Gregarius » BetaNews.Com » janvier 3, 2014

BetaNews.Com (16 non lus)

Google does it again -- kills Bump and Flock

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 9:39pm CET par Mark Wilson

It's becoming quite a trend with Google. Buy up an interesting company or service, sit on it for a little while… and then shut it down. The latest victims of Google's seemingly never-ending cull are Flock and Bump. Bump was only acquired back in September, but it is already on the kill list. At the time of the acquisition, there was debate about whether the service might be rebranded, but as of the end of January it will be no more.

Bump was, in its day, quite an innovative tool, seen by many as the precursor to NFC. It enabled files to be quickly transferred between devices by bumping them together. Flock was a similar tool, but concerned solely with photo sharing. However as of 31 January, both apps will disappear from view, as announced in a blog post by CEO and co-founder of Bump, David Lieb:

Back in September, we announced that the Bump team was joining Google to continue our work of helping people share and interact with one another using mobile devices.

We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google, and we've decided to discontinue Bump and Flock. On January 31, 2014, Bump and Flock will be removed from the App Store and Google Play. After this date, neither app will work, and all user data will be deleted.

If you have data stored in either app, don’t panic. As Lieb explains in his blog post, you'll be able to grab a copy of it:

We've taken much care to make sure that you can retain any data you have in Bump and Flock. At any point in the next 30 days, simply open either app and and follow the instructions for exporting your data. You’ll then receive an email with a link containing all of your data (photos, videos, contacts, etc) from Bump or Flock.

It is possible that we have not completely seen the end of Bump and Flock yet; they could still re-emerge in a new guise. Lieb makes reference to Bump's "new creations at Google", so there could well be another announcement in the pipeline.

Image Credit: IkeHayden / Shutterstock
Google does it again -- kills Bump and Flock

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 9:39pm CET par Mark Wilson

It's becoming quite a trend with Google. Buy up an interesting company or service, sit on it for a little while… and then shut it down. The latest victims of Google's seemingly never-ending cull are Flock and Bump. Bump was only acquired back in September, but it is already on the kill list. At the time of the acquisition, there was debate about whether the service might be rebranded, but as of the end of January it will be no more.

Bump was, in its day, quite an innovative tool, seen by many as the precursor to NFC. It enabled files to be quickly transferred between devices by bumping them together. Flock was a similar tool, but concerned solely with photo sharing. However as of 31 January, both apps will disappear from view, as announced in a blog post by CEO and co-founder of Bump, David Lieb:

Back in September, we announced that the Bump team was joining Google to continue our work of helping people share and interact with one another using mobile devices.

We are now deeply focused on our new projects within Google, and we've decided to discontinue Bump and Flock. On January 31, 2014, Bump and Flock will be removed from the App Store and Google Play. After this date, neither app will work, and all user data will be deleted.

If you have data stored in either app, don’t panic. As Lieb explains in his blog post, you'll be able to grab a copy of it:

We've taken much care to make sure that you can retain any data you have in Bump and Flock. At any point in the next 30 days, simply open either app and and follow the instructions for exporting your data. You’ll then receive an email with a link containing all of your data (photos, videos, contacts, etc) from Bump or Flock.

It is possible that we have not completely seen the end of Bump and Flock yet; they could still re-emerge in a new guise. Lieb makes reference to Bump's "new creations at Google", so there could well be another announcement in the pipeline.

Image Credit: IkeHayden / Shutterstock
Best iOS apps this week

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 7:50pm CET par Wayne Williams

First in a series. Every week thousands of great new iOS apps arrive in the App Store. These range from big name games to tiny gems hoping to build up a following by word of mouth. A trip into the app store can be a world of discovery, but it’s an area we’ve somewhat neglected in the past here at BetaNews.

Well that’s set to change. Every Friday I’ll highlight the best new apps of the week -- both free and paid -- for iPhone and iPad. I’ll cover the biggest releases, naturally, but also endeavor to pull out some new or recently updated apps that you likely won’t be aware of.

I’ll also occasionally mention any price drops of note (including Apple's App of the Week picks), because who doesn’t love a sale or a bargain?

Naturally, I won’t be able to cover every app that gets released or updated so some great choices are bound to get missed, which is where (hopefully) you come in.

If you spot a great new app that I’ve failed to include please mention it in the comments below.

Finally, if you download and try any of the new apps I cover here, do let us know what you think of them.

Paid App of the Week

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed ($4.99)

Offers in-app purchases.

Arriving in the App Store with little fanfare, this game is the official slimmed down iOS version of Sega’s console racer.

It’s a Mario Kart-style game in which you play as one of ten legendary characters including Sonic The Hedgehog, Tails, AiAi, and Shenmue’s Ryo Hazuki. Sega intends to add extra characters soon -- the console version has over 20 to choose from.

You can race on land, sea and in the air, and on dynamically changing courses. There’s a new World Tour mode designed for mobile, and you can race against friends both online and locally.

Free App of the Week

Jet Car Stunts 2

Offers in-app purchases.

A sequel to (can you guess?) True Axis' Jet Car Stunts, this game gives you the chance to indulge in some crazy stunt driving at high speeds, with mad jumps and jet physics.

It offers 120 levels and three difficulty settings, seven cars (with different handling) and four game modes. You can even create and share your own levels.

The game also supports physical iOS 7 controllers.

Other Apps

Feed Me Oil 2 ($2.99)

Offers in-app purchases.

Chillingo’s sequel to its popular liquid physics puzzler has a new look and lets you guide oil through the air, water and along ice.

There are four chapters to play through, and fun gadgets you can use to guide your oil, such as windmills and fans. Use as few tools as possible on a level to clear it with a three star rating.

