Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » septembre 7, 2012

BetaNews.Com (10 non lus)

If HTC customer satisfaction is so high, why are smartphone sales so low?

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 11:52pm CEST par Joe Wilcox

That's my question after scanning a survey JDPower and Associates released yesterday. The firm ranks customer satisfaction on a scale of one to 1,000. For the eighth consecutive survey, Apple is tops with a score of 849. But HTC is second, at 790, which has me scratching my head trying to put two and two together and getting three. Perhaps my math should be similar for Apple, since Samsung, which scored 782, sells more smartphones than any other manufacturer -- that's here and abroad.

My point: High customer satisfaction doesn't necessarily equate to big sales. There are many other factors to consider, particularly subsidized products like smartphones. Among them: Carrier contracts and pricing; device promotions; on-shelf experience in stores; handset look and feel; color choices; cases and other add-on options; carrier availability (no iPhone at T-Mobile USA, for example) and advertising, which Samsung does much more of than HTC -- or that's my observation. None of these reasons considers features, which aren't that different phone to phone as they used to be.

HTC ranked eighth in global phone sales during second quarter, according to Gartner, with 2.2 percent market share. Samsung was first and Apple third. According to comScore, at the end of July, in the United States, where JDPower conducted the survey, HTC ranked fifth in cellular handset subscriber share (again Samsung and Apple were first and third, respectively). HTC's share is unchanged, 6.4 percent, from June. Samsung share: 25.6 percent. Apple: 16.3 percent.

At HTC, hard times are the norm -- at least from a financial performance perspective. During second quarter, for example, profits plunged about 58 percent year over year. Even the Taiwanese manufacturer's crème de la crème phones suffered hardship, in May US Customs temporarily blocking import of the HTC One X over patent disputes with Apple. In July, AT&T slashed by half the well-reviewed phone's price.

HTC could use a bit more correlation between customer satisfaction and sales.

JDPower notes four key factors in determining smartphone satisfaction: "performance (33 percent); physical design (23 percent); features (22 percent); and ease of operation (22 percent)". Other factors are surprising. For example, features, such as operating system, camera or social media functions, don't appeal as much as they once did. Forty-seven percent of smartphone buyers primarily purchased because of features, down from 57 percent a year earlier (JDPower conducted the survey in June).

Meanwhile price is more important, with 19 percent citing this as primary purchase reason, up from 14 percent a year earlier. Twenty-two percent of respondents said they paid nothing for their device.

Smartphone owners who use social networking features and apps are more satisfied than those who do not (810 and 755 score, respectively) or those who game and do not (813 vs 752, respectively).

Again these are all features generally available among different smartphones, which brings me to one differentiating feature purposely left out of the second-paragraph list and saved for here: Branding. Apple and Samsung both command strong brands, and advertising and other marketing investments are part of the effort. For example, last month I observed a Samsung phone charging station at my daughter's university. Brand presence like this is priceless.

Some advice to HTC: It's long past time to better brand, and capitalize on customer satisfaction. What success can there be in high satisfaction among a lower number of people?
We need an IPO renaissance

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 8:46pm CEST par Robert X. Cringely

Third in a series. As many readers have pointed out, the IPO drought of the last decade has many causes beyond just decimalization of stock trading. Sarbanes-Oxley has made it significantly more expensive to be a public company than it used to be. Consolidation in the banking and brokerage industries have resulted in fewer specialists and hardly any true investment bankers surviving. The lure of derivatives trading and other rocket science activities on Wall Street have made IPO underwriting look like a staid and prosaic profession, too. Fortunately, people in positions of influence are finally starting to realize that there is no economic future for this country without new public companies.

One requirement of the JOBS Act, passed last April, was that the SEC look at trading decimalization, and especially tick sizes, to see if there has been an effect on small-cap company liquidity. If the SEC decides there is such a negative effect there’s the possibility that they introduce a new minimum tick for smaller companies of perhaps a nickel (up from a penny) to as much as a dime. I believe this would help the IPO industry, but many people disagree.

"It would be ironic that increasing the cost of trading small caps might actually improve their liquidity", says my old friend Darrell Duffie, who teaches finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. "This is possible. If there is not enough of a floor of per-trade profit in providing market making services, then market making services will not be provided. Too much competition for low bid-ask spreads could drive out participation. If there is a floor, high enough, then each trade execution would be more expensive, but it will be easier to get execution, possibly promoting more liquidity on net. Note that some exchanges are subsidising order execution as a way of raising liquidity.

