery life to keep its laptop-like capacities running.

Perhaps the Softies are planning an update, or are finding a way to finagle better battery life out of the Windows 8 Pro Surface, but at least they can say there are devices with worse batteries out there.

Source: techradar.com

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iOS vs. Android: will screen size determine top phone system?

The battle between Apple's iOS and Google's Android for mobile-operating-system dominance has raged for some time, and neither side shows any signs of permanently pulling into the lead.

But a researcher at Kantar Worldpanel told TechRadar that soon, the battleground could become hyper-focused on one deciding factor: screen size.

The research firm announced on Tuesday that iPhone 5 sales allowed Apple to once again steal the top spot from Android in the US's volatile smartphone market. However the ranking, based on the latest research, isn't true in overseas markets.

But when TechRadar contacted Kantar Worldpanel to ask whether this battle will rage on forever, the firm's Global Consumer Insight Director Dominic Sunnebo replied with some interesting insights.

A crucial decision for Apple

"One of the key battlegrounds we see coming up in the next 18 months is screen size," Sunnebo told TechRadar in an email.

Sunnebo said that iOS vs. Android arguments between consumers have recently become more and more focused on how big a device's screen is.

Apple fans believe that a smartphone should be small enough to use with one hand, Sunnebo said, while Android users clearly believe the opposite, judging by the success of larger Android devices like Samsung's 4.8-inch Galaxy S3 and 5.5-inch Galaxy Note 2.

So will Apple have to go even bigger than the iPhone 5's 4-inch display?

"There is no strong motivation for Apple to move from its current position as sales are strong," Sunnebo said, "but in the future as we near smartphone saturation point in developed markets, and the only way to drive real growth will be to steal customers from Android, this will be a crucial decision Apple will have to make."

He added that Kantar Worldpanel's ComTech research data indicates that consumers are generally unwilling to switch to a device with a smaller screen.

"This could prove a decisive factor in current Android consumers' next purchase (particularly as the gulf between Apple and Android screen sizes widens)," he said.

Apple leads for now, though

Sunnebo told TechRadar that although Apple's new devices typically allow the company to overtake Android for around three periods at time, he expects Apple's current lead to last slightly longer, since "the iPhone 5 is a whole new device."

He added that while Android is more attractive to feature phone users looking to upgrade to their first smartphone, those users tend to switch to iOS for their next device, according to Kantar Worldpanel's research.

Width of bar indicates importance of switch

Given the research that claims consumers don't like switching to devices with smaller screens, though, even first-time Android users may grow less likely to switch to iOS, especially if Android devices continue get bigger while iPhones remain the same size.

Kantar Worldpanel's ComTech research comes from large proprietary panels of individuals representative of the 16 plus population in multiple countries.

In the US alone, the firm conducts 260,000 interviews with consumers per year. That figure jumps to 2.2 million interviews globally.

Source: techradar.com

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Dell's $1,549 Ubuntu-based XPS 13 goes on sale, $50 more than Windows variant

What once was just an internal skunkworks project, Dell's Project Sputnik has taken off with the release of the XPS 13 Developer Edition. The thin and light darling of the Ultrabook crowd is now shipping with a Precise Pangolin Ubuntu build pre-installed, along with feature-complete drivers that ensure maximum peripheral compatibility right out of the box. Also bundled in the XPS 13 are a couple of Project Sputnik's open source tools -- Profile Tool and Cloud Launcher -- that are designed to help developers install and deploy their projects quickly and efficiently. 

The hardware packs quite a punch, with either an Intel i5 or i7 Ivy Bridge CPU, 8GB of RAM and a 256 GB SATA III SSD. All that Linux goodness comes at a cost, however -- the Developer Edition retails for $1,549, which is around $50 more than the Windows equivalent. Still, it might be well worth it for one of the best specced pre-assembled open-source laptops we've seen to date.

Source : engadget

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Annoying Facebook notifications: how to get rid of them

The more people I talk to, the more it sounds like just about everyone is sick of Facebook. The social aspect of Facebook is great, but then again, so is just, you know... being social, in general. We've all put time and effort into connecting with all the people we have, so we stick around on Facebook and deal with the things we don't like about it -- namely, things like game and app notifications that you couldn't care less about, and receiving them over and over and over and over to boot.

If you're done with the whole rigmarole of trying to figure out how to nix those annoying notifications, you'll be delighted to know there are a couple of ways you can go about it. The first method is something you can exercise as soon as you see a notification from an app/game you want to block. The second method is a way for you to quickly scan through a whole bunch of past notifications and go on an app/game-blocking frenzy. Sound like joyful, delicious fun? Indeed.

So, without further ado, here's what you need to do to start slaying those life-draining notifications:

Method 1: Individual notification extermination

1: Click your "notifications" globe in the upper-left-hand corner of Facebook. When you see the app/game notification you'd like to block, hover over it and an 'X' will appear. Click that 'X'.

2: After clicking the 'X', you'll be given a choice to either turn off notifications from that app/game, or keep them on. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to click the "Turn Off" button.

3: You should now see a message stating that you'll no longer receive notifications from that particular app/game. BOOM: that app/game is done-zo with ever sending notifications your way.

 

Method 2: Mass notification extermination

1: Click your "notifications" globe in the upper-left-hand corner of Facebook. Next, click "See All" to be taken to a page showing a whole slew of your recent notifications.