LYNE ($2.99)

A minimalist puzzle game that, according to the developer, "will knot your brain as it calms your soul".

Essentially the aim is to connect shapes of the same type by drawing a line through them, and filling the board. There are hundreds of pre-built puzzles to play through, with procedurally-generated puzzles released daily.

Shoots & Leaves ($1.99)

There are lots of ways to share photos online including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat (well maybe not that last one at the moment). Shoots & Leaves is an alternative that lets you upload your photos to a hosting service (multiple choices are supported) and create a link that performs an action of your choosing. Actions include delivering a reminder, sending an SMS or an email, opening a link in Safari, sending it to another app (only Omnifocus and Drafts are supported at the moment) and so on.

Elevation Earth ($2.99)

This is a 3D exaggerated virtual Earth that lets you explore the deepest oceans and the highest mountains. You can tour over 300 different "elevation relevant" locations, such as islands, cities and shipwrecks, and increase the low and high points on earth using the exaggeration option.

You can create high resolution imagery and share it with friends and visit (or create) a number of different global warming scenarios covering the past, present or future.

Journeys of Invention

Offers in-app purchases.

This app aims to bring over 80 objects from London’s Science Museum to life. You can study, rotate and operate some of the world's most amazing scientific inventions, including the Apollo 10 Command Module, the World War II Enigma Machine, and a Magic Lantern.

Fitbit

Updated in time for the New Year when people traditionally try to get into better shape, the Fitbit app now makes use of the iPhone 5s’ M7 motion coprocessor to transform Apple’s new phone into a basic Fitbit activity tracker.

It records the steps you take, distance traveled, calories burned, active minutes and more.

Although it isn’t a total replacement for dedicated Fitbit hardware like the Flex, Zip, or One, it is pretty decent, and free.

Apple’s App of the Week

Scanner Pro by Readdle

Offers in-app purchases.

Readdle’s Scanner Pro usually sells for $7, but as Apple has made it app of the week it’s currently available for free. It turns your iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner and can scan documents, notes, receipts, photos, and so on, and upload them to services like Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive. You can also email or print scans.

In-app purchases are available in the form of Fax units.
Best iOS apps this week

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 7:50pm CET par Wayne Williams

First in a series. Every week thousands of great new iOS apps arrive in the App Store. These range from big name games to tiny gems hoping to build up a following by word of mouth. A trip into the app store can be a world of discovery, but it’s an area we’ve somewhat neglected in the past here at BetaNews.

Well that’s set to change. Every Friday I’ll highlight the best new apps of the week -- both free and paid -- for iPhone and iPad. I’ll cover the biggest releases, naturally, but also endeavor to pull out some new or recently updated apps that you likely won’t be aware of.

I’ll also occasionally mention any price drops of note (including Apple's App of the Week picks), because who doesn’t love a sale or a bargain?

Naturally, I won’t be able to cover every app that gets released or updated so some great choices are bound to get missed, which is where (hopefully) you come in.

If you spot a great new app that I’ve failed to include please mention it in the comments below.

Finally, if you download and try any of the new apps I cover here, do let us know what you think of them.

Paid App of the Week

Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed ($4.99)

Offers in-app purchases.

Arriving in the App Store with little fanfare, this game is the official slimmed down iOS version of Sega’s console racer.

It’s a Mario Kart-style game in which you play as one of ten legendary characters including Sonic The Hedgehog, Tails, AiAi, and Shenmue’s Ryo Hazuki. Sega intends to add extra characters soon -- the console version has over 20 to choose from.

You can race on land, sea and in the air, and on dynamically changing courses. There’s a new World Tour mode designed for mobile, and you can race against friends both online and locally.

Free App of the Week

Jet Car Stunts 2

Offers in-app purchases.

A sequel to (can you guess?) True Axis' Jet Car Stunts, this game gives you the chance to indulge in some crazy stunt driving at high speeds, with mad jumps and jet physics.

It offers 120 levels and three difficulty settings, seven cars (with different handling) and four game modes. You can even create and share your own levels.

The game also supports physical iOS 7 controllers.

Other Apps

Feed Me Oil 2 ($2.99)

Offers in-app purchases.

Chillingo’s sequel to its popular liquid physics puzzler has a new look and lets you guide oil through the air, water and along ice.

There are four chapters to play through, and fun gadgets you can use to guide your oil, such as windmills and fans. Use as few tools as possible on a level to clear it with a three star rating.

LYNE ($2.99)

A minimalist puzzle game that, according to the developer, "will knot your brain as it calms your soul".

Essentially the aim is to connect shapes of the same type by drawing a line through them, and filling the board. There are hundreds of pre-built puzzles to play through, with procedurally-generated puzzles released daily.

Shoots & Leaves ($1.99)

There are lots of ways to share photos online including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat (well maybe not that last one at the moment). Shoots & Leaves is an alternative that lets you upload your photos to a hosting service (multiple choices are supported) and create a link that performs an action of your choosing. Actions include delivering a reminder, sending an SMS or an email, opening a link in Safari, sending it to another app (only Omnifocus and Drafts are supported at the moment) and so on.

Elevation Earth ($2.99)

This is a 3D exaggerated virtual Earth that lets you explore the deepest oceans and the highest mountains. You can tour over 300 different "elevation relevant" locations, such as islands, cities and shipwrecks, and increase the low and high points on earth using the exaggeration option.

You can create high resolution imagery and share it with friends and visit (or create) a number of different global warming scenarios covering the past, present or future.

Journeys of Invention

Offers in-app purchases.

This app aims to bring over 80 objects from London’s Science Museum to life. You can study, rotate and operate some of the world's most amazing scientific inventions, including the Apollo 10 Command Module, the World War II Enigma Machine, and a Magic Lantern.

