Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Android. Show all posts

Evernote rolls out reminders support for Android devices

Summary: Evernote continues to improve its service and this latest update gives the reminder function which was just a couple of weeks ago to iOS.

Evernote rolls out reminders support for Android devices(Image: Evernote)

A couple of weeks ago, added Evernote reminders to the iOS platform. They revealed today, they roll out reminders for Android and I couldn't be happier.

I use Evernote quite a bit and with their latest security update, I have even more confidence in their service. I hope to use my iPhone last week because I find the reminder function to use Evernote on my task list.

My HTC a never left my pocket, but this Evernote Android update (version 5.1) makes it even more compelling. We start to see apps coming to Android and updates much quicker than we did before, and I can find no real app gap between Android and iOS.

Matthew Miller began using a Pilot 1000 in 1997 and has written news, reviews and opinion pieces since then.

Toshiba launches three 10.1-inch Android tablets

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Toshiba has added three 10.1-inch Android tablets to its Excite lineup, priced from US$299 to US$599.

The first is the Excite Pure.

According to CNET, the tablet comes equipped with industry standard 1280x800 resolution display and is powered by Nvidia Tegra 3 processor. The tablet has a 1.2 MP front camera but oddly enough, no rear camera. The tablet runs on the Google Android 4.2.2 OS and has 16GB of storage. The storage on the tablet can also be expanded through a microSD card slot, as the tablet also offers connectivity through Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB. The Toshiba Excite Pure is priced at 16,876 rupees (US$299).

Pure-Front_610x397Excite Pure (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

The second tablet is the Excite Pro.

This is priced at 28,164 rupees (US$499). What makes this tablet different from Excite Pure is that it runs Nvidia's new Tegra 4 processor and the Google Android Jellybean OS. The resolution is also enhanced at 2560x1600 resolution display. The cameras are also are a far improvement from the Excite Pure, as the Excite Pro has a 1.3 MP front camera and 8 MP rear camera. It comes in a 32GB storage variant and sports dual Harman Kardon speakers. Just like the Excite Pure, the Excite Pro also has Micro-HDMI, Micro-USB, and microSD ports.

Pro-Front_610x384Excite Pro. (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Finally, the third new tablet being introduced by Toshiba is the Excite Write.

Priced at 33,808 rupees (US$599). As the name would suggest, this tablet allows the user to write with a Wacom digitizer that comes with the tablet. The Excite Pro and Excite Write are fundamentally the same tablet, with nearly identical specs and designs. The Excite Write is in direct competition against the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1. The Samsung Galaxy Note series has software that supports the S-Pen functionalities, while the Toshiba Excite Write does not. The tablet currently comes with only one app to make full use of the stylus, which is Toshiba's own TruNote note-taking app. Furthermore, the Toshiba Write does not have a slot to hold the stylus for the tablet as the Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 does.

write-ports610x239Excite Write. (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Personally, if I had to choose from the three, I would go with the Excite Pro simply because for the price the specifications are amazing. I've never been a real fan of writing on devices or using the stylus, and even though the price difference between the Excite Pro and Excite Write is simply for the additional writing capabilities, again, this is something I can live without right now.

What's also appealing to me, in addition to being sold on the Toshiba name, is the addition of Harman Kardon speakers. Anyone who knows their music will recognize Harman Kardon as being one of the best in the industry, and it's great to see their products being incorporated within mobile devices. 

McAfee: Hackers are increasingly targeting Android devices

Cybercriminals are targeting everything from social networking sites to desktop computers, mobile devices, and in some rare cases, medical equipment.

But more and more Android WINS focus in the hacker's eyes.

According to the latest McAfee threats report [PDF], covering the first quarter of 2013, developed the malware at Google mobile platform grew by more than 30 percent in the first three months of the year. Mobile attacks were on track to surpass the 2012 's total figures.

Screen Shot 2013-06-04 at 11.00.29Total mobile malware samples in the database (image: McAfee)

According to antivirus company, mobile malware even spread to booming economies such as South Korea and smartphone India, the latter where there will be approximately 67 million smartphone subscribers in the country at the end of this year. This represents approximately 6% of the total Indian population.

Overall, there are just shy of 51,000 new attacks in McAfee's database mobile malware samples for the first month. But this is down slightly from the last three months in 2012. This compares with only 792 samples in all 2011.