"But overall, I don’t think raising the minimum tick size will boost IPOs much. It might improve net liquidity for them at the margin, or it might not. But the major costs and benefits to going public are likely elsewhere, I am guessing. First, it is not as desirable these days to be a public firm. Think of Sarbanes Oxley. Secondly, the source pool, the VC world, is not as vibrant as it was, for a number of other reasons. Finally, the demand for risky assets is down. Volumes of trade of all types (even big stocks) is way down".

Darrell, who is one of my heroes, is largely correct. Increasing tick sizes alone probably won’t be enough to create an IPO renaissance. Two more things are required: 1) more and braver risk capital, and; 2) real competition in the IPO space.

Crowdfunding as described by the JOBS Act may well bring the required capital to bear, though with some significant limitations, namely the present $1 million limit on capital raised per year and the $2,000 annual limit on crowdfund investments for unaccredited investors. But if even 10 million unaccredited investors became involved in crowdfunding (less than 10 percent of American households) and invested an average of only half the $2,000 limit, that would still be $10 billion per year, which is a heck of a lot of startups.

But the Wall Street pros don’t like crowdfunding, seeing it as too little money to be worth the trouble. That may have a lot to do with the fact that Wall Street is so far running the game and of course objects to any changes that might threaten their leadership. In this case I think Wall Street could use a little competition, and following recent outsourcing trends I’d see that competition coming from China, specifically Hong Kong.

Why not Offshoring IPOs?

Finally we find a perfectly proper case for offshoring, in this case IPOs.

Why do American companies go public in America? Sometimes they don’t. When I started this gig in the 1980s a popular dodge for technology companies was to go public on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) because it was cheaper and easier and some of the capital and ownership rules were different.

I recall an e-mail exchange years ago with Borland International founder Philippe Kahn in which he claimed that Borland, as a public company, was prohibited by the SEC from lying in public statements. I pointed out to Kahn (who remains today among my Facebook friends) that his company traded only in London and therefore the SEC had nothing to do with it.

Like London in the 1980s, Hong Kong today has a robust retail investor market where the United States, with its huge institutions, no longer does. You and I simply don’t matter to Wall Street, did you know that?

IPOs in Hong Kong are perhaps a third as expensive in terms of fees as they are in America. And for that matter IPOs are happening frequently over there and only infrequently here.

Hong Kong banks want to make business loans. There’s an intrinsic value placed on public companies in Hong Kong of about $30 million. That is, purely on the basis of being traded on the Hong Kong Stock exchange, a company is assumed to be worth $30 million more than if it wasn’t traded. And while such a premium may exist here as well, in Hong Kong companies can actually borrow money against that assumed equity. Standard Chartered or HSBC -- banks that operate in the USA, too, and won’t loan a dime to entrepreneurs here -- will lend up to $10 million to recent Hong Kong IPO companies even if they aren’t profitable.

Hong Kong feels for IPOs like Netscape, circa 1995.

So I’d like to see Hong Kong reach out to US companies as the same kind of minor leagues of public trading that London was in the 1980s.

Bootstrapping to build a prototype, crowdfunding to build a company, going public in Hong Kong to build production, then eventually coming back to NASDAQ or the NYSE as a larger cap company, that’s the food chain I envision for the next decade.

And it would work.

Now let’s see if the SEC will allow it.

Photo Credit: Lucia Pitter/Shutterstock
What Windows 8 needs to succeed

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 8:27pm CEST par Chris Boss

As a long-time Windows user, as well as software developer, I have pondered about what would make Windows 8 and the new modern UI (aka. Metro) a success. Microsoft can spit and polish the operating system, but people will interact more with applications. As good as Windows 8 might be, it won't satisfy if the apps aren't good enough.

That's why I believe Microsoft needs to rethink Windows Store. One isn't enough for Windows 8. There needs to be a second Signature store that offers only the highest-quality apps, however few they be. I'll explain.

Android App Nightmare

Last year I realized that the computer world is going mobile and that I better get on board as a software developer, which is why I got my first tablet -- the ExoPC. I looked forward to Windows 8 and realized that when released it will be all about mobile. Yet, Android intrigued me, so I purchased a nice small decent 7-inch Android Zeki tablet. I like the design. I like the size. The quality is good. But when it came time to start downloading some apps, the experience began to change: Too many apps, not enough quality!

I started downloading as many free apps as I could find that interested me. To my surprise, most free apps display advertisements, which gets to be a real distraction after awhile. I would not mind if a free app advertised a paid app created by the same developer (software developers simply cannot do everything for free), but they were more like a bunch of Google advertisements found on many websites.