2: You can quickly identify game/app requests by looking at the icons on the left-hand side (I've outlined the "Words with Friends" icon as an example). Once you identify an app/game notification you'd like to block, simply hover over it and an 'X' will appear. Click that 'X', then click "Turn Off." Achievement unlocked!

Conclusion

As you can see, it takes a bit of maintenance to keep up with blocking app/game notifications, but at least you won't have to see FarmVille or CityVille 2 notifications for the 80 bajillionth time now. Relish this moment, my friends, for you have been annoyed by notifications for far too long! If you've yet to nix any of those app/game notifications you've so hated, then I recommend starting with method 2. It will allow you to quickly go down through a ton of notifications and wreak pure app/game-blocking carnage! Afterward, every time you get a notification for a new app/game you're not interested in, use method 1. That should set you up for the long haul.

So, with that said, if you'd be so kind, please pass this information along to your fellow Facebook friends, family, fans, and followers alike (I can't believe all of those words started with 'f'! Talk about grammar geek heaven!). I've heard from far too many people who want to disable these notifications, but haven't been able to figure out how; so, chances are, you know a person or 5 who would find you to be the coolest person on the face of the Facebook for showing them how to do this.

Source : zdnet

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CyanogenMod 10.1 Nightlies Out For Google’s Nexus 4

CyanogenMod 10.1 brings in tweaks in the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system.

Thursday, November 29, 2012:  Developers at CyanogenMod have released a nightly build for the latest 10.1 version of CyanogenMod ROM for the LG made Nexus 4. Developers are also working to bring the ROM. However, users should expect several bugs in this release. As for the other devices, the developers are working on CyanogenMod 10.1 or the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean version. The latest Android 4.2 version is only available on Nexus 10, Nexus 7, Nexus 4 and Galaxy Nexus. 

It will take a while before OEMs start rolling out Android 4.2 Jelly Bean upgrade to their devices. The latest version of CyanogenMod, version 10.0 deals in Android 4.1.2 operating system. There is no official word on the release date of version 10.1.

CyanogenMod is based on the Android Open Source Project and is designed to better the performance and reliability over Android-based ROMs released by vendors and carriers like Google, T-Mobile, HTC and others. The CyanogenMod 10 stable build has been released as M builds and is based on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

The first M build is called M1. A new M build will be released at the beginning of every month with latest features of nightly builds. The CyanogenMod M1, is available for Galaxy Nexus GSM (maguro), Galaxy Nexus VZW (toro), Galaxy Nexus Sprint (toroplus), Galaxy S2 GT-I9100G (i9100g), Galaxy S (galaxysmtd), Galaxy S B (galaxysbmtd), Captivate (captivatemtd), Galaxy S3 Sprint (d2spr), Galaxy S3 VZW (d2vzw), Galaxy S3 AT&T (d2att), Galaxy S3 TMO (d2tmo), Galaxy S3 US Cellular (d2usc), Nexus S (crespo), Nexus S 4G (crespo4g), Galaxy Note AT&T (quincyatt), Google Nexus 7 (grouper), Sony Xperia Acro S (hikari) and Sony Xperia S (nozomi).

Source: news.efytimes.com 

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Windows 8 Off to an Awkward Start, Analyst Says

PC vendors have been slow to launch devices powered by Microsoft's latest operating system.

Microsoft's Windows 8 debut is off to an "awkward" start, Nomura analyst Rick Sherlund said.

The software giant last month launched the latest version of its operating system that sports a UI featuring a healthy proportion of tablet-inspired components such as touch capabilities. However, analysts have criticized the platform for being confusing, as well as playing its part in ailing PC growth.

Sherlund said PC vendors have evidently been slow to introduce new devices such as tablets and ultrabooks with touch screen support. Moreover, Windows 8 has a learning curve, as well as the fact that it's faced "abundant bad press."

Consequently, Nomura decreased its forecast for PC unit sales during the current quarter, noting that sales should drop by 7 percent instead of being flat.

In looking at Microsoft, we have assumed essentially no growth going forward in traditional PCs (or actually down about 6 [percent] if we exclude new ultrabooks) and the more relevant market growth of about [3 percent to 5 percent] if we include Windows-based tablet devices. We assume that many consumers will prefer an iPad to a Windows device, but that Office is still an anchor for enterprise and prosumers that may chose to upgrade notebooks to either ultrabook touch or tablet/hybrid devices for longer battery life, thin, light-weight and touch that addresses the desire for new form factors and new tablet based usage and apps. 2013 could be a good upgrade year for old notebooks.

In addition, Sherlund cut his estimates for Microsoft's earnings in 2013 by around 4 percent, stating per-share earnings will grow by just 8.5 percent. That said, he stressed that Microsoft's stock has already reflected the "awkward" launch of Windows 8.

"We think investors that can have a thick skin through the awkward quarter or two of the Windows 8 transition will likely see better traction ahead," he stated.

Despite the negativity surrounding Windows 8, Microsoft has sold 40 million licenses for the OS since its October 26 launch. Comparatively, 60 million Windows 7 licenses were sold during its first two months of sale.

More than half of consumers are said to have not heard of Windows 8, while those who are aware of the platform not having an interest in the OS.