Android takes the largest chunk of mobile malware by platform pie. Symbian was the next with low single-digit percentage, followed by Java, which is now almost non-existent. Other platforms, such as Blackberry, iOS, doesn't even register.

Screen Shot 2013-06-04 at 11.01.14New Android malware (image: McAfee)

McAfee said the threats of Android-based mobile commercial spyware and adware was reduced, with many spyware and targeted attacks are becoming more prominent. The rise of botnets is also clear, the company warns, reiterating comments made earlier this year when it warned that the more developed countries and regions become a hotbed of activity.

Talk about targeted Trojans, the report reads: "as recently as late last year, it was possible to say that the majority of mobile attacks were located in Russia and China. This quarter, but we have seen criminals expand their operations to other parts of the world. "

Many seem to be directly targeted activists, McAfee warns.

Also in the report still computers the most directional vector for hackers and attacks. McAfee reports a total of 128 million samples on its database.

Social networks are also being targeted, such as Facebook and Twitter, to trick friends and acquaintances to install malicious code. McAfee reported a "significant" spike in Koobface work during the first quarter.


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Toshiba Launches three 10.1-inch Android tablets

Toshiba has added three 10.1-inch Android tablets to its Excite lineup, priced from $ 299 to $ 599.

First is inflammatory.

According to CNET, the Tablet is equipped with industry standard 1280 x 800 resolution and is powered by the Nvidia Tegra 2 processor. The Tablet has a 1.2 MP front camera but oddly has no rear camera. The tablet running on Google's Android OS 4.2.2 and has 16 GB of storage space. Storage on tablet can also be expanded through a microSD slot, the Tablet also offers connectivity via Micro-HDMI and Micro-USB. Toshiba Excite clean is priced to 16,876 rupees (US $ 299).

Pure-Front_610x397Excite clean (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

The second painting is inflammatory Pro.

This is priced at 28,164 rupees (US $ 499). What separates this tablet from Excite pure is that NVIDIA's new Tegra 2 processor and Google Android Jellybean OS. The resolution is also increased at 2560 x 1600 resolution. The cameras are also a far improvement from inflammatory pure, inflammatory Pro has a 1.3 MP front camera and 8 .3MP rear camera. It comes in a 32 GB storage variation and sports dual Harman Kardon speakers. Just as inflammatory clean has inflammatory Pro also Micro-HDMI, Micro-USB and microSD ports.

Pro-Front_610x384Excite Pro. (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Finally, the third new Tablet introduced by Toshiba Excite write.

Priced at 33,808 rupees (US $ 599). As the name suggests, allows this tablet user to write with a Wacom digitizer that comes with the tablet. Excite Pro and excite writing is basically the same tablet, with almost identical specifications and designs. Excite says is in direct competition against Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1. Samsung Galaxy note series has software that supports S-Pen functions, while the Toshiba Excite write not. The Tablet is currently just an app to make full use of the stylus, which is Toshiba's own notes app TruNote. Toshiba writing has, moreover, not a place to hold the pen tablet like the Samsung Galaxy tab 10.1 does.

write-ports610x239Excite sign. (Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET)

Personally, if I had to choose between the three, I'd go with excite Pro simply because the price specifications is amazing. I've never been a real fan of the type of devices or using the pen and, although the price gap between excite and excite Pro write is simply for additional writing capacity, again, this is something I can live without right now.

What is also appealing to me, besides being sold at the Toshiba name, is the addition of Harman Kardon speakers. Does anyone know their music will again Harman Kardon as one of the best in the business and it's great to see their products in mobile devices.


This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.

Best Android smartphones (June 2013 edition)

I looked at a couple of his books, not impressed.

I will use his book Javascript 1.5 by example as an example of his lack of attention to detail.

Chapter 3, "JavaScript in action", consists of describing objects, methods and properties and 3 examples of methods, alert(), confirm() and prompt (). Yes it is all over.

His definitions of
item is: simply put, an object is a thing, something. Just as things in the real world are objects (cars, dogs, dollar bills and so on), are considered things in the computer world as objects, too.

[2 lame paragraphs jumped]

Practices are things like object can do. In the real world have object methods. Cars move, dogs bark, dollar buying and so on. Alert () is a method of the window object, so the object can warn the user with a message box ...[useless additional paragraph]

Features: all items have properties. Cars have wheels and the dogs have fur. Things that the browser has Javascript, name, and version.