Additionally, I was not very impressed with the quality of many of the apps. Surely there are some very good Android apps, but how does one find them among the hundreds of thousands of choices available?

Windows 8 Store is a Fresh Approach

By comparison, I am relatively pleased with the Windows Store, despite the limited number of apps. Sure, it will take awhile before we get more and better choices, but using the store is a nice experience. I find it much easier to deal with than some Android stores. The selection, downloading and installing of apps on Windows 8 should be a better experience for many people compared to Android stores.

When the apps start rolling in, things could change -- that when the apps start rolling in, experience will be like Android. Will the quality of the apps improve and get better and better or will the app market simply degrade with time as more and more developers start making low-quality apps -- like with any other mobile operating system?

The goal of any app store is to provide as many choices as possible for users, but there is an inherent problem with having thousands, if not millions of apps available. You simply can not maintain control. Low-quality apps can easily flood into any mobile app market. There is also a temptation for Microsoft to try to build up the base of its apps in the store quickly, simply to get a high count, which could lead to poor-quality apps sneeking in. So what is the solution?

Microsoft needs Two App Stores

While Microsoft already has its current Windows Store for downloading apps for Windows 8 and likely the store will use some kind of automated system to vet the apps, especially as the numbers grow, I really think they should create a second totally unique store. It should be called Microsoft Signature Store. The company has used the Signature brand for awhile now in its online store for selling computers, laptops and tablets free of so-called bloatware. When you purchase a Microsoft Signature PC you expect quality and no bloatware. The ExoPC tablet I purchased was a Signature version from the Microsoft Store and I got what I expected -- quality.

Microsoft could use the Signature brand for a second app store for Windows 8. How would this shop be different? Developers would be required to have their apps distributed through the normal Windows Store. Nothing would change. What Microsoft could do would be to set up an in-house team, which monitors the quality of apps and makes sure that meets the Signature standard. Apps with real value would be offered in the Microsoft Signature Store. Any employee at Microsoft could make a suggestion to this team but they would make the decision.

Now the Signature Store, to work, must use only real people to vet the apps. No matter how big it gets, the apps must be vetted by real people who download the apps and spend some time with them. That is the only way I can see it work. I would want to see some real commentary by any (or all) of the Microsoft people who actually use the app as well.

The Signature Store, does not need to have thousands or millions of apps. It only needs to have a few hundred that are guaranteed to be of high quality, fully tested. One good example of an existing Windows 8 app of such a standard is the Cut the Rope game. I enjoyed that game from day one and the Windows 8 implimentation is of high quality.

A large number of apps is simply meaningless. Too many poor quality apps puts off users. I would rather go to an app store with only a couple hundred apps, which all have been vetted by a real human being for their quality, than to an app store with millions of apps of dubious quality.

Microsoft is trying hard to build a better operating system (Windows 8) and better tablets (Surface), but to make it all work they have to build a better app store. If they created a unique Microsoft Signature App Store, no matter how much work it requires from real people, in the long run it would likely ensure the success of Windows 8.

Don't forget the Desktop

Whether Microsoft appreciates it or not, the Windows Desktop (aka. WIN32 software) is here to stay, at least for the near future. Business users of Windows 8 will be concerned about getting quality software for use with the Desktop (x86) that is of high quality and runs well on Windows 8. Why not create a third app store? This one could be called the Microsoft Signature Desktop Store and distribute x86 apps specifically designed to work well with Windows 8 and particularly with touch-enabled devices.

It is important for x86 tablet users to have software that is well written for the desktop, but is designed specifically for a touch device (and one with a mouse). This Signature store would also allow developers to distribute their apps (not just advertise them), but the apps would be vetted by real people at Microsoft, too. Their job would be to find such software, whether from the big sofware companies or independent software developers. Again it is not the quantity that matters, but the quality. Even quality freeware should exist in this store.

In the end, it is the software which counts.

No matter how good the operating system or the hardware is, in the end the apps matter more.

Photo Credit: Digital Storm/Shutterstock

Chris Boss is an advanced Windows API programmer and developer of 10 year-old EZGUI, which is now version 5. He owns The Computer Workshop, which opened for businesses in the late 1980s. He originally developed custom software for local businesses. Now he develops programming tools for use with the PowerBasic compiler.
Sprint Samsung Galaxy Nexus gets a dose of Jelly Bean

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 5:59pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic
Sprint has (once again) announced the elusive Android 4.1 Jelly Bean is coming to its Samsung Galaxy Nexus variant. But when will you get it is the question. According to a Sprint employee, the update will slowly be rolled-out to the Samsung Galaxy Nexus S as well and it should take "little over a week" for all Nexus S owners to receive Jelly Bean.