Fitbit

Updated in time for the New Year when people traditionally try to get into better shape, the Fitbit app now makes use of the iPhone 5s’ M7 motion coprocessor to transform Apple’s new phone into a basic Fitbit activity tracker.

It records the steps you take, distance traveled, calories burned, active minutes and more.

Although it isn’t a total replacement for dedicated Fitbit hardware like the Flex, Zip, or One, it is pretty decent, and free.

Apple’s App of the Week

Scanner Pro by Readdle

Offers in-app purchases.

Readdle’s Scanner Pro usually sells for $7, but as Apple has made it app of the week it’s currently available for free. It turns your iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner and can scan documents, notes, receipts, photos, and so on, and upload them to services like Dropbox, Evernote, and Google Drive. You can also email or print scans.

In-app purchases are available in the form of Fax units.
Best Windows 8 apps this week

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 7:32pm CET par Martin Brinkmann
Sixty-second in a series. The overall count of new apps that were published to the US Windows Store stayed well below the 2,000 mark for the second week in a row. Just 1,326 were published to it this week .

That's a slight decrease of 17 apps when compared to last week, and likely still caused by year-end festivities.

103,631 apps are now available in the US Windows Store, with 81,051 of them free to download and install. The remaining 22,580 applications on the other hand are desktop programs and paid applications.

As far as app news goes, we learned this week that Mozilla is -- once again -- postponing the release of the Modern UI version of Firefox. While already integrated in the Nightly version, it will make its stable version debut on March 18th instead of January as originally planned.

This week's Red Stripe Deals are the following:
- Hydro Thunder Hurricane for $4.99
- Pocket Yoga for $1.49
- Big Mountain Snowboarding for $1.49
- Dungeon of Legends for $1.99
- Files&Folders for $3.99
- Pettson's Inventions 2 for $1.49
All Red Stripe deals are discounted by at least 50 percent.

App of the week

Special Enquiry Detail

This is the free version of the game. You need to unlock the full release for $6.99 to play all of the chapters.

You play two detectives in the game that have just been transferred to the new Special Enquiry Detail unit.

You are presented with a list of tasks that you need to complete during your investigation. This includes talking to suspects or witnesses, investigating crime scenes and clues, or finding objects or people of interest.

The game mixes elements around quite a bit. Sometimes, you need to click on points of interest to find out more about them, at other times you talk to other people or solve puzzles and mini-games such as "find the object" to progress.

The game offers beautiful comic-style graphics and is quite long. If you purchase it you get to play through 12 chapters in total.

Other apps

F18 Carrier Landing Lite

This is the limited version of F18 Carrier Landing, an app that is available for $3.49 in the store.

The simulation is all about taking off and landing your airplane safely. While that involves some flying around as well, it really comes down to those two parts mainly.

The three scenarios that are included in the game offer some diversity. You take off from an aircraft carrier on one to land on an airbase, or start from an airbase to land on a carrier.

Besides that, you can also fly training missions, change weather conditions, or participate in global landing competitions against other players.

Planes can be controlled with the keyboard or by touch, and simulation fans can enable a special mode to add more controls to the game that make it more realistic.

Cooking with Kids

From the Great British Chefs series comes Cooking With Kids, a cookbook specifically designed for recipes that parents can cook with their children.

Among the recipes are fun choices such as London Eye tart, North Pole cake, or Veggie Wellington.

High definition photos are provided for each dish, and the recipes include information about the dish's difficulty, course, serves, and timing.

Each recipe offers information on how children can participate in the creation of the dish.

One issue that you will encounter right now is that the ingredient list is not complete. You will find "unknown ingredients" listed here, and while that is an error that will be fixed eventually, it has not been at the time of writing.

Qwilo

According to the creator of the app, Qwilo is the only licensed Craigslist application for Windows 8. While there are others, like the immensely popular Craigslist+, none of them are official apps by the service itself.

First thing you need to do is add one or multiple locations to the app. Once you have done so, you can start browsing Craigslist items using the app, or making use of the search to find something in particular.

Items are listed with photos if available, as well as title, date they were added to Craigslist, and an asking price if applicable.

A click on an item displays detailed information about it, including additional photos, the item's description, and contact information.

RentMatch

The RentMatch application for Windows 8 offers apartment and rental property reviews. It covers 25 large cities such as Washington DC, Los Angeles or Chicago in the US, and reviews that include ratings and lots of photos.

When you select a city in the main interface, you can either start to browse the available objects right away, or use the search if you are looking for reviews for a particular one.

While there is no guarantee that the place you are looking for is covered, the app seems to offer many reviews per supported city.

Geekatoo

The tech support application offers assistance for computers, televisions and audio devices, mobiles, cameras and video games.

To start, select the area that you are interested in, e.g. Troubleshoot/Repair a Computer/Laptop (up to 2hrs), eliminate viruses, or set up a new printer to get additional information about what is included in the service.

You can add the service directly to your cart, or call a phone number for additional information.

Once you have made the payment, a member of the company's support staff will contact you to arrange a meeting for the service to take place. This can be at your home, an office, a coffee shop or other locations.

Geekatoo is only available in the US for now.

Bitcoin Tradr

This application requires a Coinbase account to get started. You can either create one with a click on the registration button, or enter your Coinbase API key directly if you already have an account.

Once done, you are free to trade Bitcoin, or monitor price developments of the virtual currency.

Each trade you make, be it buy, sell or send, is listed on the main page of the application.

In addition to that the app can display the price of Bitcoin on the Start Screen.

My Country 2020

The follow-up game to My Country lets you build a futuristic island metropolis. The game plays like a mixture of Sim City and other simulation games such as Sim Tower.