His methods example code:

=== END of CHAPTER 3 ===

My review.

"Simply an object is a thing, something." leaves the reader with nothing. An object not declared. If you don't know what an item is, you would now be able to answer the question, what is an object?

He did not explain what a method is, especially his "real world" approach such as "dollar buying". I think people do not buy dollars. If I had to explain the dollar as one object: the dollar has no methods and properties: dollars. value, dollar. $ date, serialNumber.

It his sample code??? This is terrible. Blind leading the blind.

Message for example, alert(), confirm() and prompt () is exactly the same except the passed value [text phrase].

Alert is OK

confirm and prompt is used to retrieve user input.

confirm, user clicks from a selection of buttons.

quick pick what the user types in the shortcut text field.

What is missing is the setting of a variable value. Confirm() and prompt () is never stand alone. There is always a variable assignment.

each choice = confirm ("which do you choose?");

var name = prompt ("What is your name?", "Please enter your name here.");

==================

In his technical blog that he claims often inaccurate "facts" or Miss detail.

Recent examples:
[Silvermont] provides three times more performance for five times less power than the current generation Atom nucleus.

This is how I say it correctly: it is expected that an Atom is running at maximum clock speed will exceed Z2560 by about 300%.

An Atom that runs at a lower clock rate, makes a performance level equal to Z2560, will use 500% less power.

What Adrian Kingsley-Hughes said 3 X performance and 5 X less power and there should be a or 3 X performance or 5 X less power.

In the post similar to this one "best Android tablets"

When listing the processor of the tablets had some processors is stated as:

1.4 GHz Exynos quad core processor
NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor
Dual-Core Processor ARM Cortex A15

My take on the detail. When you compare these tablets processors equal cannot be compared with the above lack of detail. This is SoC chips, which have a GPU as well.

Dual-Core Processor ARM Cortex A15 should:
Samsung Exynos 5250, dual-core 1.70 GHz Cortex A15 CPU and a quad-core Mali GPU T604

NVIDIA Tegra 3 quad-core processor should:
NVIDIA Tegra 3, a 1.3 GHz Cortex-A9 quad-core processor
and a twelve-core 416 MHz Nvidia GeForce ULP GPUS

1.4 GHz Exynos quad core processor should:
Samsung Exynos 4412, 1.4 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 and Mali-400MP GPU

I also would have included benchmarks.

The devil is in the details.

Android poised to overtake iOS in tablet platform share

 apple-ipad-mini-3591iPad mini expected to overtake full-sized iPad in shipments by the June quarter, while Android is poised to overtake iOS in the tablet market share. (Image: CNET)

Despite Apple's success in the tablet market in recent years, Android is poised to overtake iOS in the tablet platform space, according to ABI Research.


The research firm cited China as the wildcard variable in the ongoing tablet platform race. While the region is passionate about Apple's brand and the masses' ability to afford new technology, smaller Android-based tablets are becoming increasingly popular.


Enterprises appear torn between the cheap Android devices that cut down on IT budgets, but the simplicity and the security benefits that the iPad and iPad mini offer. But prosumers and SMB-minded folk are likely keeping $200 and under tablets on the table, and keeping Android relevant in both emerging and developed markets.  


"It's inevitable that Android tablets will overtake iOS-powered slates, though we see no single vendor challenging Apple’s dominance anytime soon," said ABI Research senior practice director Jeff Orr. 


While Android continues to spin in China, a massive population of still mostly untapped revenue for firms like Google and Apple, iPad popularity has reached its peak as well as a saturation point.


According to recent IDC figures, Apple had just shy of half the overall tablet shipments for the first quarter. That is, not because the company doesn't have its own slimmed-down tablet. Of course, it has the iPad mini.


But Android's platform share is far higher on two fronts: it has a greater platform spread with more Android-based devices, and many of those devices are 7-inches or less, just as the iPad mini is.


Apple's tablet growth is beginning to slow. Its overall market share is dipping quarter-over-quarter. Also, Apple's Mac sales are suffering as a result of the iPad explosion, leading to an eventual and potential ding for two of the company's major revenue-making divisions.