Source: tomsguide.com

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 longevity doubled

It’s no secret that battery life duration has now become a key part of any future smartphone decision-making purchase. We saw the true potential of awesome battery life with handsets like the Droid RAZR MAXX and now consumers are more conscious than ever that manufacturers ensure that adequate batteries are fitted inside the latest smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S3.

We have spoke in the past about the possibilities of extending battery life via an external pack should you require it, and now we have a treat in store for Galaxy Note 2 owners who are really looking to boost the already impressive battery life even more. As most of you will be aware, the Note 2 already ships with a 3100mAh which is sufficient for the average consumer needs, but now word has spread that the opportunity to double that battery life is available, courtesy of Mugen and their upcoming 6400mAh beast of a battery.

Battery life on the Galaxy Note 2 hasn’t even been a cause of concern for consumers as far as we’ve seen it, but just to be safe for those that need it, this 6400mAh battery is going to give you all the extra power you need – albeit with the consequence of a little added bulk.



Mugen claims that the extra power will offer a 2.06 increase compared to the 3100mAh battery that ships with the Galaxy Note 2, but for that you’ll have to put up with a battery door case that attaches to the back of your device. It is available in two colors depending on if you own the Titanium Grey Note 2 or the Marble White version.

This unrivaled battery boost comes at a price as well, as Mugen will be charging $98.95 for each one – so not exactly cheap. If you’re interested in picking one up, you can pre-order right now on their website here and orders will be shipped on December 21 according to their website, so expect delivery just in time for Christmas.

Do you have a necessity to get one of these monster packs, or are you happy with the 3100mAh battery life that the Galaxy Note 2 already offers out of the box? A 6400mAh battery is impressive regardless though, so we have a feeling that a lot of these are going to be snapped up soon ready for delivery on or around December 21.

Share this story below.
Source: product-reviews.net

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Gmail and Drive - a new way to send files

Since Google Drive launched in April, millions of people have started using Drive to keep, create and share files. Starting today, it’s even easier to share with others: you can insert files from Drive directly into an email without leaving your Gmail.

Have you ever tried to attach a file to an email only to find out it's too large to send? Now with Drive, you can insert files up to 10GB -- 400 times larger than what you can send as a traditional attachment. Also, because you’re sending a file stored in the cloud, all your recipients will have access to the same, most-up-to-date version.

Like a smart assistant, Gmail will also double-check that your recipients all have access to any files you’re sending. This works like Gmail’s forgotten attachment detector: whenever you send a file from Drive that isn’t shared with everyone, you’ll be prompted with the option to change the file’s sharing settings without leaving your email. It’ll even work with Drive links pasted directly into emails.

 

So whether it’s photos from your recent camping trip, video footage from your brother’s wedding, or a presentation to your boss, all your stuff is easy to find and easy to share with Drive and Gmail. To get started, just click on the Drive icon while you're composing a message. Note that this feature is rolling out over the next few days and is only available with Gmail's new compose experience, so you'll need to opt-in if you haven't already.

Source : gmailblog

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Grand Theft Auto franchise has shipped 125 million units

Grand Theft Auto 5 is sure to add to the tally, but Take Two has revealed a significant new milestone for the franchise to date, which the publisher credits to the careful management of franchise fatigue.

CEO Strauss Zelnick told Gamespot the franchise’s shipments to date have reached 125 million.

It’s a significant jump on the September 2011 announced figure of 114 million, as no major releases have been made in the interim, suggesting demand for older titles is still high. A company representative said 2008′s Grand Theft Auto 4 alone accounts for 25 million units.

So why is Grand Theft Auto so perennially popular? Zelnick said it’s because the series isn’t annualised. Although he had nothing but praise for the industry’s titan, Call of Duty, describing it as a “quality product”, Zelnick said Take Two won’t gamble on yearly releases.

“It’s our view that if you want intellectual properties to be permanent, then you run the risk in that circumstance of having consumers fall out of love with that franchise,” he said.

Zelnick said Black Ops 2 hasn’t sold as well as Modern Warfare 3, which he credits to fans going cold on the series.

“That’s never been the case with one of ours. Ours do better each time. Our view is it’s hard to make permanent intellectual properties if you annualize it, with the exception of sports titles. So far that’s proven to be the case. IP that is annualized eventually seems to hit the wall and we don’t want our IP to hit the wall,” he concluded.

GTA 5 is due on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in northern spring 2013.

Source : vg247

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Microsoft planning December fix for Windows Phone 8 random reboots

We'll wait...no problem.

Fear not, Windows Phone 8 adopters: if your HTC 8X or Nokia Lumia 920 has up and rebooted itself without warning, Microsoft is going to issue a fix...in December.

The Softies have apparently identified whatever is causing some WP8 handsets to randomly restart and plans to send out an over-the-air software patch-up next month.

"We're continuing to investigate some reports of phones rebooting and have identified a cause with our partners," the company said in a statement.

"We are working to get an over-the-air update out in December."

Booted

TechRadar first reported the booting blues beguiling some Windows Phone 8 users Nov. 18.
Microsoft didn't release information on what exactly is causing the unwarranted restarts or how widespread the issue is in terms of which phones are affected.

Users across the web, including TechRadar readers, have reported reboots occurring without warning, while others said they haven't run into such an issue and are perfectly pleased with their WP8 handsets.

Reports also had the Lumia 920 exhibiting sub-par battery life and freezes, but there's been no word on what's up with the 920, or any potential fixes, yet.