The core difference between My Country 2020 and Sim City is that you not only build buildings and infrastructure, but also control work in your city -- at least to a certain degree.

When you build a new tower for example, you need to hire a manager to take control of day to day events. That manager can only be hired if you get certain items first, which you can do by performing certain tasks on the game map (such as drinking coffee).

Activities cost energy, and while you do get some at the start of the game, it is one of the game elements that you can replenish with real-money.

The game offers quests and challenges that you can complete for money and experience, and disasters that you have to overcome.
Best Windows 8 apps this week

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 7:32pm CET par Martin Brinkmann
Sixty-second in a series. The overall count of new apps that were published to the US Windows Store stayed well below the 2,000 mark for the second week in a row. Just 1,326 were published to it this week .

That's a slight decrease of 17 apps when compared to last week, and likely still caused by year-end festivities.

103,631 apps are now available in the US Windows Store, with 81,051 of them free to download and install. The remaining 22,580 applications on the other hand are desktop programs and paid applications.

As far as app news goes, we learned this week that Mozilla is -- once again -- postponing the release of the Modern UI version of Firefox. While already integrated in the Nightly version, it will make its stable version debut on March 18th instead of January as originally planned.

This week's Red Stripe Deals are the following:
- Hydro Thunder Hurricane for $4.99
- Pocket Yoga for $1.49
- Big Mountain Snowboarding for $1.49
- Dungeon of Legends for $1.99
- Files&Folders for $3.99
- Pettson's Inventions 2 for $1.49
All Red Stripe deals are discounted by at least 50 percent.

App of the week

Special Enquiry Detail

This is the free version of the game. You need to unlock the full release for $6.99 to play all of the chapters.

You play two detectives in the game that have just been transferred to the new Special Enquiry Detail unit.

You are presented with a list of tasks that you need to complete during your investigation. This includes talking to suspects or witnesses, investigating crime scenes and clues, or finding objects or people of interest.

The game mixes elements around quite a bit. Sometimes, you need to click on points of interest to find out more about them, at other times you talk to other people or solve puzzles and mini-games such as "find the object" to progress.

The game offers beautiful comic-style graphics and is quite long. If you purchase it you get to play through 12 chapters in total.

Other apps

F18 Carrier Landing Lite

This is the limited version of F18 Carrier Landing, an app that is available for $3.49 in the store.

The simulation is all about taking off and landing your airplane safely. While that involves some flying around as well, it really comes down to those two parts mainly.

The three scenarios that are included in the game offer some diversity. You take off from an aircraft carrier on one to land on an airbase, or start from an airbase to land on a carrier.

Besides that, you can also fly training missions, change weather conditions, or participate in global landing competitions against other players.

Planes can be controlled with the keyboard or by touch, and simulation fans can enable a special mode to add more controls to the game that make it more realistic.

Cooking with Kids

From the Great British Chefs series comes Cooking With Kids, a cookbook specifically designed for recipes that parents can cook with their children.

Among the recipes are fun choices such as London Eye tart, North Pole cake, or Veggie Wellington.

High definition photos are provided for each dish, and the recipes include information about the dish's difficulty, course, serves, and timing.

Each recipe offers information on how children can participate in the creation of the dish.

One issue that you will encounter right now is that the ingredient list is not complete. You will find "unknown ingredients" listed here, and while that is an error that will be fixed eventually, it has not been at the time of writing.

Qwilo

According to the creator of the app, Qwilo is the only licensed Craigslist application for Windows 8. While there are others, like the immensely popular Craigslist+, none of them are official apps by the service itself.

First thing you need to do is add one or multiple locations to the app. Once you have done so, you can start browsing Craigslist items using the app, or making use of the search to find something in particular.

Items are listed with photos if available, as well as title, date they were added to Craigslist, and an asking price if applicable.

A click on an item displays detailed information about it, including additional photos, the item's description, and contact information.

RentMatch

The RentMatch application for Windows 8 offers apartment and rental property reviews. It covers 25 large cities such as Washington DC, Los Angeles or Chicago in the US, and reviews that include ratings and lots of photos.

When you select a city in the main interface, you can either start to browse the available objects right away, or use the search if you are looking for reviews for a particular one.

While there is no guarantee that the place you are looking for is covered, the app seems to offer many reviews per supported city.

Geekatoo

The tech support application offers assistance for computers, televisions and audio devices, mobiles, cameras and video games.

To start, select the area that you are interested in, e.g. Troubleshoot/Repair a Computer/Laptop (up to 2hrs), eliminate viruses, or set up a new printer to get additional information about what is included in the service.

You can add the service directly to your cart, or call a phone number for additional information.

Once you have made the payment, a member of the company's support staff will contact you to arrange a meeting for the service to take place. This can be at your home, an office, a coffee shop or other locations.

Geekatoo is only available in the US for now.

Bitcoin Tradr

This application requires a Coinbase account to get started. You can either create one with a click on the registration button, or enter your Coinbase API key directly if you already have an account.

Once done, you are free to trade Bitcoin, or monitor price developments of the virtual currency.

Each trade you make, be it buy, sell or send, is listed on the main page of the application.

In addition to that the app can display the price of Bitcoin on the Start Screen.

My Country 2020

The follow-up game to My Country lets you build a futuristic island metropolis. The game plays like a mixture of Sim City and other simulation games such as Sim Tower.

The core difference between My Country 2020 and Sim City is that you not only build buildings and infrastructure, but also control work in your city -- at least to a certain degree.

When you build a new tower for example, you need to hire a manager to take control of day to day events. That manager can only be hired if you get certain items first, which you can do by performing certain tasks on the game map (such as drinking coffee).