Sprint surpassed Verizon in the "race" to deliver Android 4.1 that was nowhere to be seen on the LTE models at least until Sprint announced it. Sprint is rolling out Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean JRO03R, with a newer build number than the factory images posted by Google on its Developers page.

The update includes the following improvements:
- Upgrades phone operating system to Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean)
  - Smoother user interface
  - Enhanced Accessibility functions
  - Bi-directional text and other language support
  - User-installable keyboard maps
  - Expandable notifications
  - Ability to turn off notifications on an application specific basis
  - Shortcuts and widgets can automatically be re-arranged or re-sized to allow new items to fit on home screens
  - Android Beam – Use Android Beam to Bluetooth transfer data
  - Offline voice dictation
  - Improved voice search
  - Improved camera application
  - Google Wallet (for the Nexus 7)
  - High resolution Google+ contact photos
  - Google Now
  - Multichannel audio
  - USB audio added for external sound Digital to Analog Conversion
  - Audio chaining also referred to as Gapless Playback. Gapless playback is the uninterrupted playback of consecutive audio tracks
- Discontinuing support for Adobe Flash Player:
  - Adobe will not be certifying the Adobe Flash Player for Android Mobile devices that either release with or update to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean).
  - Devices that upgraded from Android 4.0 to Android 4.1, may exhibit unpredictable behavior, as it is not certified for use with Android 4.1. Adobe recommends uninstalling Flash Player on devices which have been upgraded to Android 4.1.
The Verizon binaries were posted on the Google Developers page, again with a newer build number, suggesting that the update is in the works but when is anyone's guess.
I don't need a smartphone

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 5:45pm CEST par Randall C. Kennedy

Call me old fashioned. I do not now, and never have in the past, owned a smartphone. Whether it was due to geographic isolation (the iPhone debuted after I'd moved 11,000 miles to the Indian Ocean), fear of being a too-early adopter, or simply an inability to rationalize the cost of a non-subsidized device, I have somehow resisted the siren song of the smartphone revolution.

But that doesn't mean I'm stuck in the past. More than any of my contemporaries, I have embraced the post-PC concept with gusto. From my first attempts using an HP Mini 2140 netbook (great machine), through my awkward BlackBerry PlayBook (still love my 32GB unit) days to my present infatuation with rooted, customized Android tablets (thanks xda community!), I've seized every opportunity to put my 30+ year relationships with the "wintel" cabal behind me.

The ultimate test came this summer, which saw me staying for several weeks in my recently sold Palm Beach vacation home while awaiting the final closing documents. Armed with nothing but my trusty Acer Iconia, an external keyboard/mouse and a somewhat unreliable airbed, I pushed the edge of the envelope for post-PC living. And thanks to a combination of Skype, plentiful Wi-Fi hotspots and a simple burner phone, I was able to remain fully connected and even negotiate multiple offers (including a mountain of realtor paperwork), all without ever wishing for my own pocket full of smartphone Kryptonite.

And apparently I'm not the only one to feel this way. As CNET's Jessica Dolcourt points out in a recent article on tablets and flip phones, many users are foregoing smartphones in favor of my aforementioned feature phone/tablet combination. Like me, these users don't need the constant connectivity and absurdly expensive data plans that are the hallmark of the smartphone revolution. They use their phones as, well, phones. And for those times when they do need to get online -- to check email or look something up on the web -- they take advantage of the myriad of free, Wi-Fi hotspots that dot the modern urban/suburban landscape.

Useful tip for the occasionally connected: Can't find a Starbucks? Think Home Depot. Every store has free Wi-Fi. Ditto for Lowes, McDonald's and most shopping malls. Even my local Macys has dedicated public Wi-Fi, which is great for killing time while my wife browses the racks (no, dear, those pants don't make you look fat).

Of course, some users do need continuous connectivity. But even then, many are opting for 3G/4G radios that are integrated directly in their tablets (as opposed to tethering their devices to a separate smartphone). Again, the advantage is simplicity -- fewer devices to carry -- along with the cost savings of not having to pay for multiple data plans or tethering surcharges.

I know that if and when I do feel the need to be more connected, I'll opt for an integrated tablet solution or, barring that, a portable Wi-Fi hotspot device. And lest you picture me holding an enormous tablet up to my ear to make a Skype call, I have two words for you: Bluetooth headset (I'm amazed at how many people still trot out that same lame argument).

Does the future really belong to the smartphone? I'm not convinced. With so many new tablet options coming down the pike, in form factors (5 to 7 inches) that are more manageable on the go than the traditional 9-to-10-inch iPad and Android standard bearers, I'm feeling pretty good about my decision to sit out this paricular revolution.