Source: techradar.com

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Mozilla Discontinues 64-Bit Firefox Browser

50 percent of nightly users said to have been using the system.

Despite considerable interest, Mozilla has discontinued Firefox 64-bit development and asked developers to stop working on it.

Mozilla engineering manager Benjamin Smedberg asked developers to halt nightly builds for Firefox versions optimized to run on 64-bit versions of Windows.

A developer thread posted by Smedberg on the Google Groups mozilla.dev.planning discussion board, which is titled "Turning off win64 builds", discussed ceasing development for the 64-bit builds of Firefox.

He claimed that 64-bit Firefox is a "constant source of misunderstanding and frustration," and stressed the builds often crash, as well as the fact that plugins are not available in 64-bit versions. Hangs are also apparently common because of a lack of coding, subsequently causing plugins to function incorrectly.

Smedberg argues that the aforementioned issues causes users to feel "second class," while crash reports between 32-bit and 64-bit versions are said to be difficult to distinguish between for the browser's stability team. Users, meanwhile, will still be able to run 32-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows.

"Thank you to everyone who participated in this thread," he said. "Given the existing information, I have decided to proceed with disabling windows 64-bit nightly and hourly builds. Please let us consider this discussion closed unless there is critical new information which needs to be presented."

Following his message, the engineer then posted a thread titled "Disable windows 64 builds" on Bugzilla. He asked developers to "stop building windows [sic] 64 builds and tests."

One participant suggested that 50 percent of nightly testers were using the system, but Smedberg said it was "not the place to argue about this decision, which has already been made."

Source: tomsguide.com

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Windows Store Grows Quickly With Majority of Free Apps

The Windows Store has grown to 20,610 apps for Windows 8 and Windows RT.

Win App Update reports that Microsoft surpassed 20,000 apps on November 20th. Just before the launch of Windows 8, there were just 3,000 applications, which indicates that developers are showing more interest in Microsoft's new operating system and the opportunity to sell applications via an app store. However, 17,958 Windows 8/RT apps, or 87 percent, of those 20,610 titles were offered as free apps.

Win App Update said that 500 new apps are joining the Windows Store every day, but "only a fraction of these are truly stellar apps" and a true killer app is still missing. Microsoft frequently indicated that it was strongly encouraging some app developers to create versions of their programs specifically for the Windows Store, but the landscape appears to be rather spotty at this time.

In fact, some of the older Windows 8 users may be reminded of the early days of shareware download portals such as download.com and tucows.com, which focused on quantity rather than quality of software. True gems were hard to find and that seems to be no different today.

Source: tomshardware.com

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Ericsson Suing Samsung for Patent Infringement

Fresh off a courtroom beatdown at the hands of Apple over patent infringement charges, Samsung is now being sued by Ericsson for similar alleged offenses.

The Sweden-based company filed suit against Samsung Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Texas. Ericsson’s suit accuses the South Korea-based Samsung of infringing on 24 of its hardware and software patents.

Ericsson is the world’s largest maker of telecom-networking equipment, while Samsung is the world’s largest maker of cellphones and TVs.

Ericsson is looking to block sales of phones, including the Galaxy S III and Galaxy Note II, as well as various Samsung cameras, TVs and Blu-ray devices.

Ericsson’s two complaints argue that Samsung requested to renew licenses for Ericsson technologies at rates much lower than other companies pay, and also witheld access to its own patents as a retaliatory move to pressure Ericsson into accepting a lower price. Holders of industry-standard patents — including, of course, Samsung and Ericsson — are required by law to license those patents to competitors at fair prices.

For its part, Samsung told The New York Times in a statement that it had sought to strike a fair deal, and that Ericsson’s demands were unreasonable.

“This time Ericsson has demanded significantly higher royalty rates for the same patent portfolio,” the company’s statement read. “As we cannot accept such extreme demands, we will take all necessary legal measures to protect against Ericsson’s excessive claims.”

While patent-infringement suits have become increasingly common in the competitive tech industry, Samsung is more familiar with their sting than most companies. After a high-profile trial in California this summer, a jury ordered Samsung to pay Apple more than $1 billion in damages over patents on mobile devices.

Do you think tech companies are too touchy about patent infringement? Give us your take in the comments. 

Source : mashable

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Reboxing: Why I'm returning my Microsoft Surface

(Disclaimer: I've been using Apple hardware for almost 30 years and have covered the company, including here at The Apple Core, for 17 years, so I have a definite inclination for its products. This blog post is written from the perspective of an Apple user and is one man's opinion.)

Over the weekend I was at an impasse: the 30-day return window on my Microsoft Surface was closing and a I had to make a decision -- and I decided to to return it.

I pre-ordered a Surface with Windows RT at launch because I was super-excited to use Microsoft's answer to the iPad. The hype on Surface was incredible and I had every intention of keeping it. For me it looked like an ideal second machine to my MacBook Pro and a way to get some exposure to Windows and Windows apps.

While it's a credible device with a lot of potential, it felt a little premature and not ready for the big leagues. Here are some of the reasons why I returned my Surface instead of toughing it out and waiting for things to get better.

 

 

1. It's slow. The best example of the Surface's slowness is when switching from portrait to landscape mode. It's painfully slow, sometimes taking a couple of seconds. Orientation switching on the iPad is instantaneous and smooth, rotate the device and the screen follows. That's the benchmark that Microsoft has to meet. (Some users have complained about keyboard latency in Word [video], but I didn't notice it and my colleague Ed Bott notes that it was addressed in a software update.)