Activities cost energy, and while you do get some at the start of the game, it is one of the game elements that you can replenish with real-money.

The game offers quests and challenges that you can complete for money and experience, and disasters that you have to overcome.
Unchecky now helps you avoid even more adware

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 3:51pm CET par Mike Williams

Unchecky, the clever tool which adjusts setup programs so they don’t install adware by default, has been upgraded to version 0.2.

Core improvements start with support for many more installers. There have also been more than 20 issues resolved, some significant, which means this release is far more stable.

New "advanced settings" mean you can now disable automatic Unchecky updates, as well as telling the program not to use your HOSTS file to block OpenCandy, BetterInstaller and similar servers.

All this is presented in a new interface, along with extra information, including the number of checkboxes the program has unchecked so far.

If you really want to avoid adware then we think the best approach is to pay close attention during the setup process, and make sure you know exactly what you’re installing. Everyone makes mistakes, though, and it may still be worth using Unchecky as a second line of defense, just to help keep your system adware-free.
Unchecky now helps you avoid even more adware

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 3:51pm CET par Mike Williams

Unchecky, the clever tool which adjusts setup programs so they don’t install adware by default, has been upgraded to version 0.2.

Core improvements start with support for many more installers. There have also been more than 20 issues resolved, some significant, which means this release is far more stable.

New "advanced settings" mean you can now disable automatic Unchecky updates, as well as telling the program not to use your HOSTS file to block OpenCandy, BetterInstaller and similar servers.

All this is presented in a new interface, along with extra information, including the number of checkboxes the program has unchecked so far.

If you really want to avoid adware then we think the best approach is to pay close attention during the setup process, and make sure you know exactly what you’re installing. Everyone makes mistakes, though, and it may still be worth using Unchecky as a second line of defense, just to help keep your system adware-free.
Snapchat blames feature 'abuse' for phone number and username leak, issues no apology

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 3:07pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

Snapchat has received quite a bit of publicity after allegedly turning down buyout offers of billions of dollars from Facebook and Google. Now, the service is in the spotlight once again following a leak which exposed 4.6 million phone numbers and usernames.

Snapchat has responded to the leak in a blog post, which explains that the culprit is actually an abuse of the Find Friends feature. According to the service, "it was possible for an attacker to use the functionality of Find Friends to upload a large number of random phone numbers and match them with Snapchat usernames. On New Years Eve [sic], an attacker released a database of partially redacted phone numbers and usernames. No other information, including Snaps, was leaked or accessed in these attacks".

Snapchat admits knowing about the hack, and said that, "shortly after", it "implemented practices like rate limiting aimed at addressing these concerns". A previous blog post tried to assuage concerns of a possible leak of phone numbers and usernames. "Over the past year we've implemented various safeguards to make it more difficult to do. We recently added additional counter-measures and continue to make improvements to combat spam and abuse", says Snapchat. Clearly, not enough was done to prevent the leak.

Gibson Security is responsible for discovering the "potential Find Friends abuse" (as the service calls it), informing Snapchat and publishing a report about it earlier last year. The exploit was publicly documented, by the same group, on Christmas. Another group, responsible for the SnapchatDB which contains the affected phone numbers and usernames, leaked the data on New Year's Eve, because Snapchat allegedly did not "care enough to implement something as simple as rate limiting", to fix the problem.

Snapchat has promised that updated apps will be released, which will allow its users to opt out of showing up in Find Friends results after verifying their phone number. The service also promises that rate limiting will be improved, and other restrictions will be set in place in order to prevent future attempts of "abuse". There is even a new email address -- security at Snapchat dot com -- for security experts to use after discovering ways to hack Snapchat.

Some users, however, are disappointed that Snapchat did not issue a public apology after millions of usernames and phone numbers (possibly theirs too) were leaked. Considering that, according to the hackers, the data was exposed with only minor tweaks to the original exploit that Snapchat was contacted about earlier, and it happened just days after Snapchat promised it had beefed up its security, expecting such an apology is fully understandable.

Image Credit: JMiks / Shutterstock
Touch this! Acer C720P Chromebook white

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 2:03pm CET par Joe Wilcox

Consumer Electronics Show 2014 starts next week, and that means tech companies tripping over one another to get the goods front and center early. No one really waits for Day One anymore, and Acer picks Day -4 to announce another touchscreen Chromebook -- this one in Moonstone White. Moonstone? Does it light up the Google cloud at night?

The white C720P joins the darker sibling launched in late November. Touch is the C720P's defining characteristic for the price. Google is the only other company selling a touchscreen Chromebook, and it starts much higher -- $1,299. Anyone looking for the feature on a budget laptop running Chrome OS, Acer C720P is it.

I must say that from the photos, the Moonstone White Chromebook sure is pretty. Design is a benefit, too, and with PCs being so personal it is a defining feature for many buyers. I'm surprised Acer doesn't jack up the price like Apple did (by $150) for black MacBook eight years ago.

Looking outside in, configurations are the same: 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2955U "Haswell" processor; 11.6-inch display with 1366 by 768 resolution; 2GB memory; 32GB SSD; SD card slot; Bluetooth 4; WiFi A/N; and Chrome OS. The laptop weighs 2.8 pounds. Acer claims 7.5 hours battery life, which sounds right for the microprocessor. Price, like the original: $299.99

As someone using Chromebook for more than three years, I have strong opinions about memory and recommend against 2GB configurations for anything other than casual web browsing or writing. My experience: 4GB delivers a much smoother experience that is more satisfying for anyone moving from Linux, OS X, or Windows. Acer sells the darker model with 4GB, but strangely with half the storage space, for $329.99. There are no immediate plans to offer the configuration in white. I asked about user memory upgrades, and Acer says such tinkering can be done but voids the one-year warranty. So upgrade at your own risk.