And if I do get the urge to fire-off that "can't wait" note to that all important client, I'll do what I've always done: I'll send them a text message from my cheap, reliable feature phone.

Catch Randall C. Kennedy's analysis of tech trends every Tuesday and Friday here at BetaNews.

Photo Credit: mikeledray/Shutterstock
Get Aero on Windows 8

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 5:11pm CEST par Mark Wilson

Hot on the heels of the RTM version of Windows 8, a swathe of tools that can be used to either emulate the appearance and features of the latest version of the operating system, or tweak Windows 8, have emerged. Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.0 and Windows 8 UX Pack 6.0 both fall into the former camp. Something that has annoyed many long-term users: Microsoft dropped Aero from the latest release -- with these tools you can regain it.

Now that the final release version of Windows 8 has been unveiled, many of the changes that have been are fairly minor updates that bring this duo of tweaking tools in line with the very latest code. In the Transformation Pack this means that wallpapers from the RTM version of Windows 8 are now available, and changes have been made to the use of the Segoe font family for better compatibility. Elsewehere you’ll find the very latest icons, buttons, boot screen and more, so you can get the full Windows 8 look.

Although Aero has been officially dropped from Windows 8, with the transformation pack you can bring it back. Version 6 of the tool sees the Metro Desktop UI and Aero’s auto-colorization being used by default. Things have also been updated in the UX pack. Again there are changes that bring the Windows 8 emulator more in line with the release version of the operating system, but there have also been problems fixed.

The program launcher will no longer ask for administrative rights every time it is started, and the Start orb has been updated to give it a better look and feel. For a fully immersive Windows 8 experience, the Charms Bar is now available as well.

You can find out more and download free copies of the programs by paying a visit to the Windows 8 Transformation Pack 6.0 and Windows 8 UX Pack 6.0 review pages.
Ice Cream Sandwich distribution tops 20 percent

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 4:46pm CEST par Mihaita Bamburic

What's the most popular sweet in the Android universe? It's not Jelly Bean, or even Ice Cream Sandwich, based on the number of devices accessing Google Play during the 14 days ending September 4. Gingerbread has the largest share on devices. Again.

Capitalizing on the number of Samsung Galaxy Nexus smartphones and Google Nexus 7 tablets, Android 4.1 Jelly Bean manages to reach a 1.2-percent Android distribution. The number pales in comparison to its older siblings, but represents a 50-percent increase of 0.4 percentage points from a month earlier when the OS reached just 0.8 percent of Android devices.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is now on 20.9 percent of devices; 4.0.3 to 4.0.4 together have 20.8 percent Android distribution with 4.0 to 4.0.2 still running on 0.1 percent, which is consistent with the numbers from July. Popular smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S III that sold in 20 million units since its release added to the Ice Cream Sandwich distribution increase, with manufacturer updates contributing as well.

Android 2.3 Gingerbread still has 57.5 percent adoption -- that more than a year-and-a-half since its release, with versions 2.3 to 2.3.2 having 0.3 percent and versions 2.3.3 to 2.3.7 dominating, with a 57.2 percent share. By comparison, Gingerbread's dominance slightly dipped since last month but not enough to represent a significant decrease.

Two-year old Android 2.2 Froyo runs on 14 percent of devices -- that is also less than from the last report. The other versions have lost share as well with 2.1 Eclair at 3.7 percent, 1.6 Donut at 0.4 percent and 1.5 Cupcake at 0.2 percent Android distribution.

As it stands now Ice Cream Sandwich reported the highest growth, with Jelly Bean showing an increase as well, both having a higher Android distribution to the detriment of all other versions. Fragmentation issues still exist and that's not going to change any time soon, but ICS tops 20 percent for the first time. According to the historical dataset, growth will continue over the coming months, with Froyo and Gingerbread Android distribution decreasing.
AVG Internet Security 2013 review

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 3:43pm CEST par Mike Williams

AVG Internet Security has always been a likeable security suite, with all the core components you need to keep your PC safe: antivirus, firewall, spam filter, browsing protection and more.

But of course it’s not perfect, and so it’s good to see AVG Internet Security 2013 doesn’t waste time introducing irrelevant new features, and instead largely concentrates on addressing many fundamental issues. The new release aims to accelerate scanning performance, for instance, reduce memory consumption, cut your boot time and improve core modules like the firewall and spam filter, which sounds great to us.

After a hassle-free installation, though, the first big change you notice is the new and very Windows 8-like interface.