 

 

2. Lack of apps. One of the first apps that I installed on the Surface was Tweetro, the Twitter client for Windows 8. The problem is that two days later, Tweetro got shut down after it hit Twitter's 100,000 token limit. Sure, that was a Twitter issue, but the bigger problem is the limited pool of apps for Windows 8 right now. 

 

3. Wi-Fi only. The Surface lacks mobile broadband, so there's no 3G or 4G. This limits Internet access to Wi-Fi hotspots, which can be difficult for anyone planning to travel with Surface as a primary/only computer.

4. It's rough around the edges. Literally. Microsoft built a kickstand into the Surface that works remarkably well, but the compromise comes in the form of its hard edges. While the iPad's curves make it easy to hold, the Surface industrial design is more like the iPhone with sharp, square edges. As a result it's uncomfortable to hold in your hands and it feels unnecessarily boxy while reading on the couch or in bed. 

All's not lost, however. 

Windows 8 stands out the most to me, it very customizable and user-friendly. While die-hard Windows users may not like the Metro UI, it's simple, clean and a total departure from everything before it. It's also the first mainstream mobile OS that's not a complete ripoff of iOS, which is a nice change of pace. Maybe Apple will finally learn that there are benefits to having live, interactive widgets on the homescreen.

The Type Cover was a surprise for me and worked better than expected. It was easy to adapt to coming from the flat, thin-profile keyboard on my MacBook Pro and Apple wireless keyboards, and the trackpad worked well too. It's not easy to type on while on your lap, but that not what it's designed for, either. 

The Surface is a strong first effort at stealing marketshare from the three "A's" (Apple, Android and Amazon) and with a little time, apps and polish it could pose a formidable threat. But until a few of the intial issues are addressed, mine's going back. 

What's your take on the Microsoft Surface?

Source : zdnet

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10 Useful Android 4.2 Jelly Bean Tips And Tricks

Users might find it a bit difficult to discover the tweaks in the new version. So, EFYTimes has created a list of 10 useful Android 4.2 Jelly Bean tips and tricks. 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012:  Google has released its latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. Presently, only Nexus devices are running the new operating system, also, ZTE has released the update for its N880E smartphone in China. In the new Jelly Bean version, Google has resorted to the comfort of a smartphone like user interface.

According to Google, “The new Android 4.2 takes the speed and simplicity of Jelly Bean to a different level.” Google brought in several new feature in this release, such as, Photo Sphere camera, Gesture Typing, Multiple Users, Wireless Display andf many more. To know more about the latest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system click here.  

Users might find it a bit difficult to discover the tweaks in the new version. So, we have complied a list of 10 useful Android 4.2 Jelly Bean tips and tricks:

1. Open Google Now in multiple ways

Android 4.2 Jelly Bean users can open Google Now in several ways. You can just drag the lock screen circle upwards to open Google Now. Other ways of opening Google Now include placing a Quick Search widget or shortcut on the home screen. You can also open Google Now by simply dragging up any of the three navigation buttons.

2. Pinch to expand or contract

If you wish to expand a particular notification, place both your fingers on it and just pinch out or if you wish to contract it, simply pinch in.

3. Better Facelock feature. Just blink to unlock

Google has introduced blink to unlock feature, so, that people cannot unlock the device with just a photo of the owner. The users are required to blink to unlock the screen. Go to Settings > Security > Screen Security and mark Liveness check to activate.

4. Locked screen widgets

You can have access to your widgets from the lock screen itself. You are not required to unlock the device. When the device is locked, swipe to the right and tap the '+' sign to access the list of widgets. You can mark the widgets from the list to add to the lock screen.

5. Helpful interactions:

In the Nexus 4 smartphone, users can call back or message the person if they missed the call. Also, you can share screenshots directly from the notifications window. Additionally, you can observe below each notification to find helpful buttons.

6. Long press for info

If you long press a notification, an 'App info' button pops out from which you can learn more about the application. Additionally, users can clear the app's cache, data, stop it, uninstall it or disable sending notifications.

7. Song search

Your Jelly Bean is now capable of telling you which song you are listening to. Just tap on the sound search widget to get the song info.

8. Camera swipe

Within the camera app, just swipe right to open the gallery. Just swipe left to go back to the camera app.

9. Drag and drop to create folder

You can create a folder by simply dragging and dropping an app over another. A folder is automatically created with two apps in it.

10. Improved screenshots feature

Just press the power button and volume down buttons at the same time for a short while to take a screen shot. The screenshot can be accessed from the notifications and you can also share it. 

Source: news.efytimes.com

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Skyrim Dawnguard PS3 existence hinted in tweet

One thing we want to know as a Skyrim PS3 user is the existence of Dawnguard, and the majority of tweets normally explain that there’s nothing to share, although within the last few hours it seems Pete Hines has finally hinted at the existence of Skyrim Dawnguard being the PS3 DLC. First up let’s clarify a couple of things about Twitter and Hines, first up the man had been one of the first at Bethesda, which makes his words very important. Second is the fact that most news breaks via Twitter, and this is also a source for news on major news networks as well.