There is much Chromebook buzz right now, particularly with Dell shipping its first model this year, and HP and Google designing one together. Like the C720P, the Dell and HP laptops, both named Chromebook 11 (How bloody confusing is that?), have 11.6-inch screens -- but no touch.

Success Story

In three years, Google has taken Chromebook from concept (December 2010) to early market success. By December 2013, every major Windows OEM had committed to the rival platform. Last week of the year, Amazon revealed that Samsung and Acer Chromebooks were the first and third top-selling holiday season laptops, respectively. Acer C720 (non-P model) and Samsung Series 3 ranked first and second in the category, respectively, at the end of 2013.

Through end of November, Chromebook accounted for 21 percent of preconfigured desktop and notebook sales through U.S. commercial channels, according to NPD. Business and education are the two segments showing most interest in Chromebook. Both are Dell mainstays, which partly explains the company's sudden willingness to go Chromebook and to provide tools designed for both markets. Dell validates the market for early supporters Acer and Samsung.

Chromebook pioneer Samsung greatly benefitted, selling to education and government, mainly during second and third quarter. "While HP and Lenovo have traditionally dominated sales in these channels, the addition of Chromebooks allowed Samsung to become the third-largest PC brand in this market during the year-to-date", Stephen Baker, NPD vice president of industry analysis, says.

But among PC manufacturers, only Acer offers touch Chromebook. Will the feature bring buyers? The first C720P launched too recently to say, but the company's commitment to a new color and offering a 4GB SKU for the original expresses much confidence.
Touch this! Acer C720P Chromebook white

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 2:03pm CET par Joe Wilcox

Consumer Electronics Show 2014 starts next week, and that means tech companies tripping over one another to get the goods front and center early. No one really waits for Day One anymore, and Acer picks Day -4 to announce another touchscreen Chromebook -- this one in Moonstone White. Moonstone? Does it light up the Google cloud at night?

The white C720P joins the darker sibling launched in late November. Touch is the C720P's defining characteristic for the price. Google is the only other company selling a touchscreen Chromebook, and it starts much higher -- $1,299. Anyone looking for the feature on a budget laptop running Chrome OS, Acer C720P is it.

I must say that from the photos, the Moonstone White Chromebook sure is pretty. Design is a benefit, too, and with PCs being so personal it is a defining feature for many buyers. I'm surprised Acer doesn't jack up the price like Apple did (by $150) for black MacBook eight years ago.

Looking outside in, configurations are the same: 1.4GHz Intel Celeron 2955U "Haswell" processor; 11.6-inch display with 1366 by 768 resolution; 2GB memory; 32GB SSD; SD card slot; Bluetooth 4; WiFi A/N; and Chrome OS. The laptop weighs 2.8 pounds. Acer claims 7.5 hours battery life, which sounds right for the microprocessor. Price, like the original: $299.99

As someone using Chromebook for more than three years, I have strong opinions about memory and recommend against 2GB configurations for anything other than casual web browsing or writing. My experience: 4GB delivers a much smoother experience that is more satisfying for anyone moving from Linux, OS X, or Windows. Acer sells the darker model with 4GB, but strangely with half the storage space, for $329.99. There are no immediate plans to offer the configuration in white. I asked about user memory upgrades, and Acer says such tinkering can be done but voids the one-year warranty. So upgrade at your own risk.

There is much Chromebook buzz right now, particularly with Dell shipping its first model this year, and HP and Google designing one together. Like the C720P, the Dell and HP laptops, both named Chromebook 11 (How bloody confusing is that?), have 11.6-inch screens -- but no touch.

Success Story

In three years, Google has taken Chromebook from concept (December 2010) to early market success. By December 2013, every major Windows OEM had committed to the rival platform. Last week of the year, Amazon revealed that Samsung and Acer Chromebooks were the first and third top-selling holiday season laptops, respectively. Acer C720 (non-P model) and Samsung Series 3 ranked first and second in the category, respectively, at the end of 2013.

Through end of November, Chromebook accounted for 21 percent of preconfigured desktop and notebook sales through U.S. commercial channels, according to NPD. Business and education are the two segments showing most interest in Chromebook. Both are Dell mainstays, which partly explains the company's sudden willingness to go Chromebook and to provide tools designed for both markets. Dell validates the market for early supporters Acer and Samsung.

Chromebook pioneer Samsung greatly benefitted, selling to education and government, mainly during second and third quarter. "While HP and Lenovo have traditionally dominated sales in these channels, the addition of Chromebooks allowed Samsung to become the third-largest PC brand in this market during the year-to-date", Stephen Baker, NPD vice president of industry analysis, says.

But among PC manufacturers, only Acer offers touch Chromebook. Will the feature bring buyers? The first C720P launched too recently to say, but the company's commitment to a new color and offering a 4GB SKU for the original expresses much confidence.
Acer unveils a pair of small and affordable Android tablets -- Iconia A1 and B1

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 1:15pm CET par Brian Fagioli

When Apple released the iPad, it was a game-changer. The 9.7-inch form factor became the effective and default industry tablet size. In other words, a tablet was that size because the iPad was, and it wasn't challenged. However, Google disrupted this thinking and released the Nexus 7 in 2012. Not only did the 7-inch tablet become wildly popular, but it created the belief that a small tablet was usable and desired. Heck, even Apple jumped on the smaller-tablet bandwagon with iPad Mini.

Sadly, the small Android tablet market that was carved out by the Nexus 7 has become littered with trash. You see, many manufacturers have made the small tablet form factor synonymous with both low cost and low-quality. Today, Acer announces two small tablets that are inexpensive, but definitely not trash -- the Iconia A1 and B1.