The suite’s core functions are represented by five green tiles – “Computer”, “Web Browsing”, “Identity”, “Emails”, “Firewall” -- and clicking any of these provides quick access to useful options. (You can turn a module off, tweak its key settings, and so on.)

You also get buttons to scan your system, or update Internet Security 2013. If you forget what any of these do, then hovering the mouse cursor over them will display a helpful hint. Or, if you prefer the old ways, the Options menu provides access to most functions in just a couple of clicks.

This is all presented in a rather plain Metro-style design, which ( judging from the hate generated by Windows 8 ) certainly won’t appeal to everyone. We soon got used to it, though, and on balance found the new interface to be clean, straightforward and easy to use.

Antivirus

Scanning with AVG Internet Security 2013 is a straightforward process. Clicking Scan Now launches a check of your full system; the “Scan specific files or folders” option can examine just a few key locations (your Windows and Program Files folders, say) for improved performance; and a flexible scheduler will automatically run your preferred scan types at a convenient time.

Whatever you’re doing, accuracy proves reasonable. Independent testing by AV Comparatives shows the AVG 2012 engine wasn’t the best around, with false positives an issue, but it still detected 96.4 percent of threats in their last file detection report. And our own smaller-scale tests with Internet Security 2013 also delivered acceptable results, with the program locating and removing 93 percent of the test malware samples.

Scanning performance has improved this time, too, with the program taking only 8:20 to complete its first Whole Computer optimization scan of our test PC (that’s around 680,000 objects scanned), and this typically fell to around 1:20 for repeat scans. And, conveniently, there’s no need to run a separate scan for rootkits any more: Whole Computer scans will detect and remove them, along with regular malware.

If there’s a small problem with this it’s that AVG Internet Security 2013 is powered by lots of processes -- we counted at least ten -- and we found RAM use to be a little above average, ranging from 40-55 MB depending on what you’re doing.

The suite made only an average impact on boot or application launch times, though, and even while scanning we were able to continue using other programs, so on balance we think most users won’t experience any significant performance issues.

Browsing Protection

Removing viruses is great, but avoiding them is even better; AVG Internet Security 2013 uses a couple of technologies to try and prevent you ever reaching dangerous or malicious websites.

The first involves installing its own browser toolbar, as well as setting your browser search URL to AVG Secure Search (both steps can be avoided by choosing the Custom Installation option during setup, if you prefer). Use either method to search the web and icons will be added to your results, warning you of dangerous sites.

And because you’ll often click on links in other places -- a document, email, your Facebook stream -- AVG’s LinkScanner Online Shield also scans online content before it’s displayed to make sure it’s safe.

That’s the plan, anyway. In reality, the warning icons scheme seems like a backward step. Previously AVG’s Search Shield would highlight dangerous sites in results from all the main search engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo!, Altavista, Baidu); now, you only see them if you use AVG Secure Search, or the search box in AVG’s toolbar (which itself can only be installed in IE, Chrome and Firefox).

And AVG’s antiphishing accuracy isn’t great, either. AV Comparatives found the Internet Security 2012 engine only detected 61.3 percent of test sites (that ranked it 15th out of 18 tested), and the 2013 release similarly picked up little more than half the malicious URLs in our own tests.

Of course the protection doesn’t stop with LinkScanner. If you did click on a link which tried to download something malicious, then the antivirus module would step in, and its much greater accuracy means you’d probably be safe.

And there is more to AVG’s toolbar than the search box. It can also give you a detailed report on the safety of the current page; AVG’s Do Not Track automatically blocks ad networks which collect personal information; and assorted bonus features include a weather forecast and internet speed test.

But for all this, the antiphishing accuracy issues do represent a weakness in the suite, and this is an area AVG really needs to improve in future.

Other Tools

AVG’s spam filter proved straightforward to use, integrating neatly with our Outlook 2010 installation (although it also works with most other email clients). And it was surprisingly accurate, too, raising last year’s feeble 55 percent detection rate to a much more impressive 88 percent.

The down side? In part AVG seems to have done this by making the settings more aggressive, so the program also falsely flagged a few legitimate emails as spam. These were at least only corporate mailing lists, though, no personal emails were affected, and if you have similar problems then there are plenty of tweaks and training options you can apply to improve the situation.

The firewall has also been notably improved, properly stealthing our PC’s ports online, and automatically (and correctly) deciding which programs should be allowed to make internet connections without ever once hassling us with an inappropriate alert.

Elsewhere, AVG has for some reason dropped the System Tools, where you could previously monitor your startup programs, open network connections, IE extensions, Layered Service Providers, and so on. It’s a shame – they were useful – but there are plenty of similar free third-party tools, if you need them.