Confirmation as good as it gets for Hines – the tweet can be seen below, which gained the attention of Bethesda’s main man thanks to a Sandlot reference, and also a little empathy towards Hines about how much he must get asked the question about Skyrim Dawnguard for PS3. Nick asked Hines for an update on Dawnguard for PS3, and Hines explains that there are “still some details to sort, things to confirm“. You can make of that as you will, but to us it certainly sounds like confirmation that Dawnguard is at least coming to the PS3.



This is certainly more of a hint than confirmation, but considering the question had been directed at Skyrim Dawnguard on PS3, it seems likely that Hines would’ve said his usual “I don’t know anything” if news hadn’t been due soon. He might be talking about other PS3 DLC, although the way we read the tweet is that Hines is talking about some things to confirm for Dawnguard on the PS3.

What do you make of this tweet in relation to Dawnguard on PS3? It certainly shows that details are about to drop, so we’ll know exactly what they are very soon. Do you think Hines has pretty much confirmed Skyrim Dawnguard’s existence on the PS3 in this tweet? Keep connected to PR, as we’ll be one of the first to break the crucial details when they land, and you can count on Hines being one of the first people to deliver the news via Twitter.

We’ve loved playing Skyrim on the PS3 for over 400 hours and it delivered a lot of satisfaction, but it looks like we’re finally about to receive some DLC after looking at this tweet. It is worth pointing out that some gamers have not experienced the same fun with the PS3 version of Skyrim, which is due to a number of bugs that plagued their game.

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Source: product-reviews.net

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Best Inventions of the Year 2012 - Google Glass

 Glass is, simply put, a computer built into the frame of a pair of glasses, and it’s the device that will make augmented reality part of our daily lives. With the half-inch (1.3 cm) display, which comes into focus when you look up and to the right, users will be able to take and share photos, video-chat, check appointments and access maps and the Web. Consumers should be able to buy Google Glass by 2014.

Source : techland

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PS4: new kits shipping now, AMD A10 used as base

Developers are currently taking receipt of a new PlayStation 4 dev kit, VG247 has been told today, with a final version slated to appear in January. Yes, it’ll have Blu-ray. No, it isn’t being made in Japan.

Multiple sources have confirmed to VG247 today that a new version of the Orbis kit is now shipping to developers, and that it’s housed in a normal PC case.

There are to be four versions of the dev kit, we were told. A previous version was essentially just a graphics card. The version shipping now is a “modified PC,” and the third version, appearing in January, will be close to final spec. A final version will be delivered to developers “next summer”.

Some US developers attended a “disclosure meeting” at Sony’s offices this week, with a further meeting to take place in the coming weeks. The purpose of the meeting is for Sony to tell studios what the machine is designed to do, to detail hardware and to show a set of presentations.

Our source told us that Sony is only calling the machine Orbis, and is not using the words “PlayStation 4″ in these meetings at all.

Orbis, we were told today, is based on the AMD’s A10 APU series. An APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) is a combined CPU and GPU.

PS4′s APU was described today as a “derivative” of existing A10 hardware. The hardware is “based on A10 system and base platform”.

The “ultimate goal” for the hardware, we were told, is for it to be able to run 1080p60 games in 3D with “no problem,” to create a machine that’s powerful enough for “today and tomorrow’s market”.

The dev kits have “either 8Gb or 16Gb of RAM. Deduce from that what you will.”

The hardware is not being made in Japan, it was said.

When asked if PS4 will have an optical drive, specifically Blu-ray, our source responded: “Of course it has.” We’ve been told the hard drive will be 256Gb “as standard,” but it’s not clear if it’ll be a normal HDD or a solid state drive.

We were told that Sony’s aim with Orbis is to avoid problems involved in launching PS3 by creating something “very affordable” but that “isn’t a slouch”.

The machine has WiFi and Ethernet connectivity and HDMI out. Our source said the was “no difference” between PlayStation 3 and Orbis input/output.

The UI, however, has been revamped. It was said today that players will now be able to press the PS button mid-game and travel “anywhere” on the system. An example given was buying DLC from the PS Store mid-game then seamlessly returning to play.

“They’re trying to make it as fluid as possible,” our source said.

We were also told that the machine will be designed to accept system and product updates in the background, and that it’ll “always be in standby mode”. When you set the console up, we were told, you’ll be asked if you want to allow background downloads. You can, of course, disallow them.

No details have been given on the pad as yet. Confirmation is expected this month.

Orbis is expected to be announced at an event “just before E3″ next year. 

Source : vg247

 

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Microsoft commits to Surface with Windows RT for at least four years

Although Windows RT was officially released nearly a month ago on Microsoft's Surface and on a handful of PCs from its OEM partners, Microsoft has been quiet about its support policy for RT.

Now, the mystery is partly resolved. In an update to its support lifecycle page, Microsoft has officially declared that it will support its initial Surface release for four years. That is, not coincidentally, long enough for a determined undergraduate to get through a conventional university degree program.

Normally, Microsoft supports consumer and business versions of Windows for five years (the so-called mainstream support phase) with business versions getting an additional five years of extended support.

Because Surface with Windows RT is a hardware-software combo, it plays by a different set of rules. Microsoft has decreed that its Mainstream Support End Date will be April 11, 2017, which is nearly 4-1/2 years after the product's initial release date. Because this device is considered a consumer device, there's no Extended Support End Date.