Both of these tablets are rather inexpensive and run Android 4.2.1. However, the similarities pretty much end there. One tablet is aimed at feeling premium, while the other is unapologetically low-end.

Acer Iconia A1-830 -- $149 USD (Available Quarter-1, 2014)

"Our fundamental goal when creating the Acer Iconia A1-830 was to provide our customers with an optimized Android tablet that stands out from other devices. Consumers expect more than ever from value-oriented products, and the Acer Iconia A1-830 tablet delivers outstanding performance and battery life, a bright IPS display and a more premium aluminum metal finish than is typically offered in tablets in this class", says Paul Tayar, director of product marketing, connected devices, Acer America.

In other words, Acer has created a premium tablet at a budget price. This is no surprise as I typically associate the manufacturer with value and "bang for your buck". The company also makes the affordable yet celebrated C720 series of Chromebooks.

The 7.9-inch tablet has a Clover Trail x86 Intel Atom processor (Z2560 1.6GHz processor) and 1GB of RAM. You typically do not see Intel processors for Android at this price point. While not a newer Bay Trail processor, it should still be sufficient for most things. However, not all is roses with an Intel processor. Most Android apps are created for ARM and if they are not optimized for x86, there can be performance issues and slowness.

The tablet has an IPS display, but it is not 1080p. Instead, the resolution is 1024 by 768 -- passable on a small screen. Luckily, it also has dual speakers for improved stereo. Watching movies and listening to music should be as expected.

I am most intrigued by the hackability of a small and inexpensive x86 tablet. While there is no guarantee it can run full Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, etc.) or Windows 8, the possibility is there. I have no doubt that some hacker somewhere will at least attempt running alternative operating systems.

The 2013 version of the Nexus 7 has been selling for $199 lately, so it is a slightly hard sell to offer this at only $50 less. Sure, the screen is bigger, but the resolution is worse. I think Acer did a smart thing by using an x86 processor -- that will be the selling point and differentiation from Google and Asus' 7-inch tablet.

Acer Iconia B1-720 -- $129 USD (Available mid-January)

"The tablet is ideal for new users or families looking for an additional tablet for their children. The thin design and narrow bezel of the 7-inch Iconia B1 makes it perfect for e-reading, web browsing, playing games and watching videos. The new back cover provides a comfortable touch with a silky finish and textured pattern, with two color options on the front bezel in gray and red", says Acer.

Acer further explains, "the new Iconia B1 features a 10-point touch display encased in a slim bezel and supported by One Glass Solution technology, which makes the display thinner and brighter. One Glass Solution also gives the user a closer touch experience with objects on screen. In addition, both speaker and microphone are placed on the front to provide higher volume, more immersive sound for music and video enjoyment, and clearer voice quality for video calls".

Whenever I hear a company say that a tablet is ideal for children, I think "this thing probably sucks". However, a second, inexpensive tablet for a family does have its place. After all, you don't want to hand a $500 iPad to a toddler.

Acer does not provide details about the processor other than to say it is a dual-core 1.3Ghz variant. Because of the very low cost, it can safely be assumed that it is a low-end ARM processor. This budget 7-inch tablet will also come with 1GB of RAM, which should be sufficient for most tasks.

Conclusion

Is there any room for more budget Android tablets? Or should all consumers interested in a small Android tablet just buy a Nexus 7 instead? Tell me in the comments.
Archos announces two affordable 4G LTE Android smartphones

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 1:13pm CET par Mihaita Bamburic

As mobile operators across the globe continue to roll out 4G LTE networks, more consumers will be able to take advantage of faster data speeds. By 2017, market research firm Strategy Analytics predicts that the technology will reach 1 billion connections. The main requirement, on the user side, is a compatible, 4G LTE device.

Nowadays, 4G LTE smartphones are increasing in number and availability, but without mobile operator subsidies consumers may still be put off by the cost. Luckily for price-conscious buyers, more vendors are lowering the admission bar by offering even more affordable 4G LTE phones. French consumer electronics company Archos just revealed that one of its latest such devices can be had under the magical €200 mark.

"The smartphone has revolutionized the way consumers access information, giving them the ability to instantly view, connect and share ideas regardless of location and time", says Archos CEO Loïc Poirier. "The ARCHOS Helium 4G smartphones will once again change consumers' mindsets by making the best possible technology affordable". They're called 45 Helium 4G and 50 Helium 4G. Let's go through the details.

The least expensive model is called 45 Helium 4G (pictured to the left) and costs €199, off-contract. For the money, consumers get a 4.5-inch IPS display with a resolution of 480 by 854, a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor backed by Adreno 305 graphics and 1 GB of RAM, a 1,700 mAh battery, a 5 MP back-facing camera with LED flash, a 0.3 MP front-facing camera, 4 GB of internal storage, a microSD card slot, Bluetooth 3.0 and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with access to Google's Play store. I mentioned the last bit because it is not uncommon for Android devices at this price-point to only ship with access to less popular, third-party app stores. The 45 Helium 4G comes in at 135 x 67 x 9.75 mm; the weight is not provided.

The 50 Helium 4G (pictured at the top) is a bit more expensive, as the smartphone costs €239. For the extra €40, it adds a larger 5-inch (still IPS) screen with a resolution of 720 by 1280, twice the internal storage (8 GB), an 8 MP back-facing camera, a 2 MP front-facing camera and a 2,000 mAh battery. The physical dimensions are 145 x 71.5 x 8.95 mm (weight is again not provided).

Both smartphones will be presented at CES 2014, which kicks off next week. Archos has not specifically mentioned which markets the two devices will be available in, but the press releases were served in Dutch, English, French, Italian, German and Spanish.
Why Apple needs an iPad Pro

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 11:57am CET par Sameer Singh

I have previously explained the concept of tablet market tiers and the pattern of upmarket competition among Android vendors as they continue to fight for reasonable hardware margins.