The average selling price has been moving down-market since Android tablets began to undercut the iPad — not just in price but physical size. (Remember, the iPad mini was in reaction to smaller Android tablets, rather than the other way around.)


In line with IDC's latest research, published on Tuesday, that claims smaller tablet screens would ultimately end up dominating the market — with 8-inch or less displays taking around 57 percent of the market by 2017 — ABI Research agrees.


"Expect iPad minis to become the predominant iPad model after the June quarter," Orr added.

Jelly Bean now runs a third of Android devices: Google

Summary: With a 33 percent use, Jelly Bean finally have gingerbread in their sights and are ready to overtake the aging Android release to take up space.

Google's statistics for devices to access its Play Store indicates that the latest incarnation of Android versions 4.1.x, 4.2.x, code named Jelly Bean — now power 33% of units in the store.

(Source: Google)

In the past month, Jelly Beans use stock — is called the distribution of Google – has increased by 4.6 per cent compared with the previous month. Jelly beans gains is at the expense of other Android versions, especially the Ice Cream Sandwich, which has seen its distribution to fall by 1.8 percentage points and gingerbread, which has seen its distribution fall by 2.1 percentage points.

See also: Android market share is really a "joke"?

Jelly Bean is now a couple of percentage points of overtaking the gingerbread as the most popular version of Android. In the current rate, this would happen this month.

Android landscape is now a three-way split between aging and gingerbread Ice Cream Sandwich editions, and the current Jelly Bean Edition.

The Data also shows clearly how Jelly Bean alone is now the only version of Android that are experiencing growth, which is good news for developers, because the average ecosystem will be less fragmented.

Beginning in April 2013, Google started to deliver data collected from each device when users visited Google play Store. Previously gathered data when the device is simply checked in to the Google servers. Google believes the new data "more accurately reflects the users who are most engaged in Android and Google Play ecosystem".

For now remains the most popular version of the Android Android 2.3.3 to 2.3.7 gingerbread, a version that was released back in February 2011.

Best Android tablets (June 2013 edition)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 6.3 3 is due out in June.

All that is know about the new tab 3 are all rumors, not a fact. There seems to be enough evidence to support the rumors. When (or if) the tab 3 hits shelves in June, when we will have the real numbers.

Samsung has apparently benchmarking their unreleased tablet. These benchmarks are unconfirmed and maybe not the release version.

What makes this interesting is that Samsung uses an Intel Atom instead of their own ARM Based processor in Exynos Galaxy Tab 6.3 3.

AnTuTu total overall benchmark score sticks in
Tab 3 10 at 24,616
Nexus 10 at 13,750
(points came from AnTuTu website)

This gives Intel Clover Trail tablet almost 80% boost over the best performing Nexus 10.

The new tab 3 use a PowerVR SGX GPU 544MP

GFXBench 2.7
Galaxy 3 654 frames @ 10.5 Fps (7652)
Nexus 10 478 frames @ 8.5 Fps (4063)
The numbers in parentheses are frames x Fps
While this may not be a valid way to compare shows the Galaxy out performs the Nexus-10. The figures in brackets are valid beats tab Nexus 10 by almost 90%.

Tab 3 will have 1280 x 800 display, and a Plus version with the same resolution as the Nexus 10 on 2560 x 1, 600

This tab 3 uses Intel's Clover Trail Atomic Z2560. This Atom chip is at least in the same ballpark as Cortex A15 based processors in performance and battery life.

What do these benchmarks as more interesting is the Atomic Z2560 is a chip with an obsolete architecture obsolete 32nm lithography transistors.

Later this year Intel will release new atom processors with the recently announced, built from the ground up, all the new mobile architecture with many new performance and battery life features. New atoms will use Intel's new year old FinFET 22nm lithography.

It is expected that an Atom is running at maximum clock speed will exceed Z2560 by about 500%.

An Atom that runs at a lower clock rate, makes a performance level equal to Z2560, will use 300% less power.

Tablets with new Intel Atom should be on the shelves in time for Christmas.

Things in the Tablet market should get very interesting.

Intel shows great promise to have the ability to dominate the Tablet market over the ARM.

Motorola uses the Z2580 Atom in their Razr. When they start with the all new Atom, we can then have a better idea how Intel is well positioned on the mobile market. The mobile market is much different than the tablet on circuits for cellular radio and sensors (GPS, accelerometer, etc.).