Update: On a separate page (see the Support Lifecycle Policy heading), Microsoft has updated its policy to provide additional support details for consumer hardware.

Microsoft's current policies offer "a minimum of ... four years Mainstream Support for Consumer Hardware products."

During the Mainstream Support phase, "Hardware repairs or replacements and parts are available throughout the support lifecycle. Services are free for products under warranty and available for a fee for products out of warranty. ... Updates are available for the software/firmware and OS that is embedded into the hardware (except for Surface devices, which is covered by the support lifecycle policy for the Operating System on the device)."

Additional details are available in this FAQ, which notes: "For Surface devices, any Surface software installed, embedded or downloaded on the device is subject to the software lifecycle support policy for that software (unlike other HW devices such as Xbox). ... The hardware support lifecycle policy applies only to the Surface hardware (and as stated above not the Surface software). For Surface devices, that policy affects only the tablet device and hardware based accessories (and for example not to soft goods accessories such as cases)."

That means that anyone who buys a Surface with Windows RT can expect firmware updates until at least April 2017. Support for Windows RT and for the included Office Home and Student 2013 software should be available for the minimum five-year period defined for consumer software. And there's ample precedent for Microsoft to extend that end date.

That support schedule, while a trifle skimpy by Redmond's normal standards, is downright generous compared to tablet rivals. Apple's original iPad, released in early 2010, no longer qualifies for iOS updates, security or otherwise, and it's barely 2-1/2 years old. Similarly, anyone who buys a Google Nexus 10 has no idea how long it will receive updates. The same is true for tablets from Google's many Android partners, including Samsung. Given Google's track record with orphaned Android devices, it's hard to believe these devices will be supported for more than a couple years.

Likewise, both Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook are in uncharted territory in terms of support.

Surface isn't the only Windows RT device, of course. A handful of OEM partners, including Dell, Acer, and Samsung, are (or soon will be) shipping devices with Windows RT. So far, Microsoft’s support lifecycle page is mum on their expected support dates. Presumably, Windows RT, as a consumer operating system, will be supported for five years per the current policy. But as of today, the official Windows RT Product Support Lifecycle Policy FAQ doesn't list any support lifecycle dates. Instead, it simply says:

Microsoft will make software updates, including security updates, available for Windows RT. Additional information regarding the Windows RT lifecycle policy will be communicated as available.  … Office Home and Student 2013 RT has the same lifecycle policy as Windows RT.

Source : zdnet

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For PayPal, Mobile is a Booming Business

It’s already been a good holiday season for PayPal.

Speaking to a small group of reporters Monday afternoon, PayPal President David Marcus talked about Black Friday weekend, the company as a whole, and also shed light on what we can expect from PayPal in the future.

“It’s been an amazing shopping weekend for us, especially on mobile,” Marcus said. Mobile payments were up a whopping 196% on Cyber Monday. He said that PayPal is seeing an increasing number of consumers buying items with mobile, as well as pre-shopping for major purchases on their mobile devices.

Not just limited to online anymore, PayPal is now available as an in-store payment option at over 17,000 locations worldwide, including Home Depot, Jamba Juice and Abercrombie and Fitch.

That number is only going to get higher, thanks to PayPal’s recent deal with Discover which will reportedly bring the company to 7 million merchants next year.

In a crowded payment space, Marcus said he thinks PayPal will succeed precisely due to its combined in-store and online presence.

“Companies that are solely trying to solve payments offline are going to fail,” Marcus said. “A lot of companies are obsessed with payments at a point of sale. With payments offline there’s no real problem to fix.”

At a store, customers have many payment of options –- cash, credit cards, rewards cards — so in order to convince someone to use a mobile payment option, businesses must offer their clients a little more than a method to pay, he added.

For example, McDonald’s customers in France can order and pay for food on their phones, as well as bypass long lines to pick up their meal, Marcus said

“If you don’t have to wait in line, we’re solving a problem for you,” he said. “People will adopt PayPal because it solves a real fundamental problem.”

PayPal wants to let customers pay however they want — for instance, using an airline-rewards card to buy a plane ticket -– but also using PayPal in the same transaction to enhance their rewards.

Rewards when you shop with PayPal will get even better early next year, Marcus said, citing Shopkick, an app that lets you earn rewards for visiting retailers, as an example. There are “better” and “cooler” ways of implementing this technology, he added. 

Source : mashable

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Google Fiber: are gigabit speeds the real story, or free Internet access?

Have you heard the news? Google has finally started rolling out their fiber initiative, beginning with Kansas City. Google Fiber boasts gigabit speeds that absolutely blow cable Internet speeds out of the water, and for an unbelievably-priced $70 to boot! But while gigabit speeds are an enticingly-delicious prospect to many of us, I think the bigger story here is their offering of free Internet access. Yes, free.

Up front, here are the particulars of Google Fiber's "free Internet" tier:

• Up to 5Mbps download, 1Mbps upload speed
• No data caps
• Free service guaranteed for at least 7 years
• Includes Network Box
• $300 construction fee (one time or 12 monthly payments of $25) + taxes and fees

  So, is free truly "free?" Not initially, no, but $25 a month for 12 months is far more affordable than any comparable tier from any other provider at the moment. At that, once the $300 construction fee is satisfied -- be it one-time or monthly -- that leaves a guaranteed 6 years of free Internet access.