And there’s still the annoyance of PC Analyzer, which will scan for system clutter, issue a report and display a “Fix Now” button. Which, when you click it, turns out to be essentially an ad for PC Tuneup: you can fix your current problems only once, then you have to buy the full program.

Like most security suites, AVG Internet Security 2013 has a few issues. The below-average antiphishing detection was disappointing, and we’d like to see RAM use fall a little further.

For the most part, though, the suite represents a solid and welcome step forward. It’s easier to use, faster, less resource hungry than it was and a little more accurate, with a smarter firewall and a spam filter which compares well with many commercial tools. And whether you’re an AVG fan or just looking for a new security suite, it’s worth taking the trial build for a spin to see just what it can do for you.

The software retails for $54.99 and runs on Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, both 32 and 64-bit editions.

Photo Credit: Andrea Danti/Shutterstock
Nero Kwik Media 12 is quick

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 3:02pm CEST par Nick Peers

Ahead of its official launch of Nero 12, Nero has updated its free media-management software. Nero Kwik Media 12.0.01300 is a minor refresh that follows on from a major update that promised better performance and enhanced tagging capabilities, and offers users a one-stop shop for organizing photos, video and music.

Nero Kwik Media also contains tools for creating picture-based slideshows and photobooks, and can be expanded via a number of paid-for plug-ins, providing additional functionality such as burning video DVDs and Blu-rays.

The last major update of Nero Kwik Media introduced some interesting new features, all present and correct in this latest build. There’s an automatic timeline for photos and videos, plus a major revamp of the tag system: face tags for finding photos with specific people, automatic tags based on folder structure and metadata, customisable keyword tags for adding manually to photos, plus tag filtering for quick and easy media management. These can be combined in smart albums, which automatically update as new content is added with matching criteria for that album.

The software offers some other interesting tools too -- you can rip music to the lossless FLAC format for example, as well as MP3 and Apple-friendly AAC. And critically, the current version is much quicker than previous, somewhat bloated versions.

It’s not all good news -- certain functionality is only available through add-on modules, purchased through the app’s own Market, and with prices starting from $4.99. Much of this functionality can be found elsewhere for free -- Nero Kwik DVD’s functionality can be found in Windows Live Movie Maker (part of Windows Essentials 2012) and VLC Media Player, for example.

Nero Kwik Media 12.0.01300 is available now as a freeware download for fast PCs running Windows XP SP3 or later. System requirements include a 2GHz processor, 512MB RAM and 1GB free hard drive space.

Photo Credit: Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock
Kindle Fire HD is bad for Android, worse for iPad

Publié: septembre 7, 2012, 4:02am CEST par Joe Wilcox
Google is in a tough spot. Apple suddenly looks like an ally now that Amazon has unveiled Kindle Fire HD. Both companies stand to lose big time should the tablet achieve any meaningful sales success. Google Play doesn't offer strong enough ecosystem to battle with either iPad or Kindle Fire, but Amazon's tablet is more likely to scorch Android's earth. Amazon's vertical integration -- store, software and services -- is tight, as good as Apple's and in many respects superior. No matter which wins, Android loses.

Here's the problem: Only Amazon has done any meaningful Android customization on tablets, creating a curated experience similar to Apple's. Like iOS, Amazon Android is tightly vertically and horizontally integrated with siloed services. Kindle Fire is designed to mainly work within the Amazon content/retail sphere and little outside it. Amazon runs its own stores -- everything from apps to movies -- while shunning Google Play. Meanwhile, Kindle Fire supports the custom Silk browser rather than the stock Android one or Chrome. Amazon Android is a competing platform/ecosystem within the larger, more open one Google champions. (The original Kindle Fire is customized Gingerbread and new HD models customized Ice Cream Sandwich.)

As such, Amazon's objectives are contrary to Google's. Should any or all of the Kindle Fire models sell as well as I expect, they'll drive up Android shipments against iPad. But that's bad for the broader Android ecosystem. Amazon, and customers willing to buy into the curated experience, is the greater beneficiary, not the expanse of third-party developers or larger Android ecosystem.

In April, I explained how "Google has lost control of Android", something the new Google Play/Jelly Bean/Nexus device strategy seeks to remedy. Forrester Research predicts that proprietary Android will surpass the Google Android ecosystem by 2015. Amazon leads the charge away from Google's open-source mobile platform to fatally-fragmented Android. Given Android tablets low volumes compared to iPad, and Kindle Fire's potential to ignite sales, Forrester Research's forecast is more likely overly conservative.