Recent tablet install base data from ABI research seems to support this hypothesis and describes the same pattern we saw in the smartphone market. This also helps explains why Apple needs an iPad Pro.

First Time vs. Repeat Buyers

In the chart above, the tablet install base data for 2013 is from ABI. I've estimated 2011 data by using Transparency Market Research's 81.2 million figure for the total install base and IDC's 2010 & 2011 tablet shipment estimates to get a platform split. The data clearly shows the explosion in tablet ownership, with Android growing faster.

Now, compare this data, with the chart below:

The chart above shows IDC's reported branded tablet shipment estimates from 2012 to Q3 2013, i.e. the time frame between the two install base measurements shown in the first chart. While we're missing one quarter of data (Q4 2013), it is obvious that the growth disparity between the iPad and Android tablets is smaller. Based on this pattern, it seems that iPad sales are being driven by repeat buyers, while Android tablet sales are being driven by first time buyers.

The Need for an iPad Pro

Now compare this pattern with the tablet market tiers in the figure below (Keep in mind, these tiers are based on usage patterns and not on price):

Each lower market tier is successively larger and with lower penetration than the previous one. Branded Android tablets entered the large mid-tier market with "good enough" offerings that prevented the iPad from making a downmarket move. As a result, even the lower priced iPad Mini primarily catered to repeat buyers and cannibalized iPad sales instead of increasing the size of Apple's potential market. This explains the rapid drop in the iPad's shipment growth over the last year.

Now, what would happen when branded Android tablet vendors make a concerted upmarket push? This is inevitable because branded vendors are facing increasing margin pressures from regional brands and white box competitors in mid-market tiers. Increasing competition in the limited high-end market could cause iPad shipments to flat-line or even decline over the next few years. In response, Apple is likely to aggressively target the only market tier remaining above -- the enterprise. There is a reason iPad Pro rumors have been gaining steam.

Photo Credit: 1000 Words

This story was reposted with permission from tech-thoughts.

Sameer Singh is an M&A professional and business strategy consultant focusing on the mobile technology sector. He is founder and editor of tech-thoughts.net.
Why Apple needs an iPad Pro

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 11:57am CET par Sameer Singh

I have previously explained the concept of tablet market tiers and the pattern of upmarket competition among Android vendors as they continue to fight for reasonable hardware margins.

Recent tablet install base data from ABI research seems to support this hypothesis and describes the same pattern we saw in the smartphone market. This also helps explains why Apple needs an iPad Pro.

First Time vs. Repeat Buyers

In the chart above, the tablet install base data for 2013 is from ABI. I've estimated 2011 data by using Transparency Market Research's 81.2 million figure for the total install base and IDC's 2010 & 2011 tablet shipment estimates to get a platform split. The data clearly shows the explosion in tablet ownership, with Android growing faster.

Now, compare this data, with the chart below:

The chart above shows IDC's reported branded tablet shipment estimates from 2012 to Q3 2013, i.e. the time frame between the two install base measurements shown in the first chart. While we're missing one quarter of data (Q4 2013), it is obvious that the growth disparity between the iPad and Android tablets is smaller. Based on this pattern, it seems that iPad sales are being driven by repeat buyers, while Android tablet sales are being driven by first time buyers.

The Need for an iPad Pro

Now compare this pattern with the tablet market tiers in the figure below (Keep in mind, these tiers are based on usage patterns and not on price):

Each lower market tier is successively larger and with lower penetration than the previous one. Branded Android tablets entered the large mid-tier market with "good enough" offerings that prevented the iPad from making a downmarket move. As a result, even the lower priced iPad Mini primarily catered to repeat buyers and cannibalized iPad sales instead of increasing the size of Apple's potential market. This explains the rapid drop in the iPad's shipment growth over the last year.

Now, what would happen when branded Android tablet vendors make a concerted upmarket push? This is inevitable because branded vendors are facing increasing margin pressures from regional brands and white box competitors in mid-market tiers. Increasing competition in the limited high-end market could cause iPad shipments to flat-line or even decline over the next few years. In response, Apple is likely to aggressively target the only market tier remaining above -- the enterprise. There is a reason iPad Pro rumors have been gaining steam.

Photo Credit: 1000 Words

This story was reposted with permission from tech-thoughts.

Sameer Singh is an M&A professional and business strategy consultant focusing on the mobile technology sector. He is founder and editor of tech-thoughts.net.
Sound Valley adds audio scene composer

Publié: janvier 3, 2014, 11:55am CET par Mike Williams

Last November we took a look at Sound Valley, a fun program which plays the sounds of nature -- birdsong, rain, wind in the trees and more -- in the background, while you just sit back and relax.

We suggested at the time that it really needed a way to customize the existing scenes, perhaps create new ones, and it appears that the developer was listening: an update has just appeared with the beta of a new Scene Composer tool.

This latest addition seems packed with functionality. It can open existing scenes, view the 3D sound sources they contain, tweak various parameters (position, volume, delay and more), remove particular samples or add new ones.

Exactly how this all works isn’t entirely clear. The interface has some issues, there are a few mysterious options which we don’t understand ("Scene Normalization", "Update While Playing"), and clicking Help > Help for guidance reveals precisely nothing at all.

Still, Scene Composer is the beta of what’s plainly a very major addition to the project. Being able to add your own scenes will take the program to a whole new level, so we’re happy to wait for further developments. And of course the rest of Sound Valley still works just as it always did. If you’re feeling stressed with New Year hassles then grab a copy, click Play, sit back and relax for a while.