  Now, while 5Mbps down/1Mbps up might not sound all that impressive to you, bear in mind the millions of people who either do not have Internet access at all, or who do not have broadband Internet access -- including some 3 million who are still paying for AOL dial-up! And this doesn't take into account if Google decides to up those speeds at some point.

  Unfortunately, I imagine it will be as difficult for Google to run fiber as it's been for current ISPs to run their wire in challenging areas (see: mountains, boondocks, etc.). Likewise, there's the time it's going to take for Google Fiber to expand well beyond Kansas City, and that could take many years.

  Either way, it will be interesting to see if Google is forthcoming with any data from their free subscription tier -- even just from Kansas City. The thought of the Internet becoming accessible to people where it hasn't yet been is exciting to me. And it's not only from a philanthropic standpoint that I say that, but also from the standpoint of giving currently-stagnated talent (children, underprivileged adults, etc.) a chance to flourish where they're currently unable to, due to no Internet service.

  Lastly, "free Internet" will inevitably motivate current ISPs to rethink their service tiers and pricing. I don't think that will happen for quite some time, but if Google can successfully get the ball rolling with Google Fiber across the country, that should make for more and more winners as ISPs are forced to either shape up or ship out. One can only hope, at least.

  If you haven't heard much about Google Fiber yet, Google posted a YouTube video describing the service, including how it works, how they plan on implementing/installing it, and all the goodies you end up with (including a free Nexus 7 tablet as a remote control, if you go for the 2-year, $120/mo Gigabit + TV package).

  So, whatever the extent and reach of Google Fiber ends up being, its future certainly looks extremely bright. I just hope it flourishes throughout this country like wildfire, and preferably sooner than later!

  What do you think? Will Google Fiber kick off and eventually become the new standard, or will ISPs make moves to maintain the majority of their customers? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

  Source : zdnet

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Non-removable Battery Phones To Be Banned?

The Federal Environment Agency in Germany has called for a ban, claiming non-removable batteries to be environment unfriendly. 

Monday, November 26, 2012:  Smartphones with non-removable battery designs have just started as a trend but before that becomes successful, The Federal Environment Agency in Germany has called for a ban on such handsets, claiming them to be environmentally unfriendly. This news might come as a major shocker for Apple, HTC and Motorola, all of them who like to keep the battery hidden and wrapped up somewhere within the device. 

To begin with, why do OEMs prefer a non-removable battery design. Well, one of the main reasons might be to include a larger battery without affecting the size. There might be some other reasons from the point of view of the OEMs but keeping the user interest in mind, non-removable battery designs are a real headache, especially after the device ages and the battery life starts dropping. Also, replacing an old battery with a new one then becomes a costly affair.

However, there is one thing that is surprising. Why did Samsung not make handsets with non-removable battery? If the larger battery point is considered, then Samsung should have opted for the non-removable battery design in its Galaxy Note 2. Also, despite Galaxy Note 2 being a phablet, its battery life is far better then HTC's One X flagship smartphone. HTC One X employs a non-removable battery design. So, the larger battery point is definitely not working out.

According to Phone Arena, iPhone batteries only hold 80 per cent of their charge after a year of use. The cost of replacing the battery is pretty high as compared to the removable battery. So are companies eyeing the prospect of having users buy expensive batteries or dump their device after using it for an year. Well, whatever OEMs mayt think, customers are surely happy with removable batteries!

Source: news.efytimes.com

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Halo 4 DLC release dates revealed

UPDATE: Microsoft has told VideoGamer.com that it has "nothing further to announce at this time" regarding release dates for Halo 4's DLC, adding that it has previously announced December, February and April time frames for the upcoming map packs.

ORIGINAL STORY: Release dates for Halo 4's upcoming multiplayer map packs have been leaked via the German Xbox 360 dashboard.

Halo fansite Halo Council claims that the first pack, Crimson Map Pack, is set to launch on December 10, 2012, followed by the Majestic Map Pack on February 25, 2013, and the Castle Map Pack on on April 1, 2013.

Each pack contains three new multiplayer maps and is expected to cost 800 Microsoft Points each.

Alternatively, players can pick up all three packs for 2,000 Microsoft Points via the Halo 4 War Games Map Pass.

Neither Microsoft or developer 343 Industries have yet officially announced release dates for the DLC.

VideoGamer.com has contacted Microsoft for comment.

Source : videogamer

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Gangnam Style now the most popular YouTube video ever

Psy overtakes Justin Bieber

South Korean pop sensation Psy's Gangnam Style is the most-viewed YouTube clip ever.

The video, famous for its catchy dance routine, has notched up a whopping 815m views since it was posted on YouTube in July.

In the video the 34-year-old rapper busts out his best moves to poke fun at the affluent Gangnam region of Seoul.

Gangnam Style, which is also the most liked video on the sharing site, surpassed the previous record set by Justin Bieber's song Baby, which has 804m views.

Perfecting the trotting horse

Bieber's video benefitted from infinite repeat viewings from swooning teenage 'Beliebers' on its way to the record.

Surely its folks attempting to perfect the 'trotting horse' dance that have allowed Psy to surpass the record?

The dance has become a global craze, with even U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon having a crack, while the video recently won Best Video at the MTV Europe Music Awards.

Perhaps in a couple of weeks we'll be writing about Gangnam Style being the first video to surpass one billion views?

Source: techradar.com

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