Simply stated: Amazon offers so much for so little cost compared to Apple, while much more than every other Android tablet maker. Both companies command hugely successful and popular brands and rightly take the pulse of consumer markets.

Stupid Apple

Today's Kindle Fire HD debut makes Apple's patent war against Samsung look like a real idiot's play. CEO Tim Cook and lawyers chase the wrong adversary. Samsung already won the smartphone war, and it's not the one that matters. Tablet is the more important cloud-connected device category. The device already sucks away PC sales, is closer in functionality to the computers it replaces and is a category where Apple is overwhelming market share leader.

During second quarter, iPad tablet share was 68.2 percent, up from 61.5 percent a year earlier, according to IDC. Looked at differently, Apple tablet shipments exceeded Kindle Fire by 13.6 times. Meanwhile, NPD Display Search forecasts huge tablet gains that will suck sales away from PCs over the next five years. The analyst firm says that tablet shipments will exceed laptops by 2016. If not sooner.

Apple should seek to preserve the iPad ecosystem at all costs, by any means possible. So why is Amazon free to just do as it pleases, to copy Apple nut and bolt without restraint? Amazon's entire tablet model emulates Apple's. Take a look at the Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE product page, for example. The page layout, aspirational language and action-oriented emphasis on benefits mimics that for iPad. Some of the Amazon product description headings: "stunning HD display"; "booming sound without distortion"; "revolutionary 4G". For iPad: "breakthrough retina display"; "5MP iSight camera"; ultra-fast 4G LTE". Look for yourself how similar are the layouts, bullet points and marketing language.

But the copying that matters more is that previously mentioned: Curation. Amazon offers its own Android app store, music and movie stores, ebook store, web browser and customized media consumption software and services. Just like Apple.

Amazon offers a curated experience that matches Apple's and, in some respects, exceeds it. For example, consumers can buy ebooks for Kindle Fire, but read them on their iPhone, Android handset or other device. Amazon allows movies and music on Kindle Fire or other devices. From Apple it's just devices supporting iTunes Store. People buying into the Amazon lifestyle get Kindle Fire plus something else. That's an added benefit not available from Apple or other Android tablet vendors.

Something else: For all Apple's retail success, Amazon's breadth and depth is far greater. Kindle Fire taps into Amazon for more than just digital content and services but physical goods, all easily available. The $79/year Prime service adds many additional benefits, like free two-day shipping, ebook borrowing and free movie-and-TV show streaming. I've started re-watching "Fringe" from the first season. The Fox drama is available in HD for free to Prime members -- not at all on Netflix.

Smart Amazon

Amazon prioritizes features and pricing that matter for living one digital lifestyle around its cloud-connected services and retail store. Like Apple, Amazon offers a stack of content and services, but from there priorities digress, and this is why Cook and company blow the "Idiot Wind". Long term, Amazon Android and Kindle Fire pose much greater risk to iOS than does Samsung. Apple uses patent litigation to beat Samsung senseless, recognizing a direct competitor. Both derive profits from selling devices. To Amazon, devices are loss-leaders -- platform for profits somewhere else -- and more dangerous competitively.

Just look at today's product announcements:
- 7-inch Kindle Fire will sell for $159 when sales resume on September 14. That's $40 less than Nexus 7. Apple sells nothing even close to this price. Amazon offers comparable, or better, content and services.
- 7-inch Kindle Fire HD moves into the $199 spot, offering higher-resolution display, better audio, dual-band Wi-Fi and twice the storage (16GB). A $249 model has 32GB storage. At both price points, storage is double both Nexus 7 models.
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9" sets the price Apple must meet, if iPad mini rumors are true: $299 (16GB); $369 (32GB). Compelling feature is what Apple touts for iPad: High-resolution display. It's 1920 x 1200 and 254 pixels per inch, which is big for a price this small.
- Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G LTE is a big jump in price -- $499 (32GB); $599 (64GB). But Amazon's pitch is greater value compared to iPad, with the top-of-the-line Kindle Fire with LTE selling for same price as Apple's 16GB WiFi model. iPad with LTE and 32GB storage sells for $729 or $829 for 64GB.
Kindle Fire HD puts Apple on notice, and the risks are great because Amazon can under-price iPad even sell at a loss -- as the retailer has done in the past. Apple relies on hardware revenues; Amazon doesn't. If Cook and company are looking the wrong way by trying to kill Samsung through litigation. Amazon means business, and quite literally with announcement today of Microsoft Exchange support.

Kindle Fire is bad for Android, but much worse for iPad and iOS.